Britannia Contaminated Sites Investigation Stage I Preliminary Site ...

Table 9
Fan Area Site Reconnaissance Findings
Potential Issues Findings
• Friction saw shed;
• Roll shell shop;
• Acetylene generator (Photograph 7, Appendix E);
• Copper launder;
• Upper sedimentation pond;
• Framing shed;
• Garage;
• Oil house east of the historical warehouse (Photograph 8, Appendix
E);
• Pozzolon shed (formerly a garage) (Photograph 9, Appendix E);
• Conveyor shed (Photograph 9, Appendix E); and
• Pumphouse (Photograph 9, Appendix E).
In addition, the locations of some historical structures (No. 2 Mill, the
powerhouse, foundry, and warehouse) are still evident by concrete
foundations and footings (Photographs 10 and 11, Appendix E).
The BC Museum of Mining occupies the south portion of the Fan Area.
Small business and a few vacant buildings occupy the remainder. The rest
of the Fan Area is laid out along a small network of streets, occupied by a
few small businesses and vacant houses. The Sea to Sky Highway passes
Site Lay-Out and Access along the west edge of the Fan Area with vehicle access from the highway
at two points. Vehicles also access the Fan Area from a residential street to
the northeast.
Pedestrian access to the BC Museum of Mining is restricted.
Surface water runs on-site from upland areas on the east and south.
Surface water infiltrates into the ground as well as draining directly into
Surface Water Drainage Britannia Creek and Howe Sound at three outfalls which historically
discharged mine tailings wastewater from the mill (Photograph 12,
Appendix E).
Wood siding and metal cladding comprise the dominant exterior building
Building Construction,
sheathing. A number of buildings are not heated. Heating for the rest was
Heating and Cooling
provided by oil-fired furnaces or electric heat.
Evidence of vegetation which appeared stressed, stained or dying was not
observed; however, contaminant impact to soils was evident by a complete
absence of vegetation in many areas of historic mill operations, notably near
Stressed, Stained or
the mill and in the vicinity of the historic settling pond just west of the copper
Dead Vegetation
launder (Photographs 9 and 13, Appendix E). Staining of the ground,
resulting from acid rock drainage, was also apparent (Photograph 14,
Appendix E).
The former sedimentation pond above the copper launder still exists.
Evidence of the historical settling pond on the mining museum just east of
the highway was visible in the form of low concrete walls now flush with the
Ponds/Lagoons
ground surface (Photograph 4, Appendix E). The location of the historical
settling pond just west of the copper launder was also evident (Photograph
13, Appendix E).
Britannia Contaminated Site Investigation
Stage I Preliminary Site Investigation
Project No. 50319-001-310 25