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July 22, 1999

ACTION PLAN

The Village of Deloro Environmental Health Risk Study

When the Ministry of the Environment launched the environmental health risk study it made a commitment to define the extent of the contamination, possible exposures and health implications. It also committed to take necessary actions to address those problems.

Comprehensive environmental sampling and urine testing results show that the Village of Deloro is a safe community. While none of the sampling and analysis conducted in the village showed a need for immediate remedial actions, a number of actions are being implemented to address issues identified in the study.

MAINTAINING DRINKING WATER SAFETY

• The ministry will continue its monitoring of the water supply, and as a measure of prudence, has increased monitoring of the Deloro communal well as part of the provincial Drinking Water Surveillance Program (DWSP). This rigorous water quality surveillance program provides detailed and ongoing documentation on the progress and performance of municipal water treatment plants across the province. The program detects subtle changes in water quality and as such acts as an alert system, notifying authorities of any exceedance of the Ontario Drinking Water Objectives. The Deloro communal well was added to the program in January 1999.

REDUCING RADON

• Testing for radon, a radioactive substance that is a gas, indicated that several homes tested in the village have or may have radon in excess of the 1977 Federal/ Provincial Task Force criterion for radon; however none of the measured values exceeded Health Canada's radon guideline. Radon levels were all within the range of naturally occurring levels typically found across Ontario. The ministry will work directly with all residents with radon approaching or in excess of the 1977 criterion to reduce exposure. This may involve additional monitoring and / or the installation of radon gas venting systems.

REMOVING POCKETS OF SOIL

• There were three small pockets (covering an area of no more than a few square metres) of slightly elevated gamma radiation levels. The ministry will remove these small pockets of soil and place them on the mine site to reduce the potential spread of radioactive contamination in the environment. These materials will be dealt with in the site remediation program. The vacant lot adjacent to the entrance to the mine site will also be dealt with in the site remediation program.

FENCING THE MINE SITE

• The ministry has made it clear through fencing and warning signs that trespassing on the mine site is strictly prohibited. There are some areas on the mine site where very high levels of arsenic (much higher than in the village) exist. There are also areas of radiation from low level radioactive waste materials. Trespassing on the mine site property prior to completion of the remediation work was identified in the study to result in a significant increase in risk. The ministry will upgrade the fencing and signage of the mine site property.

The total cost of implementing the action plan is about $1.66 million.