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2010 sites on track, up to environmental snuff

VANOC provides update on Whistler venue construction, monitoring

By Andrew Mitchell

To date, VANOC’s environmental activities in Whistler have included everything from relocating tailed frogs to new habitat, to physically removing and treating soil contaminated by diesel fuel spills, to composting site materials on a massive scale.

Part of VANOC’s bid to host the world in 2010 was to produce the greenest Olympics and Paralympics yet, embracing sustainability in everything from building new venues to the Games operations themselves, but details have been slow to emerge.

This week the VANOC North Offices in Whistler met with the media to discuss environmental monitoring highlights from the three competition venues, the Whistler Creekside Alpine Venue, the Whistler Sliding Centre and the Whistler Nordic Competition Venue.

Project managers reported on the status of construction, laid out their construction schedule for the coming year, and discussed the environmental challenges and activities that they have been addressing. It was the first meeting of its kind, and ended with a pledge to continue reporting through the end of the construction phase and the beginning of the operations planning stages.

“Each venue is different, so the (environmental) requirements are different,” commented community relations director Maureen Douglas.

“Our environmental commitment started with the site selection, as the first thing, then was revised once the sites were selected, and as work got underway with the environmental assessment… and is ongoing with environmental monitors on site.”

Third party companies that have been working as environmental monitors submitted their first reports for each site, which collectively fill close to 170 pages. However, a summary report was made available that lists the specifics for each of the three sites.

 

Whistler Creekside Alpine Venue

Status after 2006: 60 per cent of course improvements to Dave Murray Downhill, Lower Franz’s Trail and Raven (training run) complete. Snowmaking high voltage line is 85 per cent complete, and snowmaking pipe installation is about 50 per cent complete. The new pump house at Fitzsimmons Creek is complete, and work is about 30 per cent complete for pump houses at Olympic Mid-Station and Crabapple.

Planned work for 2007: Complete all course improvements and snowmaking in time for World Cup test events.

According to Rod MacLeod, the project manager, the biggest challenge has been to minimize the impact of trail widening to bring the downhill and training runs into compliance with International Skiing Federation (FIS) requirements.

So far they’ve been able to convince FIS to leave some tree sections, while minimizing the incursion of the courses into old growth forests by 80 per cent. Only 6.87 hectares of old growth have been cut, mostly on the Powerline section of the course, which is far less than was approved in the original environmental assessment.

The site also made national news this past summer with the discovery of tailed frogs in a waterway impacted by the course, a species listed as threatened by both the provincial and federal governments. Construction was halted in that area when the amphibians were discovered by the environmental monitor, until a tailed frog management plan could be completed and steps taken.

“It turns out (the frogs) are all over Whistler, but nobody knew that before they were discovered,” said MacLeod. “There was no setback, crews went to work in other areas while we were coming up with a plan, which of course had to be approved by the B.C. Ministry of the Environment.”

Once the management plan was approved by various levels of government, an amphibian specialist was brought in to physically move 14 adult frogs and 29 tadpoles to an area 40 metres upstream. Other waterways were also identified as tailed frog habitat and were avoided. In one case, says MacLeod, the frog habitat was also improved.

Only two incidents have occurred that have required mitigation, both involving the contractor getting too close to Garbanzo Creek. The creek was dry at the time, and one of the incursions has already been mitigated. The other was scheduled to be fixed, but was set back to this spring by the arrival of snow.

No major issues are expected when construction resumes in the spring, according to MacLeod. Most of the runs already existed, and the crews were able to access the existing snowmaking reservoir off of Fitzsimmons Creek. No buildings were required other than a pair of pumphouses to bring the water across the mountain to the training and downhill runs.

“We fully expect to have finished everything by Oct. 31, when snowmaking is scheduled to start with the regular snowmaking activity,” said MacLeod.

 

Whistler Sliding Centre

Status after 2006: Over 80 per cent of track footings completed, and 10 of 23 track sections filled with shotcrete (specialized concrete), and a test section of the track shading is completed. On and off-site servicing is about 85 per cent complete, a reservoir was constructed above the site, and the foundations for five buildings are complete, as well as most of the foundations for two other buildings. The refrigeration and track operations building is also 80 per cent complete, and will be built to the silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard. Roads and bridges are also complete, as is the skier overpass.

Planned work for 2007: Complete the track structure, install track systems such as lighting, timing, television and PA system, and complete all buildings, access roads and site servicing.

“2007 is our third and final year of construction,” said project manager Jan Jansen.

“Our goal is to finish everything this year, and to be making ice next winter.”

Because of the amount of clearing on site, one of the main concerns has been water quality around the site. Some of the sediment and erosion control systems did not function as well as expected, resulting in the installation of a new system.

As well, the snowmaking reservoir on Fitzsimmons Creek has been acting as a sediment pond for the project, which is a temporary measure. The areas impacted by the installation of the track will be planted over once construction is complete, and all roads will be paved to eliminate sediment issues.

All of the vegetation debris was also composted in Squamish, overloading the collection system there. As a result 10 per cent of the material was used for hog fuel. None of the material was burned, as is common for large developments.

Although there have been concerns about the amount of ammonia required by the refrigeration system, Jansen says the facility will meet all the provincial operating requirements, and was developed with input from Whistler Fire Services.

“It’s a closed system, no different than any other refrigeration system,” he said. “We’ve met every safety and environmental requirement.”

 

Whistler Nordic Centre

Status after 2006: Construction of major access roads, parking and compounds has been completed for both the north and south sites, and 12 km of competition ski trails and 3 km of spectator trails have been completed. The biathlon shooting range was also completed, as well as most of the ski jump landing hill. Other facilities nearing completion include buildings, the water reservoir, ski jump foundations and ski jump judge’s tower foundations, as well as all site servicing.

Planned work for 2007: All buildings and trails will be completed, including the main building that will function as the day skier lodge — built to LEED silver standards. The ski jump will also be completed, as well as trail lighting, the remaining bridges on ski trails and roads, the wastewater and water treatment plant, and electricity and communications infrastructure. The goal is to have everything operational for next winter, when the venue will host the national cross-country championships.

One of the main environmental successes to date has been the steps taken to widen riparian setback areas to protect waterways and wetlands. Another is the on-site composting that will be used to replant areas affected by development.

Like the alpine venue, several amphibians also had to be relocated in accordance with provincial and federal laws. More than 1,400 western toad tadpoles, and various salamanders were relocated to wetlands.

A few issues that have arisen have also been dealt with, including a pair of diesel fuel leaks. In one case, 150 tonnes of contaminated material was excavated from the site and sent for treatment.

Extreme rainfall in November also resulted in a lot of sediment finding its way into the water, and additional steps have been taken to catch or slow run-off from the site.

“To be fair, it wasn’t anything different than most of the natural waterways in the area were experiencing because of the heavy rainfall, but we decided to address the issue anyway,” said project manager Doug Ewing, adding that all of the bridges to the facility have been built to withstand a 200 year storm event.

Because of the high snowpack in the area, the construction season is generally short — likely from May until the end of September. A crew of 250 workers will be working on the site over the summer to get the facility ready in time.

The discovery of grizzly bears in the area has also resulted in the commission of a comprehensive bear study, which was presented in Whistler on Wednesday, March 28 along with proposed legacy trails for the Callaghan that would extend outside of the Nordic Centre’s boundaries.

 

According to Douglas, VANOC has made all of the environmental monitoring reports available to the IOC, although that was not a requirement of the bid. However, she says the IOC is paying attention.

“The IOC is watching us because they really do think we’re raising the bar, and they’re interested to see how far we can continue to raise it,” she said.

“We’re working in a country that already has high standards, and we’re meeting them and exceeding them everywhere we can. We’ve come up with some really creative solutions on how to build these projects with minimal impact.”