Soils
Some parameters in blue exceeded the background level values in Tables II A, B, and
C. Of the 20 parameters analysed, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, V and Zn were detected at
values higher than the BGL or the ASQG, and in some occasions were higher than the
Industrial Soil Criteria in the bombing circle area. The strafing area showed only
copper at values higher than the BGL especially in front of the targets, showing that
our approach was efficient for characterizing the surface. Definitely, the strafing area
is not contaminated compared to the bombing circle area, where all the samples
showed concentrations higher than the BGL, the ASQG, or the ISQG for the
problematic parameters. As observed in Phase I, the same analytes are problematic
with cadmium concentrations exceeding the ASQG in all of the samples. High
cadmium concentrations can come from the rocket paints that may contain this metal
as anti-corrosive or as part of the internal parts of the warheads. The most probable
hypothesis is that cadmium is part of the painting of the rockets, since a problem had
already been encountered in the warehouse where they were cleaning the launchers. If
recovered from the cleaning of the launchers, cadmium vaporization resulting from
the intense heat during the firing of the rockets is likely responsible for the deposition
of this metal in the launcher. This was confirmed in a recent paper by Thomas Boggs
who mentioned that cadmium, zinc and chromium are important metals components
of bombs paintings that are released into the environment during open detonation
[29]. On impact with the ground or with the target, debris of rockets may deposit
cadmium on the ground, explaining thus the high concentrations of this metal in this
site. Chromium concentrations exceeded the BGL for many, but not all, of the
samples. Copper was observed at concentrations higher than the ISQG in six bombing
circle samples, while 14 samples exceeded the ASQG and the other was higher than
the BGL. All of the samples of the bombing area exceeded the BGL for Pb, Ni, V and
Zn. The concentrations in the bombing area of Jimmy Lake Range are of the same
magnitude as during Phase I. The impacts of training activities on Jimmy Lake Range
are clearly important. Only copper exceeded the ISQG; therefore, particular attention
should be given to this parameter and to cadmium as well. Legally, since the site use
will not change, i.e., will continue to be used as a target area, no action is required;
however, to demonstrate due diligence, a thorough cleaning of the small surface area
should be conducted, the soils should be removed and sent to secure cell, especially if
the hydrogeology study demonstrates that cadmium or copper are problematic in
Vegetation
Only one vegetation sample was collected in the bombing area while 15 samples
were collected in the strafing area. For the sample in the bombing area, some
parameters exceeded the BGL and are in blue in Table III. Of the 27 parameters
analysed, only Ca, Cu, Fe, Pb, Se, Na and V exceeded the BGL. Most of the
parameters that exceeded the BGL in vegetation samples also exceeded the BGL in
soil, except for Ca, Na and Se. Surprisingly, cadmium did not exceed the BGL in
vegetation. This can be explained by the fact that different metals may have different
extractability and some metals are preferentially extracted from the soils by the
plants.
15
DRDC Valcartier TR 2004-204
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