Dome Ritchie, BC
BP Energy
2004 - 2019
Industry Environmental Leadership: Reclaimit Consultancy
In 2004 the Reclaimit environmental consultancy discovered an environmental liability that was originally developed as a part of a natural gas exploration project in 1973. Located in Canada’s northwest coastal mountain range and within a remote alpine environment, the site is only accessible by helicopter a few months of the year.
From 2004-19 Reclaimit’s environmental consultants were enlisted, on behalf of the site owner, to lead or provide logistical support for health, safety, environment, reputation and quality control management systems for all project activities. Reclaimit environmental consulting leadership ensured that all work met project scope requirements in an incident and accident-free manner.
The project started with the safe removal and proper disposal of all surface debris and numerous highly skilled environmental professionals assessed and proposed solutions for the environmental concerns, which included a large subsurface diesel plum. The project proponent then requested Reclaimit’s lead consultant to draft and submit a site-specific reclamation strategy for regulatory review and approval. This reclamation plan was approved by the BC Oil and Gas Commission (BCOGC) and became the agreed-to strategy for the completion of final site work and reclamation activities. Reclaimit was engaged in 2019 as a Technical Advisor to the lead contractor, AECOM, for final reclamation activities.
All work at the DOME-Ritchie site is complete. No environmental or safety incidents or accidents occurred from the time of the site’s discovery (2004) to final work completion (2019). Photo documentation is presented to share the experience.
“… performed with safety in mind …. field program that involved high risk activities and unique challenges associated with a large, remote site. …. The size of the site and potential for wildlife encounters, in particular grizzly bears, required careful coordination of work performed in teams under the oversight of the program manager and a wildlife monitor to safely and successfully complete the remediation, reclamation and waste management objectives.” – Amanda B, Ph.D., P.Biol., Senior Scientist and Reclamation Specialist, AECOM
Figure 1. Coastal Mountain Range of northwest BC and home of the NW BC site.
Figure 2. NW BC site as it lies within the upper Sub-alpine and lower Alpine mountain ecosystems, 2005.
Figure 3. Landslide blocking the road access to NW BC site.
Figure 4. Base camp for staging all work. Site access from here is a 15 km and 950 m elevation change. NW BC site, 2004-19.
Figure 5. Helicopter mobilization of all field work supply and personnel, NW BC site, 2004-19.
Figure 6. Panorama view of site showing the temporary shelter and visible fences around open water sources, NW BC site, 2005-19.
Figure 7. Temporary shelter used for short term project work, NW BC site, 2005-19.
Figure 8. Collection and staging of industrial debris remnants, NW BC site, 2005-7.
Figure 9. Removal and subsequent disposal of industrial debris remnants, NW BC site, 2005-7.
Figure 10. Core hole for soil sampling and ground water well installation during a September snow shower, NW BC site, 2007.
Figure 11. Nothing good to eat here. Results of an overnight grizzly bear investigation of a supply cache, NW BC site, 2007.
Figure 12. Processing soil and water samples to complete a Detailed Site Investigation, NW BC site, 2005-08.
Figure 13. Mountain camp for final clean- up activities, NW BC site, 2019.
Figure 14. Environmental work complete. Time to start site monitoring and final reporting, NW BC site, 2019.
