2. 2
Niagara Wine Visitor and Education Centre
137 Taylor Road
Niagara On the Lake, Ontario
Canada
Prepared for
Niagara College, Ontario, Canada
2012
Prepared By: Khalid Mahmood
Environmental Management and Assessment
Post Graduate Program
3. 3
Niagara College, Ontario, Canada
March 4, 2012
Niagara College
NOTL Campus
Niagara College Ontario
Canada
Ms Katie Aloft
Professor Environmental Management
Niagara College, Canada
Subject: Phase 1 ESA of Niagara Wine Visitor and Education Centre
Dear Ms Aloft,
Please find enclosed herewith the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of the above referenced site.
The assignment involved the historical review, site reconnaissance and interviews to evaluate any existing and
potential environmental contamination of the subject property.
I am pleased to submit this report for your kind consideration. If you require any further clarification, please
feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Khalid Mahmood
Environmental Management and Assessment Program
Niagara College, Ontario
Canada
Ph [289]6960434
Kmahmood2@students.niagaracollge.ca
4. 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents Page No
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................................................................................................6
1.0 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................................................7
1.1 Purpose.......................................................................................................................................................................................7
1.2 Scope of Services.......................................................................................................................................................................7
1.3 Significant Assumptions........................................................................................................................................................... 7
1.4 Limitations and Exceptions......................................................................................................................................................7
1.5 User Reliance...............................................................................................................................................................................8
2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION................................................................................................................................................... 8
2.1 Location .....................................................................................................................................................................................8
2.2 Current Property Use.......................................................................................................................................................... 8
2.3 Structure and Improvements............................................................................................................................................. 8.
2.4 Adjoining Property Use.................................................................................................................................................... 9
3.0 USER PROVIDED INFORMATION.................................................................................................................................. 9
3.1 Specialised knowledge.................................................................................................................................................. 9
3.2 Owner, Property Manager and Occupant.............................................................................................................. 9
3.3 Prior Environmental Reports.................................................................................................................................... 9
4.0 RECORDS REVIEW..................................................................................................................................................................9
4.1 Property Use Record............................................................................................................................................................ 9
4.2 Easement Documents of property.................................................................................................................................... 9
4 .3 Land Use Map................................................................................................................................................................... 10
4.4 Fire Insurance Map........................................................................................................................................................... .10
4.5 Historical Use of Adjoining Property................................................................................................10
4.6 Previous Reports and Documents.......................................................................................................10
5. 5
4.7 Site Plan..............................................................................................................................................11
4.8 .Material Safety Data Sheet..............................................................................................................11
4.9 Geological Reports..........................................................................................................................11
5.0 |Historical interviews........................................................................................................................11
6.0 Physical Setting................................................................................................................................12
6.1 Topography ......................................................................................................................................12
7.0 SITE RECONNISANCE......................................................................................................................12
7.1. Heating and Cooling......................................................................................................................12
7.2 Solid Waste Disposal......................................................................................................................12
7.3 Wastewater Disposal.......................................................................................................................12
7.4 Sewage Discharge............................................................................................................................12
7.5 Surface Water Drainage ................................................................................................................ 12
7.6 Wells and Cisterns.......................................................................................................................... 12
7.7 Additional property Conditions............... ........................................................................................13
7.1.1 Hazardous Material Storage Conditions, Use and Handling.........................................................13
7.1.2 Spills and Stain Areas....................................................................................................................13
7.1.3 Poly Chlorinated Biphenyl (PCBs) ............................................................................................ .13
7.1.4Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs).........................................................................................13
7.1.5. Aboveground Storage Tanks(ASTs).............................................................................................13
7.1.6 Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)...............................................................................................13
7.1.7 Fill material.....................................................................................................................................13
7.1.8 Pits, Sumps.....................................................................................................................................,13
7.1.9 Special Attention items...................................................................................................................14
7.1.10 Odour ............................................................................................................................................14
8.0 FINDING AND CONCLUSIONS....................................................................................................14
8.1 EVALUATION OF FINDINGS..................... ...................................................................................14
8.2 RECOMMENDATIONS.....................................................................................................................14
9.0 REFRENCES.......................................................................................................................................15
6. 6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Phase 1 study was carried out as an assignment for the course of Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
of the property Niagara Wine Visitor and Education Centre at the NOTL Campus of Niagara College,
Ontario, Canada, subsequently referred to as “subject Property”. This assessment was prepared in accordance
with Canadian Standards Association (CSA) ZZ768-01(R-2006) for Environmental Site Assessment Phase 1
ESA Process.
The subject property is owned by Niagara College and consists of two storey building. This building is located
in the north east of Niagara College, Glendale Campus. The total area of building is about one acre and
surrounding area of 39 acres is being used for vineyards. The subject property consists of wine making center
and a retail outlet.
The purpose of Phase 1 ESA was aimed to identify the potential sources of environmental risks or liability of
the subject property. Record review, site reconnaissance and interviews from the management and
employees of Wine and Education Center were done to get firsthand knowledge. Prior to the construction of
subject property, the area was used for grape growing and other agricultural uses. The observations made
during the site reconnaissance and site visits were carried out carried out from Oct 31 to 2nd of Nov 2011.This
exercise revealed the following facts.
Some stains on the floor of wine making facility may be an area of potential environment concern
that needs to be further investigated.
Since the surrounding area is being used for the last 15 years for wine growing with continuous use of
pesticides and herbicides, this area needs to be further investigated for possible site contamination
A Phase II ESA is recommended to probe the visible stains on the floor of wine making
facility and possible contamination of soil and ground water from surrounding fields.
Sum Summary of the findings
7. 7
The property ‘Wine and Education Centre’ located at 137 Taylor Road, Niagara on the Lake, Ontario was
used for phase 1 study. This was a requirement for the Environmental Site Assessment course of the Post
Graduate Environmental Management and Assessment Certificate program. The aforementioned property will
be subsequently called as “subject Property “or “site” in following part of the report.
The subject property is owned by Niagara College and consists of two storey building. This building is located
in the north east of Niagara College, Glendale Campus. The total area of building is about one acre and
surrounding area of 39 acres is being used for vineyards. The subject property consists of wine making center
and a retail outlet
The objective of this exercise was to find out the actual or potential risks of environmental
contamination and subsequent liability of the subject property due to its past uses and current practices.
The study was carried out in accordance with the Canadian Standards Associations768- 01(R2006).The
scope of work included a review of available historical record, site reconnaissance and interviews with the
management and employees. The scope of work did not involve any laboratory analysis.
The assumptions in this case are that all the required information has been made available and it is factually
correct and nothing has been concealed with respect to past uses of the subject property and all the practices
have been duly recorded in the available documents. The findings and recommendations are based upon the
scope of work agreed between the management of Wine and Education Center of Niagara College. It is also a
fact that no degree of work undertaken during Phase 1 of Site assessment can be fully conclusive and accurate.
The services carried out in this report are based on the visual observation of the structures of the subject
property.
The aim of this report was to find any credible source of potential contamination and bounded by the
agreement of management of Wine Center and the undertaker of this exercise. Evaluating compliance by the
past or future.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
1.2 Purpose
1.3 Scope of Work
1.4 Significant Assumptions
1.5 Limitations and Expectations
8. 8
The report may be used for any academic or research purpose only.
The site is located at 137, Taylor Road, Niagara on the Lake, Ontario and faces the Glendale Campus .of
Niagara College from North West. The total area of building is about one acre and vineyard of 39 acres
surrounds the site from the north. There is a lagoon on the west of the site.
A summary of the physical description is given as follows.
Sites Findings
Site name Niagara Wine Centre
Site location 137 Taylor Road NOTL
Site area 1 acre
Site improvements Double storey building
Heating and cooling system Boiler system
Parking lot South of the site
.
The subject property is currently used as wine making and retail store. The basement is used for educational
purpose for the students of Niagara College
Age No of stories Usage Construction
2 Years 2 Wine Making and academic
building
Construction
1.6 User Reliance
2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION
2.1 Location
2.2 Current Property Use
2.3 Structures and Improvements
9. 9
The adjoining land is being used for the vineyards having an area of 39 acres.
No specialized knowledge of RECs or other potential concerns were reported by the client.
The subject property is currently owned by the Niagara College, Canada and currently occupied
Canadian Niagara Wine Visitor and Education Centre, Canada. Steve Gill is serving as General
Manager/key site manager of the subject property.
No prior Phase 1 ESA report or any other environmental related documentation was provided by the
client.
A historical review was conducted to assess any potential environmental impacts from previous use
of the site.
No information was available from St. Catharines Public Library as they do not carry any property
use directory.
The Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, December 12, 1953
The Corporation of the Township of Niagara-on-the-lake, May 5, 1986
The Corporation of the Town of Niagara-on-the-lake, Jan. 2, 1998
2.4 Adjoining Property Use
3.0 USER PROVIDED INFORMATION
3.1 Specialized Knowledge
3.2 Owner, Property Manager and Occupant
3.3 Prior Environment Reports
4.0 RECORD REVIEW
4.1 Property Use Record
4.2 Easements Documented For Property
10. 10
Aerial photographs for the subject property were not available However, land use map was available
and it shows the presence of farm land.
Mr Steve Gill and Mr Gavin were asked about the presence of any fire insurance map. They both
had no information about it. However, Mr Gavin confirmed that there had never been a fire incident
ever since the construction of the subject property in 2009.
Historically, this area was used for agricultural purposes and adjoining area in the further north of
the subject property is currently used for grape growing for the last fifteen years.
No previous phase 1 ESA report was available about the subject property.
4.3 Records of Land Titles Regarding Niagara College Canada
INSTRUMENT
TYPE
FROM TO DATE
Agreement The Corporation of the Town
of Niagara-on-the-lake
Niagara College of Applied
Arts and Technology
September
9, 1999
Agreement Niagara College of Applied
Arts and Technology
The Corporation of the Town
of Niagara-on-the-lake
November
30, 1999
Agreement The Corporation of the Town
of Niagara-on-the-lake
Niagara College of Applied
Arts and Technology
October
23, 2002
Notice
Agreement
The Corporation of the Town
of Niagara-on-the-lake
Niagara College of Applied
Arts and Technology
April
20, 2004
Apl Court Order Ontario Superior Court of
Justice
Niagara College of Applied
Arts and Technology
March
23, 2005
4.3 Land Use Map
4.4 Fire Insurance Map
4.5 Historical Use of Adjoining Properties
4.6 Previous Reports and Document
11. 11
The site plan was obtained from the Facility Management Centre office located at Glendale Campus
of Niagara College.
Though the current MSDSs were not maintained by the management but Mr Gavin claimed that we
are doing our practices as per standard MSDS sheets approved for the industry across Canada.
(Attached as annexure B)
Campus living center maintains geological reports so these were not available.
The first interview was conducted with Mr Steve Gill on Oct 30, 2011.He is currently serving as
General Manager, Wine Education center. He told that property is owned by Niagara College. This
building was constructed in 2009.The approximate production of wine is 45000 litres of finished wine
in one year. He further told that chemicals and juices used in this used wine making facility are totally
safe from health and environmental perspective.
The second interview was conducted with Mr. Gavin who is serving as winery technician for the last
one year He accompanied me during the inspection of building and briefed various processes and
practices of wine making. It was noted that there was moderate odour in the hall where wine making
was taking place. In response to question. The temperature was maintained at 19 degree Celsius .Dark
(brown)stains were observed under the fermentation tanks.(Photo attached in annexure).Many acids
like tartaric acid, Potassium meta bisulphate, citric acid, ascorbic acid and potassium bicarbonate are
used in different steps of wine making processes. According to Gavin, all these acids are already
present in different fruits so these are not dangerous for human health or to the environment and are
non hazardous in nature.
Mr Thomas Oppentauder is contact grower who has been growing grape crop in the vineyard for
the last several years was contacted on telephone on three different occasions. The purpose of the
making contact was to get information about different pesticides and herbicides being used on the
fields. Mr Thomas was properly briefed about the about the objective of the undertaking. He politely
declined to give any information in this regard.
The site is located in the north east of the Glendale Campus of Niagara College. A vineyard is located
further north of subject property. There is a parking lot of college campus in the south of the subject
building.
4.7 Site Plan
4.8 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
4.9 Geological and Geo Technical Reports
5.0 HISTORICAL INTERVIEWS
6.0 Physical Setting
12. 12
Topography is uneven. It ranges from gentle to moderately sloppy.
The subject property was inspected by Khalid Mahmood, Post Grad student of Environmental
Management and Assessment Program. All areas of the subject property were accessible during the
inspection and no obstruction of any type was found.
Central heating and cooling systems are used. Temperature is maintained at 18 degree centigrade.
There is no special solid waste disposal system as no hazardous chemicals or material are used.
The municipal line is used for the waste water collection and disposal.
A separate sewer disposal line for the collection of sewage runs to municipal sewage collection system.
There are underground collecting pipes for collection storm water running into municipal water
collection system.
No wells and cisterns were seen for water supply and storage.
The general cleanliness was not good in the wine making area and laboratory and water spills were
found all over the floor especially in wine making area .However, other portions of building were
properly cleaned and appropriately maintained.
No hazardous materials were found in the subject property
No spill and stain area was observed other than the stains found below the fermentation tanks.
6.1 Topography
7.0 SITE RECONNAISSANCE
7.1 Building Heating and Cooling
7.2 Solid Waste Disposal
7.3 Process Waste Water Disposal
7.4 Sewage Discharge
7.5 Surface Water Disposal
7.6 Wells and Cisterns
7.7 Additional Property Conditions
7.7.1 Hazardous Materials Storage and Handling
7.7.2 Spills and Stains Area
13. 13
No PCBs or PCB material were seen during the site visit.
No asbestos or ACMs were found in the subject property.
27 numbers of containers were found used for the storage of prepared wine but no spills were
observed during the site visit. In addition to this, large numbers relatively small size containers
called barrels having finished wine were observed in an separate but attached room of the wine
making facility.
No UST was reported by the site representative and no evidence of any UST was found on the subject
property.
No evidence of fill material was found either in the interior or exterior of the building.
No evidence of pits, sumps was found.
No signage of workplace hazard was found. An eye washer was observed in the wine making area.
A moderate odour was observed in the wine making area. It appears that this may be due to
fermentation process taking place in fermentation tanks.
Some stains on the floor of wine making facility may be an area of potential environment
concern that needs to be further investigated.
Since the surrounding area is being used for the last 15 years for wine growing with continuous
use of pesticides and herbicides, this area needs to be further investigated for possible site
contamination.
7.7.3 Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls(PCBs)
7.7.4 Asbestos Containing Materials(ACMs)
7.7.5 Above Groun Storage Tanks(ASTs)
7.7.6 Underground Storage Tanks(USTs)
7.7.7 Fill materials
7.7.8 Presence of Pits and Sump
7.7.9 Special Attention items
7.7.10 Odour
8.0 FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
8.1 Evaluation of finding
14. 14
The presence of dark brown stains on the floor of wine making facility may not be due to lack of
proper cleaning of floor area. According to Mr Gavin, these stains are due to the presence of
mould and it is non-significant. But it needs to be ruled out that this is not area of potential
environmental concern.
To rule out any possibility of environmental contamination that may become a liability for the
subject property in future, it is necessary to undertake phase II ESA.
The surrounding area grown with the grape crop for the last fifteen years is constantly been
subjected to pesticides and herbicides use need to investigate through soil and water testing.
Hence, phase II is recommended for the subject property.
9.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
15. 15
The following sources were consulted for the preparation of phase 1 Report
1. Niagara Falls College Library
2. St Catherines Public Library, Ontario
3. “Niagara College Canada “A vision for the new Glendale Campus prepares by Christie Dunbar and
Walter Kehm, University of Guelph (1998)
4. Google Maps
5. A previous Phase 1 study for Niagara College Residences prepared by Nobue kinoshita (2010)
6. FMC office, Niagara College, Glendale Campus
7. Direct Interviews from management and employees of Niagara wine Centre.
REFERENCES
16. 16
Annexure A Fig 1
The Exterior of the building (East) showing some oily spill
Annexure A Fig 2
Empty Containers in the exterior of the building
17. 17
Annexure A Fig 3
Some Brown staining on the floor under and besides wine fermenting tanks
Annexure A Fig 4
Cleaning Process of Fermentation Tanks In the wine Making Area
