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Cote First Nation is located north of Kamsack, Saskatchewan, and within the Reserve boundaries was a former fence post treatment facility that operated for approximately 10 seasons before closing in the late 1980s. The facility used chemicals to preserve the wood that can have adverse effects on humans, animals and the environment in certain concentrations. The site of the former facility is located within Badgerville near residences and gathering places, posing a concern for the Cote First Nation Council and its members.

Over several years, KGS Group conducted environmental assessments and oversaw the remediation of the former facility site. For the first time in approximately 45 years, the contaminated soils associated with the facility, were fully remediated.

Notably, as part of the project, an impressive 9,000 person-hours of work were completed by personnel from the Cote First Nation. The total value of purchased local borrow materials, worker wages and equipment rentals supplied by the First Nation was approximately $843,000. Executed in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, the project presented on-the-job training and mentorship opportunities for the Cote First Nation. Overall, the project was a collaborative process that was mutually beneficial to all parties and was largely successful because of the local Nation’s involvement.

With the site of the former facility now safely remediated, the Cote First Nation can begin planning for future development in the area. What was once a potential hazard, is now a place of great possibility.

Project Highlights

• Environmental assessments over multiple seasons to delineate impacts and guide remediation
• Remediation of contaminated soils within the former facility footprint
• Tissue sampling on vegetation within the impacted area to confirm no uptake by trees
• Supply and placement of local borrow materials for backfill and site restoration
• Site regrading and cleanup to stabilize surfaces and improve near‑term usability
• Community engagement, on‑site training and mentorship delivered by KGS Group
• More than 9,000 hours completed by Cote First Nation personnel
• $843,000 in materials, wages and equipment rentals from within Cote First Nation

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The Central Manitoba Mine, an abandoned mine site in Nopiming Provincial Park, was a top remediation priority for the Province of Manitoba because of the presence of major hazards to the public and environment. The site contained acid-generating tailings, waste rock, abandoned infrastructure and unsafe mine openings that lead to a network of underground mine development.

KGS Group spearheaded the site’s transformation. This project involved the development of comprehensive closure plans, the design of innovative remediation solutions, and construction administration.

The result: public safety was ensured, health hazards eliminated, and the site was restored to satisfactory conditions, mitigating extensive contamination and environmental risks.

Project Highlights

• Site assessment, risk evaluation and closure planning
• Containment and treatment of acid‑generating tailings and waste rock
• Securing unsafe mine openings, decommissioning abandoned infrastructure and debris removal
• Construction administration, contractor oversight and regulatory coordination

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The Churchill Rocket Range, a former launch site east of Churchill, required environmental due diligence and cleanup ahead of ownership transfer to the Town of Churchill. KGS Group provided consulting services to assess site conditions, plan remediation and support safe deconstruction.

Before ownership transfer, we completed an environmental site assessment, a non-hazardous and hazardous materials inventory, including hazardous building materials sampling and a rocket debris waste survey, a remediation and hazardous materials management plan and mould and asbestos abatement specifications.

Following completion of the initial work, the rocket range was transferred to the Town of Churchill and KGS Group was retained to manage and coordinate activities related to soil remediation and demolition of several buildings and structures at the site. Remedial activities included excavation and disposal of contaminated soils in an onsite constructed land farm as approved by the province.

Successful completion of this project required careful planning due to short field seasons and limited equipment, as well as the ability to adapt to variable conditions encountered in this unique Canadian subarctic environment.

Project Highlights

• Hazardous/non‑hazardous materials inventory and rocket debris survey
• Remediation and hazardous materials management plan and mould and asbestos abatement specifications
• Soil remediation via excavation and onsite land farm, demolition of selected buildings/structures

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Our environmental services team actively seeks out opportunities to conduct research in a number of environmental disciplines, to advance our knowledge base, and to optimize solutions for real-life problems our clients are facing. Many of our projects benefit from this research. Some of our most recent research and development activities include:

Landfill Leachate Treatment

Since 2013, KGS Group has conceptualized and carried out several research and development projects involving laboratory and field scale activities aimed at reducing handling and treatment volumes of landfill leachate, including leachate irrigation studies, alternative chemical and physical treatment processes, and enhanced evaporation techniques.

Landfill Methane Mitigation

In 2014, KGS Group partnered with the University of Manitoba to develop design parameters for an innovative landfill biocover, designed to oxidize fugitive methane emissions. The first two phases of this multi-year project were carried out under laboratory conditions, followed by field trials at a waste management facility in the City of Winnipeg.

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Treatment

KGS Group is active in investigating the treatment of AMD from former mine sites in northern Manitoba. The objectives of these studies are to optimize the typical treatment process, and to develop cost-effective technologies directed at minimizing the use of chemicals, while improving operation of the treatment process.

Phosphorus Treatment

We are also developing technology for the treatment of insoluble phosphates applied to agricultural fields with manure, such as hog operations, to recover the phosphorus for fertilizer applications and to reduce phosphate loading on the surface water runoff to rivers and lakes.