Class Environmental Assessment - CSO Storage Project - Notice of Public MeetingCurrently, Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) to the Ottawa River do not meet all provincial CSO control targets. Three options for achieving full compliance were presented at open houses held in late 2009 as part of consultations regarding the Ottawa River Action Plan. As a result of analysis carried out and feedback from the community, City staff recommends that Council endorse Option B. Option B represents a level of CSO control equivalent to “zero (0) combined sewer overflows (CSO) per year during the swimming season in the “average year”. This service level is more stringent than the provincial requirement of two (2) combined sewer overflows per year; and, will be a significant improvement from the current average of thirty (30) overflows per year. Option B consists of the construction of one or more storage facilities that will temporarily store sanitary and combined sewer flows during wet weather events to minimize the number of discharges to local rivers. The exact size and location of the storage facilities and any ancillary works will be determined during subsequent phases of this project. The scope of Option B as presented in fall 2009 has been modified to allow for consideration of the needs of growth, system redundancy, and stormwater management, where cost effective to do so. The CSO Storage Project is being carried out as a Schedule C project in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, 2007, which is an approved process under the Environmental Assessment Act. Public comment are welcome throughout the assessment process, will be collected in accordance with the Act, and will become part of the public record (with the exception of personal information). Consideration of Option B as the preferred level of service will occur at a Public Meeting of the Planning & Environment Committee (PEC) on February 9, 2010. The public is invited to attend and make presentation to the Committee on the preferred level of CSO control to be pursued under this environmental assessment (EA). Time: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Following consideration by PEC, the matter will be elevated to Council for approval of a preferred level of CSO control (i.e. the “Problem Definition” for the EA). Thereafter, the CSO Storage Project will proceed through the remaining phases of the Class EA process to allow for project implementation by 2015. For further information, please contact: Sally McIntyre |
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