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Highland Creek Treatment Plant Biosolids Management

Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment 1

WELCOME Public Information Centre No.2


Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment

Royal Canadian Legion, 45 Lawson Road

Thursday, April 9th, 2015

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.



Why are we holding this Public Information Centre?

To inform you about:

Why the City is doing this study

The study steps and schedule

The long list of biosolids management

alternatives considered

The short list of feasible biosolids

management alternatives that will be

evaluated in greater detail

The proposed approach to evaluating the

short-listed biosolids management

alternatives to select the best one for the

HCTP

We want your input because:

Minimizing impacts to the community is a

primary goal of this project

Understanding what is important to you helps

the City to select the best biosolids

management alternative for the HCTP

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Please complete a Comment Sheet and leave it here today, or

return it to the City by Thursday, April 30, 2015.



Class EA Study Process and Study Area

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Steps in the Class EA Study and

Schedule Class EA Study Area



Highland Creek

Wastewater Treatment

Plant and Current

Biosolids Management

Program



Highland Creek Treatment Plant (HCTP) and Biosolids Four wastewater treatment plants in Toronto treat

wastewater generated in households, businesses and

institutions

The residual material that remains is processed to

generate biosolids.

Biosolids is a stable, nutrient-rich material that is high in

organic content. Biosolids can be managed in a number

of ways.

Every household in the City could fill a large swimming

pool with wastewater each year - biosolids remaining after

treatment would fill 2 wheelbarrows

The City treats over 1.1 million cubic metres of wastewater

every day, and generates approximately 220,000 tonnes

of biosolids every year

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Highland Creek Treatment Plant (HCTP)

The HCTP is situated in the Scarborough community of West

Hill in the City’s Ward 44

It can treat up to 219,000 cubic metres of wastewater per day

Approximately 41,000 tonnes of biosolids are currently

generated each year – this is enough to fill 3 to 4 large trucks

daily



How are biosolids managed at the Highland Creek TP?

For almost 4 decades biosolids have been combusted in

two multiple hearth incinerators.

• The incinerators are nearing the end of their useful life.

• Urgent repairs are underway, and will extend the life of the

incinerators for a further 10 years.

The incinerators are permitted by the Ontario Ministry of

the Environment and Climate Change.

• Emission quality is better than required by the Ministry.

Inert ash that remains is stored in on-site lagoons.

• These are emptied once per year – ash is reddish in

colour due to the use of iron in the wastewater treatment

process.

• Ash is disposed at the City’s Green Lane landfill.

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Incineration

Building

Ash

Lagoon

The City needs to plan now, to allow enough time for design and construction of a

new biosolids management facility.

This study gives the City an opportunity to consider new technologies and

management approaches to reliably manage biosolids in the future.




Alternatives and

Evaluation Methodology



Detailed Evaluation

Categories:

Environmental

Community

/Social

Economic

Human Health

We will evaluate biosolids management options in two steps

Short-list of

biosolids

management

alternatives

feasible for

HCTP

Class EA

Report

Long-list of

biosolids

management

alternatives

Screening each

biosolids

management

alternative

against ‘must-

meet’ criteria

Detailed

comparative

evaluation using

multi-criteria

analysis

Preferred

biosolids

management

alternative

30-Day Public

Review Period

and

City Council

Approval

required before

implementation

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Must Meet Criteria:

2 years of

demonstrated

experience (at similar

scale)

Can fit on the HCTP

site

Provides reliability for

year-round

operations

No increase in truck

traffic to/from HCTP

Step 1

Screening

Step 2

Detailed

Evaluation



On-Site Thermal Destruction On-Site Processing to Produce

Fertilizer and Off-Site Distribution

What would be built at the

HCTP site? • Thermal destruction facility

• Truck loading facility with odour control

• Additional biosolids digestion capacity

• Processing facility


What would be hauled from

the HCTP? Inorganic residue (e.g., ash) Biosolids Fertilizer product

How much would be hauled

from the HCTP?

2,500 tonnes per year

80 trucks over a one week period each year

40,000 tonnes per year

20 trucks per week

10,000 to 50,000 tonnes per year (depending

on technology)

5 to >25 trucks per week

What are the technology

alternatives?

• Fluidized bed incineration

• Pyrolysis and gasification

• Other emerging technologies, e.g.,

Plasma assisted oxidation

Vitrification


• Pelletization (drying)

• Alkaline stabilization

• Hydrolysis

• Composting

How would it be managed

off-site?

• Landfill disposal

• Recycling (e.g., cement plant)

Potentially one or more of:

• Land application

• Further processing into a fertilizer and

distribution

• Landfill

Marketed as a fertilizer product registered

under the Federal Fertilizers Act (with fewer

application restrictions)

Biosolids Management Categories and Technology Alternatives

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Biosolids

Category 1

Haul Biosolids Off-Site for Management

Category 2 Category 3

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm/sewbiobroch.htm&ei=OsMaVffiGcWryATRnoHgCw&bvm=bv.89381419,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNEiT6gNmofeQuyMOePmZaqTKnxKUQ&ust=1427903647860075

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm/sewbiobroch.htm&ei=OsMaVffiGcWryATRnoHgCw&bvm=bv.89381419,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNEiT6gNmofeQuyMOePmZaqTKnxKUQ&ust=1427903647860075



How was the short-list selected?

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Technology Alternatives

Reviewed Demonstrated

in North

America

Can fit within

HCTP Plant

Site

Provides Year-

Round

Reliability

No Increase in

Truck Traffic

to/from HCTP

Category 1

Fluidized bed incineration

Pyrolysis and Gasification X

Other emerging technologies

(e.g., plasma assisted oxidation

and vitrification) X

Category 2 Facility to load trucks with

biosolids, for off-site management

Category 3

Pelletization

Alkaline stabilization X

Hydrolysis X

Composting X X



Short-Listed Alternative 1

On-Site Fluidized Bed Incineration with Off-Site Ash Management

Incineration

Two new fluidized bed incinerators would replace 2 existing multiple-

hearth incinerators.

Organics and pathogens are removed in the incineration process.

The biosolids or sludge (unprocessed biosolids) have inherent energy

value - minimal additional fuel is required.

Incinerators operate at high temperature and leave a residual, inert

ash.

Air Emissions

New emission cleaning equipment would also be installed to remove

particulates and mercury.

With the newer technology, emission quality would improve compared

to existing multiple-hearth emissions.

Ash

Ash could be managed in one of two ways:

• Landfill – Approximately 80 trucks of ash would be removed from

lagoons once per year and sent to the City’s Green Lane landfill.

• Recycling – Ash would be dewatered on-site and hauled away on a

regular basis to be recycled. Cement manufacturing is an example

of how ash can be recycled.

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Fluidized bed incinerator operating at

G.E. Booth (Lakeview) Wastewater

Treatment Plant in Mississauga

Fluidized Bed

Incineration

Facility



Short-Listed Alternative 2

Haul Biosolids Off-Site for Management

The City would hire contractors to haul the biosolids

from the HCTP.

• Approximately 4 to 6 large tanker trucks per day

A vehicle loading facility would be constructed with

short-term (3 to 5 days) storage capacity.

The loading facility would accommodate large

trucks, and prevent odours from being released

when trucks are filling - odorous air would be

collected and treated.

All contractors are subject to environmental and

human health regulations governing hauling,

management and disposal.

Examples of off-site management methods that

could be used include:

• Beneficial use on agricultural land

• Further processing at an off-site facility, such as alkaline

stabilization, hydrolysis or composting, and distribution

as a fertilizer product

• Landfill disposal.

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Contracts could potentially include beneficial use or further

processing into a fertilizers in an off-site facility.

Truck

Loading

Facility

Odour

Control

System

Primary Sludge

Thickening

Facility

Additional

Digestion

Capacity



Short-listed Alternative 3

On-site Pelletization and off-site Management of Pellets as Fertilizer Product

A new facility to pelletize (thermally dry) biosolids,

and a truck loading facility are required at the

HCTP.

The pelletization process uses heat to evaporate

water and equipment to mechanically process the

biosolids, to form of pellets, 2 to 4 mm in size.

Pathogens are killed due to high temperature

needed to evaporate the water.

Natural gas is the primary fuel for heating. Biogas

(containing methane) produced in the generation

of biosolids could also potentially be used as a

fuel source.

Odorous air from the process would be collected

and treated before being released.

The pellet material would be registered under the

Federal Fertilizers Act, enabling distribution and

marketing as a fertilizer product.

1 to 2 large trucks (with 40 tonne capacity) would

haul biosolids pellets from the plant every day.

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Pelletizer Facility and

Truck Loading

Odour Control System

Pelletization facility and pellet storage

silos at the City of Toronto

Ashbridges Bay TP.



Preliminary Information on Short-Listed Alternatives

to be used in Step 2 of the Evaluation

Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3

On-site fluidized bed incineration Hauling biosolids off-site for management On-site pelletization and haulage and management off-site

Biosolids material to be

managed Ash Biosolids Fertilizer pellets

Number of Trucks

Ash hauled from lagoons

one week per year 4 to 6 per day 1 to 2 per day

On-site odour management

• Minimal odour potential during operation,

incinerator is enclosed in a building

• Ash is odourless

• Truck loading facility would be designed to

enclose trucks when loading

• Odorous air from building will be collected

and treated

• Odorous air from drying facility would be

collected and treated

• Truck loading facility would be designed to

enclose trucks when loading

On-site noise management

• Facility would be required to be sound

insulated so that there would be no increase

in noise level at property line

• Facility would be required to be sound



• Facilities would be required to be sound



Preliminary Capital Cost $107 million $113 million $109 million

Preliminary Annual

Operating Cost

$4 million

$9 million

$5 million

Operating Cost ($/dry tonne

biosolids managed) $260 $610 $330

Contingency for

management alternative

• 1 redundant fluidized bed incinerator provides

contingency

• 2 loading bays within truck loading facility

provides contingency for hauling off-site

• Sufficient contracts in place to manage

biosolids on a year round basis

• 1 redundant dryer unit provides contingency

• Truck loading equipment (to haul biosolids if

dryers are unavailable)

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Approaches to enhance the selected biosolids management alternative

Alternative 1

On-site fluidized bed incineration

Alternative 2

Hauling biosolids off-site for

management

Alternative 3

On-site pelletization and haulage and

management off-site

• Ash recycling

• Pre-treatment (thermal hydrolysis) of sludge

prior to digestion to increase digester gas

production (and potential for energy recovery)

• Potential to eliminate digesters and incinerate

raw sludge to save capital and operating costs




• Digester gas use for cogeneration to generate

electricity and heat




• Use of digester gas to off-set natural gas

required in pelletization process

• Digester gas use for cogeneration to generate

electricity and heat

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Several approaches to optimize the design of each short-listed alternative are available

Once the preferred biosolids management alternative is selected, a conceptual design will be

developed, considering potential enhancements

Examples are shown in the table below.

Thermal hydrolysis system at Blue

Plains WWTP, Washington DC

Cogeneration engine at Gresham

WWTP, Portland OR



To determine the best method for transporting biosolids (Alternative 2) or pellets

(Alternative 3) from the HCTP, an evaluation of four possible transportation modes was

completed:

• Pipeline

• Truck

• Rail

• Barge (water)

Transport by trucks was determined to be the best transportation method for the

following reasons:

• Provides flexibility for an infinite number of outlets for the

hauled material

• No risks to timeline associated with approvals

• Lowest cost

Trucks with a capacity of approximately 40

metric tonnes will be used for hauling

Transportation Mode Assessment

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Transportation Route Assessment

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A detailed assessment of

potential routes to haul biosolids

(Alternative 1) or pellets

(Alternative 2) to Highway 401

was undertaken

6 potential routes were

assessed and 2 were short-

listed for further consideration

Routes were evaluated based

on criteria within the following

categories:

• Traffic safety

• Operations

• Community impact

A noise assessment along each

route is being completed and

will be used in the evaluation of

social and health impacts of the

routes

All potential routes evaluated

Short-listed route – Coronation Dr./Manse Rd./

Morningside Ave.

Short-listed route – Beechgrove Dr./Lawrence

Ave./Port Union Rd.



Next step: Detailed evaluation of the short-listed alternatives

Potential impacts and benefits of each

short-listed alternative are being

investigated, in the areas of:

• Human Health

• Community

• Environment

• Economics

Using this information, the alternatives will

be compared to identify the best alternative

To assess human health related impacts,

health criteria will be developed through a

specific process called Health Impact

Assessment (HIA) (refer to HIA panels)

We’d like your input on what

is important to you!

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Environment Community Human Health Economic

Best Biosolids

Management Option

for Highland Creek

Treatment Plant

Short-List of Feasible


Options for Highland

Creek Treatment Plant

Step 2 Decision-Making Categories



Preliminary list of criteria that will be used to evaluate short-listed alternatives

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Please complete a comment sheet to let us know if there are any

additional evaluation criteria that we should be considering

Category Criteria

Environmental

• Protect air quality

• Protect global climate (greenhouse gases)

• Protect surface water, groundwater, land and terrestrial resources

• Provide a reliable and sustainable management strategy

Community/Social • Minimize odour potential

• Minimize other community impacts (noise, dust, traffic, mud, aesthetics)

Economic

• Minimize capital cost

• Minimize operating cost

• Minimize dependency on commodities (process chemicals, fuels)

Human Health • Protect human health (details to be determined through the HIA process)



Health Impact

Assessment



Health Impact Assessment A Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a procedure used to

identify how a specific project could potentially affect

health

For this study, the HIA will use the following key sources of

information to evaluate health impacts from biosolids

management alternatives:

• Cumulative Air Emissions Assessment

• Human Health Risk Assessment – which will evaluate the

potential for health impacts from emissions

• Noise assessment

• Odour assessment

• Traffic assessment

• Other health related impacts, as identified through a HIA

Stakeholders Group that represents the community, City and

subject experts

The HIA Stakeholders Group will meet at two points in the

HIA process as illustrated

• The first HIA Stakeholders Group meeting was held in

November 2014

• As a result of that meeting, a list of priority health areas was

developed for assessment through the HIA process

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Screening Confirm that an HIA is appropriate for this project

Scoping Identify the health areas relevant to this project

Health Profile for the Community Review existing health information for the community

Assessment & Recommendations Describe and characterize health effects, both positive and

negative for each alternative, and identify measures to

enhance positive impacts and minimize negative impacts

Evaluation & Monitoring Determine the effectiveness of the HIA and monitor decision

points over time

HIA

Stakeholders

Group Meeting

HIA

Stakeholders

Group Meeting

– Held

November 2014

Steps in the Health Impact Assessment

We are here



Health Impact Assessment Impacts of biosolids management alternatives will be considered in each of the four categories (human health, environment, community,

economic)

To specifically evaluate the potential health impacts or benefits for each feasible alternative, a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is being

completed

The HIA will assess a full range of possible health impacts of each alternative to determine impacts and benefits to the individuals in the

Highland Creek Treatment Plant community. The HIA will focus on the following health areas:

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Health

Impact

Assessment

(HIA)

Environment

Community

Human Health

Economic

Class EA Evaluation

Categories

• Air quality

• Odour

• Traffic safety

• Noise

• Water and soil quality

• Recreation and leisure spaces

These priority health areas were identified by three methods:

1. Literature review

2. Consultation with experts

3. Stakeholder input

The following additional health areas will be assessed:

• Neighbourhood characteristics

• Access to public transportation

• Stress/risk perception

• Community and social cohesion

• Climate change

• Spills



Cumulative Air Emissions Assessment

and

Human Health Risk Assessment




Air quality in Toronto is influenced by activities,

weather/climate and land use

Sources of emissions that affect air quality in

the Toronto air-shed, include:

• Traffic, such as vehicles, trains,

airplanes

• Land uses, such as industries, homes,

businesses, institutions

• Sources inside and outside of Toronto

Air Quality modelling will consider all factors

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Studies (using models) will be used to predict

changes in air quality concentrations due to each of

the short-listed biosolids management alternatives

Studies will consider:

• Emissions rates for the biosolids management

alternatives from processing and transport

• The physical environment: weather/climate,

landscape and land use

• Locations of receptors (such as schools, hospitals,

community centres and parks)

Study results will be combined with existing

background air quality levels to show the combined

effects on the study area

The assessment will consider the

replacement of the existing multiple hearth

facility with each biosolids management

alternative

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Weather Data

Analysis &

Assimilation

Natural and

Human Made

Emissions



Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA)

The potential for an increase (or decrease) in airborne

contaminants from biosolids management options will be

determined from the Cumulative Air Emissions Assessment

What those changes mean to human health will be determined

by a Human Health Risk Assessment

The HHRA will specifically evaluate negative health effects as

a result of particular chemical emissions from each biosolids

management alternative

The objectives of an HHRA are:

• Identify pathways for exposure to airborne contaminants

• Assess exposure and potential effects on people in the

community

• Propose measures to reduce impacts

The results of the HHRA will be used in the Health Impact

Assessment as part of the overall assessment of health

impacts

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Emissions Air

Soil Root Uptake

Ingestion /

Dermal

Contact

Ingestion

Dust Inhalation

Ingestion of Breast

Milk (Infant)

Deposition

Indoor / Outdoor

Inhalation



What are we doing moving forward?

Please complete a Comment Sheet and leave it here today, or

return it to the City by Thursday, April 30, 2015

Information you provided tonight will feed into the Step 2

detailed evaluation of short-listed biosolids management

alternatives

A third public information centre will be held in late spring

2015 to present the results of the Health Impact Assessment,

Human Health Risk Assessment, and evaluation of biosolids

management alternatives

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For more information about this project, or to view the Public Information Centre displays

online, please visit the project website:

http://www.toronto.ca/hctpbiosolidsea

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