CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE WELLS PROTECTION PLAN

March 2015
City of Prince George Well Protection Plan
6 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
The City of Prince George benefits greatly from the use of the highly productive yet vulnerable Nechako
Aquifer. This aquifer is subject to the risk of contamination due to the transportation of dangerous goods on the
CN railway. Well house structures that extract the water from the aquifer are also at risk of direct impact from a
derailed train. Specific risks related to rail transport of hazardous materials by CN in or near the City of Prince
George’s wells were delineated in this report, as well as possible means of mitigating these risks.
While it is possible for the City to affect many mitigation measures unilaterally, these measures will be most
effective if implemented within the envelope of improved communication and cooperation with CN.
Specific recommendations for mitigation measures should be considered for each high and very high risk.
Table 10 provides a list of possible actions, as an example. Table 10 also provides the initiating party, the type
of mitigation (preventative or responsive) and related priority.
Table 10: Options for Mitigation & Response Measures
Priority
Action*
Initiating
Party
Preventative (P)
or
Responsive (R)
1 Remote pump shut-down capabilities and procedures (for the wells) City R
1 Emergency water quality monitoring plan (spill incident) City R
1 Remote operation capabilities and procedures (for the wells) City R
1
1
Additional studies (i.e. groundwater flow direction study; updating
numerical flow model of capture zones near CN tracks) focusing on risk
and mitigation options.
Additions to City’s Groundwater Protection Areas (wellheads and
Nechako River)
1 Reduction of train speeds CN P
1
Creation of a joint emergency response committee (to provide
emergency plans and a contact list)*
1 Enhancement of track maintenance CN P
2 Creation of alternate supply capability (redundancy for PW605) City P/R
2 Greater transparency and improved communication Joint P
3 Minimization/elimination of at grade crossings Joint P
4 Advance notification of dangerous goods are being transported CN P/R
TBD
TBD
Installation of a ground seal (significantly reduces speed of infiltration) –
option to be determined based on additional studies
Installation of interceptor wells and trenches – option to be determined
based on additional studies
5 Installation of at grade crossing arms Joint P
City
City
Joint
* This would also include an addition to the City’s Emergency Operations Centre Procedures.
** There may be opportunities for CN to participate in ground seal measures.
City
City
P
P
R
P
P
Page | 54