Yukoners Concerned About Oil and Gas Exploration/Development have brought their concerns to city council.

The organization has been drawing attention to the oil and gas industry and speaking out against fracking over the last three years. Two representatives addressed council in a presentation at last Monday’s meeting.

Don Roberts and Lois Johnston questioned council on the disposal of Northern Cross’ drill waste from Eagle Plain into Arctic Backhoe’s waste site on the McLean Lake Road.

“It is my understanding that the mayor and councillors were not aware that this drilling waste was being dumped in the Whitehorse area,” Roberts said.

He made the statement after speaking of the 225 tonnes of Northern Cross’ fluid and drilling waste from the Eagle Plain area disposed of locally in 2012 and 2013.

Roberts questioned whether the waste was tested for radioactivity, and how it is monitored.

He asked where the results of the monitoring could be found, whether the site has a four-layer liner as other disposal facilities in British Columbia have, and whether it catches all the fluid.

“The major concern is that the Arctic Backhoe site on McLean Lake is located above the population areas of Whitehorse, and if the proper liner and containment is not in place, liquids from drill waste will gradually leach out of the pit and will flow down the mountainside polluting lakes, rivers and aquifers,” he said.

“Everything falls downhill, as we all know.”

Johnston focused on the possibility of radioactive waste, noting there is natural radium in the ground.

There is no concern when it isn’t disturbed. Once there is some sort of disturbance through drilling and the like, however, there’s an increase in radioactivity, which can make its way into the waste.

If it’s not handled properly during disposal, Johnston went on to point out, workers dealing with the material face a greater risk.

Elevated radioactivity can lead to cancer and other health issues, she argued.

The pair argued the matter is a city issue, given that the waste was disposed of in Whitehorse.

Coun. Samson Hartland, however, wondered if Yukoners Concerned has taken the matter to Environment Yukon, which oversees regulations in dealing with contaminated waste.

Environment Minister Wade Istchenko had in fact addressed the matter during question period in the legislature last month when NDP MLA Jim Tredger raised the matter.

“Which approved Whitehorse facility is storing drill waste from 2012?” Tredger asked.

“What was in the drill waste? Where was it deposited? How is it being monitored — about this and other projects?

“The relevant question is: where can the public find out this relevant information in an accessible manner?”

Istchenko emphasized the requirement for contaminated materials to be treated prior to disposal.

“The petroleum hydrocarbons can be treated at a landfill treatment facility such as the contaminated materials — and this was relocated to Whitehorse for a treatment at the Arctic Backhoe land treatment facility,” Istchenko said.

He went on to highlight a number of the requirements dealing with contaminated waste.

The minister also offered to provide a list of approved disposal sites if requested.

“Before there’s drilling waste to be disposed of, they have to sample the drilling waste to confirm the conformity with all applicable contaminants, and it’s in the contaminated sites regulation.

“Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to add that we do have a robust regulatory process,” Istchenko added.

“We have great compliance and monitoring here in the Yukon, and this is technical and really operational stuff.

“Before it comes on the legislative floor here and worries Yukoners, it would be great — if you have a concern, there’s a TIPP Line and you can contact us.

“Phone me, send me an email. If we hear this isn’t good — I’ll get the information for you.”