ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT PID 294504: …

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT PID 294504:

CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE PROPOSED MEADOW FRESH MUSHROOM FACILITY 2475 DOCK ROAD, HARTSVILLE, PE

Prepared for:

Meadow Fresh Mushroom Inc. c/o Mr. Brian MacKay P.O. Box 244 Charlottetown, PE C1A 7K4

July 2007

Prepared by:

www.fundyeng.com

Project No: 07-5410

07-5410 www.fundyeng.com July 2007

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Environmental Assessment Report for the Construction and Operation of the Proposed Meadow Fresh Mushrooms Farm. The Undertaking described herein refers to a mushroom farm that will grow mushrooms using municipal compost as the growth medium. For the purpose of this Environmental Assessment Report the Undertaking is referred to as: the Farm.

Meadow Fresh Mushroom Inc. will be located on Dock Road, Hunter River, Prince Edward Island (PE). The Farm is a mushroom facility that will grow mushrooms using different inputs than traditional methods. Traditionally, mushrooms are produced in beds of compost made from either horse or chicken manure. The technique of using municipal compost has been developed in England by Mr. Colin Sturgeon. Mr. Sturgeon has had 35 years experience managing Mushroom Farms. From 2001 to 2003 Mr. Sturgeon worked for the government of England as a consultant to research the feasibility of using green waste as a growing medium for mushrooms. He has been managing his own commercial mushroom farm since 2003 using municipal green waste as the growing medium. To adapt the technology on Prince Edward Island, it will require minimal research using the municipal compost produced by the Island Waste Management Corporation (IWMC). Some additional research is needed because the compost produced on PEI has some slightly different properties than the municipal compost produced in England. This research will determine the additives and techniques to get the compost to the stage to produce mushrooms with the taste and shelf life that has been obtained in England.

The municipal compost that is proposed for the cultivation process by the Farm is category “A” compost, which will be obtained from the IWMC. Category “A” compost has unrestricted use, as designated by the province. The compost can be used in any application, such as agricultural lands, residential gardens, horticultural operations, the nursery industry, and other businesses.

Meadow Fresh Mushroom Farm has developed a mitigation strategy to minimize the environmental impacts from the construction and operation of the Farm. The areas of proposed mitigation measures are:

odour control; wastewater mitigation measures; and Contractor compliance to environmental protection suggestions.

The overall goal of the public involvement for the Farm Report is to ensure those that are potentially affected by the Farm are aware of the project, are able to obtain information on the project, and are able to express any concerns they may have. It is recognized that not all concerns can be addressed to the satisfaction of the all parties; however, it is the intent of Meadow Fresh Mushrooms Inc. to respond to the public in an open and forthright manner, and to resolve as many


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of the public’s concerns as possible, while identifying those that cannot be resolved. The public involvement process included:

Step 1: Public Notice Step 2: Open House or Public Meeting

The list below presents a summary for the PEIDEEF of all concerns raised by the public and the PEIDEEF.

Air quality and odour issues – Application of dust suppressants; use of low sulphur fuels; following equipment maintenance schedules; minimizing the extent of clearing; preserving natural vegetation where possible; minimizing activities that generate large quantities of fugitive dust during high winds; covering truck loads of materials which could generate dust, as necessary; and providing erosion control structures such as silt fences and coffer dams. The Farm may cause odour issues during operation; to mitigate an air filter system on the pasteurization tunnel will be installed. This system will include a serious of various sized screens to eliminate any odour that may occur.

Groundwater and surface water issues – In order to minimize and control contamination of surface and groundwater during construction every effort shall be taken to avoid rutting in and or near wetland areas (i.e. wheel rutting, track rutting). Sedimentation control structures and site drainage facilities shall be placed and installed in appropriate locations for the construction phase and activity undertaken at the time. Additional sedimentation control structures shall be installed where needed. Site drainage will be diverted from cleared, graded, or excavated areas. Ditching shall be installed at the perimeter of excavation areas to divert natural surface drainage away from the work area.

Wastewater disposal – It is proposed that the wastewater produced at the facility will be dealt with on site by a designed septic system and tile field. A closed water recycling system will be built into the compost preparation, and pasteurization tunnels to mitigate and control washdown water. Any run off water will be collected and reapplied to the system. All washdown water in the grow tunnels will be disposed of through the septic system (refer to Appendix B). Sanitary waste will be handled using portable restrooms during construction. These will be self contained units, and will not require additional water. The portable restrooms located at the site will conform to the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Act and any city ordinances. All septic waste will be collected by a licensed waste disposal operator and transported off site for disposal at a proper handling facility

Spent compost disposal – The spent compost will be processed on site in the pelletizing building to produce a soil amendment product that will be sold as a secondary income off island.


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Noise pollution – To minimize noise pollution all vehicles and generators will have exhaust systems inspected regularly and mufflers will be operating properly. The contractor shall keep idling of construction equipment to a minimum. Noisy activity shall be scheduled / planned during normal daylight hours or workdays if construction schedule permits. Minimize the extent of clearing, where possible, including minimizing the size of temporary workspaces. Natural vegetation will be preserved where possible

Facility size – The Farm will consist of four production buildings and one mobile trail to be used by a live-on employee. The four production buildings are a raw compost delivery building, a pasteurization building, grow tunnels – ten quonset huts that are connected by a service arcade, and a pelletization building. The raw compost delivery building and pasteurization building will be 12m x 30.5m each and sit on a concrete slab. The grow tunnels consist of ten Quonset hut design building with five grow rooms on each side of the service arcade, and 3m between each growing room. The service arcade is 61m long and 6m wide providing access to each of the grow rooms. The grow tunnels and service arcade will be placed on a concrete slab that has drainage built into it. The pelletizating building will be 12m x 38m

Lighting requirements – The Farm will require security lighting at building exteriors. Operational lights will be minimal since mushrooms grow in the dark there will be no high wattage grow lights used in the process. Incandescent lights will be installed within the buildings for safety purposes.

Traffic flow to sight – One 20-ton truck load per week of compost will be delivered at the start of production and will increase to three 20-ton truck loads per week when full production capacity has been reached. One Delivery truck per day, five days a week, will come to the Farm to pick-up the packaged mushrooms for sale.

Vermin control – The Farm intends to employ high standards of cleanliness endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to limit vermin on the farm and a contract with Island Pest Control will be used to ensure there are no outbreaks of vermin on the premises.

Erosion control – Sediment control will involve use of erosion control fencing, straw bales, mulch (possibly from shrubs and trees removed during clearing), sedimentation control ponds if necessary, and silt fences.

Decommissioning plan – If the Farm should cease to operate, then the buildings would be dismantled and sold off. All equipment would be sold as well. No new compost or spent compost would be left on site in the event of closure of the Farm.


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Approvals and permits – The Farm will require two permits (i.e., septic system permit and building permit) and an Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Loan application.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................... i LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................viii LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................. ix LIST OF ACRONYMNS ........................................................................................ x EQUIVALENTS.................................................................................................... xi

1.0 THE PROPONENT.......................................................................................1 1.1 Name of Proponent...................................................................................1 1.2 Address of Proponent ...............................................................................1 1.3 Proponent Contact....................................................................................1 1.4 Principal Contact Person for Purposes of the Environmental Assessment

.................................................................................................................1 1.5 Property Ownership ..................................................................................1

2.0 THE UNDERTAKING....................................................................................3 2.1 Name of the Undertaking..........................................................................3

2.1.1 Work Equipment Required ..............................................................3 2.2 Potential Sources of Pollution...................................................................3

2.2.1 Solid Waste Disposal.......................................................................4 2.2.2 Sanitary Waste ................................................................................4 2.2.3 Dust .................................................................................................4 2.2.4 Noise ...............................................................................................5

2.3 Site Clearing .............................................................................................5 2.4 Erosion Protection ....................................................................................6

2.4.1 Buffer Zones....................................................................................6 2.4.2 Dewatering in Work Areas...............................................................6

2.5 Operation and Maintenance Details..........................................................7 2.6 Abandonment .........................................................................................10 2.7 Approvals and Permits............................................................................10

3.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ................................11 3.1 Physical and Natural Features................................................................11 3.2 Existing and Historic Land Uses .............................................................11 3.3 Description of Proposed Meadow Fresh Mushroom Farm......................11

3.3.1 Work Equipment Required ............................................................15

4.0 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS...........................................16 4.1 Air Quality ...............................................................................................16

4.1.1 Mitigation Measures ......................................................................16 4.2 Offensive Odours....................................................................................16

4.2.1 Mitigation Measures ......................................................................16


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4.3 Noise Pollution........................................................................................16 4.3.1 Mitigation Measures ......................................................................16

4.4 Surface water and Groundwater .............................................................17 4.4.1 Mitigation Measures ......................................................................17

4.5 Wastewater and Washdown Water Disposal ..........................................17 4.5.1 Mitigation Measures ......................................................................17

4.6 Fish and Fish Habitat..............................................................................18 4.7 Terrestrial and Wetland Environment .....................................................18 4.8 Health and Safety ...................................................................................18 4.9 Land Use ................................................................................................19 4.10 Labour and Economy..............................................................................19 4.11 Lighting ...................................................................................................19 4.12 Vermin Control........................................................................................20 4.13 Erosion control........................................................................................20

4.13.1 Mitigation Measures ......................................................................20

5.0 SUMMARY OF PROPOSED MITIGATION ................................................21 5.1 Air Quality ...............................................................................................21 5.2 Odour Control .........................................................................................21 5.3 Noise pollution ........................................................................................22 5.4 Surface Water and Groundwater ............................................................22 5.5 Wastewater and Washdown Mitigation Measures ..................................22 5.6 Erosion Control .......................................................................................22 5.7 Contractor Compliance to Environmental Protection Suggestions..........23

6.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ............................................................................24 6.1 Public Involvement Plan for this Undertaking..........................................24

6.1.1 Step 1: Public Notice ....................................................................24 6.1.2 Step 2: Open House or Public Meeting ........................................24

7.0 APPROVAL OF THE FARM .......................................................................26 7.1 Permit 1: Septic System Permit ..............................................................26 7.2 Permit 2: Building Permit .......................................................................26 7.3 Application: Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC) Loan

Application..............................................................................................27

8.0 SIGNATURE...............................................................................................28

9.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS..............................................................29

10.0 REPORT DISCLAIMERS AND DISCLOSURES.........................................32 10.1 Project Team ..........................................................................................32


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APPENDIX A: Air Filtration Systems APPENDIX B: Construction Plans APPENDIX C: Pellitizing Equipment and Process APPENDIX D: Compost Product Guidelines and Compost Analysis APPENDIX E: Resumes


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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Types and quantities of the equipment expected to be used for the construction of the Farm. ......................................................................................3

Table 2. Types and quantities of the equipment to be used during operation....15

Table 3. Filtration System Components ..............................................................21


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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Site Plan ................................................................................................2

Figure 2. Building Layout ......................................................................................8

Figure 3. Aerial Layout........................................................................................14


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LIST OF ACRONYMNS

AAFC: Agriculture and Agrifood Criteria

CCME: Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment

e.g.: (exempli gratia) for example

etc.: et cetera

i.e.: (id est) namely / that is

IWMC: Island Waste Management Commission

PEIDEEF: Prince Edward Island Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry

PID: Property Identification number

RTE: Route


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EQUIVALENTS

1 Litre (L) = 0.264 US gallons (gal) 1 L = 0.220 Imperial gallons (Igal) 1 centimetre (cm) = 0.394 inches (in) 1 metre (m) = 3.281 feet (ft) 1 m2 = 10.765 ft2 1 m2 = 2.471 × 10-4 acres 1 m2 = 10-4 hectares (ha) 1 iton = 2000 pounds (lbs) 1 Kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds 1 000 L = 1 m3 1 part per million (ppm) = 1 milligram (mg) • L-1


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1.0 THE PROPONENT

1.1 Name of Proponent

Meadow Fresh Mushroom Inc.

1.2 Address of Proponent

2475 Dock Road Hartsville, PE

1.3 Proponent Contact

Mr. Brian MacKay Owner/Operator Email: [email protected] Telephone: 902.658.2295 Facsimile: 902.658.2295

1.4 Principal Contact Person for Purposes of the Environmental Assessment

Ms. Michelle Gough, E.I.T. Engineer, Fundy Engineering & Consulting Ltd. 537 North River Road Charlottetown, PE C1E 1J6 Email: [email protected] Telephone: 902.566.2269 Facsimile: 902.566.5984

1.5 Property Ownership

The property that will be affected by this project is identified as PID 294504 of the Prince Edward Island Department of Provincial Treasury Taxation and Property Records Division Geomatics Information Centre (refer to Figure 1). The property is in trust for Meadow Fresh Mushroom Inc. and will be purchased by Meadow Fresh Mushrooms once the project is approved by the Prince Edward Island Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry (PEIDEEF).


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2.0 THE UNDERTAKING

2.1 Name of the Undertaking

The Environmental Assessment Report for the Construction and Operation of the Proposed Meadow Fresh Mushrooms Farm. The Undertaking described herein refers to a mushroom farm that will cultivate mushrooms using municipal compost as the growth medium. For the purposes of this Environmental Assessment Report, the Undertaking is referred to as: the Farm.

2.1.1 Work Equipment Required

The equipment anticipated for use during the construction of the Farm is listed, including quantities, in Table 1. The proposed date for construction related activity is July 2007.

Table 1. Types and quantities of the equipment expected to be used for the construction of the Farm.

Description Quantity

Excavator 1

Dump truck 3

Back-hoe front-end loader (rubber-tire) 1

Roller-compactor 1

Pick-up civil (job-site use) 2 - 3

Compressors 2

Drills and stud guns 3

Systems small tools (sets @ 75 kW each) 1

The Farm site is accessed using the Dock Road – RTE 13. Access to the site will be controlled by the construction company.

2.2 Potential Sources of Pollution

The potential sources of pollution during the construction of the Farm include: air emissions; dust (e.g., from construction equipment); noise (e.g., from vehicular traffic, and onsite equipment); liquid waste (e.g., oils, lubricants, and site runoff); solid waste (e.g., scrap metal, used tires, and lumber); hazardous waste (e.g., gasoline, diesel, transmission oils, hydraulic oils, and spent oil filters); and septic waste. The ultimate fate of the wastes produced at the Farm will be properly handled and disposed of as outlined below.


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2.2.1 Solid Waste Disposal

Solid waste, if not properly controlled and disposed of, will be unsightly and may cause human safety and health concerns and could result in a conflict with wildlife. The measures listed below will be implemented to mitigate potential impacts related to solid waste disposal.

All domestic solid waste will be collected, properly stored, safely removed, and disposed of in an appropriate facility.

The site and working area will be kept clear of all scraps and garbage. Materials such as paper, cardboard, wood, scrap steel and metal, and

tires will be collected and offered for recycling. All materials that cannot be recycled will be disposed of in an approved facility.

Waste accumulated on site prior to disposal shall be placed in a secured location, so as to not pose a threat or concern to human health and safety or wildlife.

2.2.2 Sanitary Waste

The release of untreated sewage is a concern to human health, drinking water quality, and aquatic ecosystems. No sewage will be discharged during the construction activities. The measures listed below will be implemented to mitigate potential impacts related to sewage disposal.

Sanitary waste will be handled by portable self-contained restrooms that

do not require a water supply. The portable restrooms located at the site will conform to the

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. The temporary sewage disposal system used during construction shall

comply with the Department of Health guidelines. All septic waste will be collected by a licensed waste disposal operator

and transported offsite for safe and proper disposal.

2.2.3 Dust

Excavated areas of the Project site may produce nuisance dust in the short term prior to the application of hard surfaces (i.e., asphalt or concrete) or revegetation of the disturbed areas. The environmental concerns related to dust include human health effects and potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems and vegetation. The measures listed below will be taken to mitigate potential impacts associated with dust.

Minimize activities that generate large quantities of dust.


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Cover truck loads of materials that could generate dust. Dust from construction activities will be controlled where possible by

using frequent applications of water. Waste oil will not be used for dust control, but other agents such as calcium chloride may be used with the approval of regulatory agencies.

Application of calcium chloride shall be in accordance with the guidelines available from the PEIDEEF and Environment Canada.

2.2.4 Noise

A variety of noises associated with heavy construction activity can cause adverse effects on wildlife resources in terms of their distribution and abundance. Noises associated with heavy equipment are short term, but measures will be implemented wherever possible to minimize potential impacts arising from a variety of noise sources. Potential mitigative measures to be taken are listed below.

All vehicles and generators will have exhaust systems regularly inspected and mufflers must operate properly.

Scheduling / planning of noisy activity during normal workday hours. Forested buffers will be retained, where possible, between the proposed

location of the facility and the nearest noise sensitive receptor.

2.3 Site Clearing

All activities relating to site preparations will adhere to all relevant regulatory requirements.

The measures listed below will be undertaken to prevent potential impacts upon valued environmental components during site clearing.

The extent of clearing will be minimized, where possible, including minimizing the size of temporary workspaces.

Natural vegetation will be preserved where possible. Sedimentation control will be implemented, where required, and as

indicated. Vegetation cleared from the site must not be burned. Cleared materials

shall be reused where possible or chipped, composted, or reused onsite. Trees and brush will be cut at ground level, leaving the stumps and root

systems intact where possible. o No trees may be felled across or into a watercourse. o No primary forest product is to be stacked within 15 m of a

watercourse.


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o Where possible, vegetation must be maintained along the banks of the watercourse in sufficient quantity to provide for bank stability and shading.

o All trees and debris lying on the ground within 15 m of the edge of the bank of a watercourse must be removed and disposed of such that it cannot enter the watercourse during high flow.

o Any debris generated during the construction of the Farm must be prevented from washing downstream and must be removed from the watercourse.

2.4 Erosion Protection

Many of the site preparation activities have the potential to alter the natural vegetative cover of the land causing the soil to be more susceptible to wind and water erosion. The ensuing product may affect terrestrial and wetland / watercourse habitat by changing its physical and chemical characteristics. The measures listed below will be implemented in order to minimize the occurrence of erosion.

Sediment control will involve use of erosion control fencing, straw bales, mulch (possibly from shrubs and trees removed during clearing), sedimentation control ponds, if necessary, and silt fences.

2.4.1 Buffer Zones

The relevant standard environmental protection (i.e., buffer zones) procedures considered appropriate to prevent or minimize potential environmental effects resulting from construction siltation and noise are provided below.

All buffer zones will be flagged prior to any disturbance activities. Drainage from areas of exposed fill will be controlled by grade or ditching

and directed away from any wetlands / watercourses wherever possible. Surface water will be directed away from work areas by ditching. Runoff

from these areas will have silt removed by filtration or other suitable methods.

2.4.2 Dewatering in Work Areas

Work areas, during construction, may require dewatering. The major concern associated with dewatering of construction sites is siltation, and direct fish mortality and / or fish habitat destruction. The measures provided below will be implemented, as required, in order to minimize dewatering impacts.


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Where possible, clean water should be discharged to vegetated work areas to further reduce any potential impacts on wetlands / watercourses.

Discharged water should be encouraged to follow natural surface drainage patterns.

Proper precautionary measures should be employed to prevent the alteration, destruction, or disruption of fish habitat.

A ditch will be installed at the perimeter of the excavation area to divert natural surface drainage away from the work area. This flow will be directed away from the excavation area and will be regularly monitored to determine the possible requirements for siltation controls or bank stabilization.

2.5 Operation and Maintenance Details

The operation and maintenance details of the Farm are summarized into:

Compost Phase 1; o delivery of municipal compost; o pre-wetting of raw material and turning;

Compost Phase 2 & 3; o pasteurization; o bagging and growth; o harvesting and shipping; and

Pellitizing spent compost.

Each of these processes is described below.

Delivery of Compost

Wetting & Turning

Pasteurizing Compost

Bagging & Seeding

Growing Mushrooms

Harvest Mushrooms

Shipping Produce

Pellitizing Spent Compost


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Compost Phase 1 The delivery of the category “A” municipal compost will occur weekly. One 20-ton truck load will be delivered at the start of production. The delivery amount will increase to three 20-ton truck loads when full production capacity is reached. The compost will be delivered and stored in the compost building (Figure 2), which has a concrete floor. No compost will be stored outdoors.

Pre-wetting of the raw material will occur by mixing it and adding water to create a pile. The pile will be mixed daily over a specified period of time as determined by the compost maker. When the compost is in the correct condition, it will be formed into rows by a specialized piece of equipment called “the turner”. These rows will then be turned by the machine at regular intervals determined by the compost maker. The entire process takes approximately 21 days to complete and occurs within the confinements of the compost building to ensure cleanliness.

Compost Phase 2 & 3 The Phase 1 compost will be loaded into a pasteurization tunnel where it will be treated over seven days. This process includes:

leveling out the compost temperature; heating compost to the required heat for pasteurization; maintaining the compost at this heat for several hours to achieve good

pasteurization; reducing the temperature and holding it for a period of time to condition

the compost; and cooling down the compost so that it is at the correct temperature for

spawning.

The pasteurized compost will be bagged by a machine, which adds spawn at the same time. Once the bags are full and the tunnel is empty, the spawned and bagged compost is put into growing houses. The growing process includes:

heating the compost for the spawn run; cutting down the bags; leveling the compost surface; adding peat to the surface; watering; and airing up.

The bags are kept in the dark while the mycelium from the spawn runs through the compost. The substrate is “cased”, which means covered to a depth of about 3 to 5 cm with casing soil that is a mix of peat moss and limestone. The casing


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protects the colonized substrate from drying out and provides a stimulus for the mushrooms to form. After approximately two weeks of casing, the mushrooms start forming and are picked continuously until the nutrients in the compost are used up. There are usually four flushes of growth before the compost is depleted of nutrients.

Photo 1. Mushrooms Growing in Bags.

Once the growing process is complete, the mushrooms will be picked and packaged for sale. One delivery truck per day, five days a week, will come to the Farm.

Pellitizing Spent Compost

The spent compost will be processed on site in the pelletizing building to produce a soil amendment product that will be sold off island. The pellitizing process is summarized below.

The spent compost is first reduced in size by fine grinding it in a hammer mill.

The material is transferred to a pre-pelletizing storage area by air, complete with a cyclone and dust collection unit.

The material is pelletizied using a rind die pellet press through a pressure process that forces the material through a series of small holes


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in the die. The configuration of the die holds the material in a confined space for a period of time, which makes the material bond together.

The pellets are transferred to a cooler by means of a bucket elevator. The cooler forces ambient temperature air through the pellets to cool. The air is filtered through a dust collection system, complete with a cyclone.

The cooled pellets are transported in bags for storage and shipping.

2.6 Abandonment

If the Farm should cease to operate, then the buildings would be dismantled and sold. All equipment would be sold as well. No new compost or spent compost would be left on site in the event of closure of the Farm.

2.7 Approvals and Permits

Applications for permits (See Section 7.0 of this document) are currently being prepared for submission. Therefore, they have not been included with this document.


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3.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

3.1 Physical and Natural Features

Farming is a traditional use of the land in the area. As such, the Farm is located in an agricultural area. The surrounding properties are cleared fields that have hedgerows separating them. The southern Farm property is partially cleared while the northern half is forested.

The section of the property where the Farm will be located is relatively flat with a 2% grade increasing to an 8% grade at the northern and eastern boundaries. The areas with the 8% grade will not be used for the Farm.

There is an unnamed stream located on the lower northern boundary and to the east of the property on the opposite side of Dock Road. An unnamed stream crosses the property in the upper western corner and a third unnamed stream marks the western border (refer to Figure 3).

3.2 Existing and Historic Land Uses

The majority of the surrounding lands near the proposed Farm site is cleared farm land or forested.

The development of the proposed Farm is not expected to have a significant effect on existing land uses.

3.3 Description of Proposed Meadow Fresh Mushroom Farm

Meadow Fresh Mushroom Inc. is proposing to cultivate mushrooms using different inputs than the traditional methods. Normally mushrooms are produced by growing them in beds of compost made from either horse or chicken manure. A new technique of using municipal compost was developed in England by Mr. Colin Sturgeon. Adapting the technology to PEI will require minimal research for using the municipal compost produced by the Island Waste Management Commission (IWMC). Some additional research is needed because the compost produced on PEI has slightly different properties than the municipal compost produced in England. This research will determine the additives and techniques required to get the compost to the stage of producing mushrooms with the taste and shelf life that has been obtained in England.

The mushrooms produced using municipal compost in England have a shelf life almost double those grown by traditional methods. They also have a taste that closely coincides with mushrooms grown in the wild. The research is proposed to continue on different types of mushrooms, their adaptability to growing in the

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compost, and the possibility of using the compost instead of peat moss for a capping material.

The municipal compost that will be used by the Farm has been composted at the IWMC site to a category “A” compost rating. Category “A” compost has unrestricted use as designated by the “Support Document for Compost Quality Criteria [National Standard of Canada CAN/BNQ 0413-200, Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Guidelines and Agriculture and Agrifood (AAFC) Criteria]”. The compost can be used in any application, such as agricultural lands, residential gardens, horticultural operations, the nursery industry, and other businesses. If the municipal compost is not available, due perhaps to unforeseen circumstances, traditional compost (i.e. sheep or horse manure) could be used as an alternative to insure mushroom production is continued.

The Farm will be funded using private sources and will be applying for provincial government loans.

The Farm will consist of four production buildings and one mobile trailer that will be used by an employee living on the Farm. The four production buildings comprise: a raw compost delivery building; a pasteurization building; grow tunnels (i.e. ten quonset huts that are connected by a service arcade); and a pelletization building.

The raw compost delivery building and pasteurization building will be 12m x 30.5m each and sit on a concrete slab. The slab will have drainage built into it to collect the waste and washdown water. The drains will divert flow to a collection basin and that water will be reused in the composting process. It will be a closed system where the waste water goes to a tile field (refer to Appendix B) for additional details.

The grow tunnels will consist of ten Quonset huts with five grow rooms on each side of a service arcade. There will be a space of 3m between each Quonset hut. Each growing room will have double rows of growing tables and each row will have three levels of growing tables. Each row will hold 20 tonnes of compost, with all three levels holding 60 tonnes of compost. Each 20 tonnes of compost will produce 4536kg of mushrooms. The service arcade is 61m long and 6.1m wide providing access to each of the grow rooms. The grow tunnels and service arcade will be placed on a concrete slab that has drainage built into it. The washdown water will be collected in these drains and disposed of in the tile field (refer to Appendix B for Building Plans).


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Photo 2. Quonset Hut Layout

Photo 3. Grow Room – Quonset Hut Design


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Photo 4. Grow Room - Grow Table Layout

The pelletization building will be 12m x 38m. The washdown water from this building will also be disposed of in the tile field. It is proposed that the spent compost will be pelletized and used as soil amendment and packaged and sold as a secondary revenue source off Island.

The proponent intends to employ high standards of cleanliness endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in order to minimize loss of product. These standards will help limit vermin on the farm and a contract with Island Pest Control will be used to ensure there are no outbreaks of vermin on the premises.

3.3.1 Work Equipment Required

The equipment anticipated for use during the operation of the Farm is listed, including quantities, in Table 2.

Table 2. Types and quantities of the equipment to be used during operation.

Description Quantity Tractor with front end Loader 1

Fork lift 1

“Turner” 1

Bagging Machine 1

Pick-up civil (job-site use) 1

Delivery truck 1

Pelletizer (see Appendix C) 1


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4.0 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

The environmental impacts of the Farm are described in the sections below.

4.1 Air Quality

Potential Impact: The Farm may cause a change in air quality during construction.

4.1.1 Mitigation Measures

Minimize activities that generate large quantities of dust. Clean-up of mud and dust from paved roads (Dock Road) and access

points. Cessation of dust generating construction activities during periods of

excessive winds. Timely stabilization of exposed areas prone to wind erosion. Cover truck loads of materials which could generate dust, as necessary. Use low sulphur fuels and following equipment maintenance schedules.

Minimizing the extent of clearing; preserving natural vegetation, where possible.

4.2 Offensive Odours

Potential Impact: The Farm may cause odour issues during operation.


An air filter system on the pasteurization tunnel. This system will include a series of various sized screens to eliminate any odour that may occur (refer to section 5.1).

4.3 Noise Pollution

Potential Impact: During construction noise pollution may be increased. Potential Impact: Noise pollution during operation of the Farm will not

exceed that of a normal Farm operation (refer to section 3.3.1).


Minimize the extent of clearing, where possible, including minimizing the size of temporary workspaces.


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All vehicles and generators will have exhaust systems inspected regularly and mufflers will be operating properly.

The contractor shall keep idling of construction equipment to a minimum. Noisy activity shall be scheduled / planned during normal daylight hours

or workdays if construction schedule permits. Proper functioning and monitoring of noise abatement equipment. Preserve natural vegetation where possible

4.4 Surface water and Groundwater

Potential Impact: Due to the construction there may be an increase in surface runoff and therefore a decrease in groundwater recharge rates, although the effect is not likely to be significant.


Every effort shall be taken to avoid rutting in and or near wetland areas (i.e. wheel rutting, track rutting)

Sedimentation control structures and site drainage facilities shall be placed and installed in appropriate locations for the construction phase and activity undertaken at the time. Additional sedimentation control structures shall be installed where needed.

Site drainage should be diverted from cleared, graded, or excavated areas.

Mud logs should be installed close to where water enters the machinery trails. In addition, the ground should slope to one side to ensure sediment-laden water does not collect in wheel ruts and discharge into wetlands and/or watercourses.

Ditching shall be installed at the perimeter of excavation areas to divert natural surface drainage away from the work area.

4.5 Wastewater and Washdown Water Disposal

Potential Impact: All wastewater and washdown water will be treated and disposed of on site.


Sanitary waste will be handled using portable restrooms during construction. These will be self contained units, and will not require additional water.

The portable restrooms located at the site will conform to the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Act and any city ordinances.


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All septic waste will be collected by a licensed waste disposal operator and transported off site for disposal at a proper handling facility

A designed septic system and tile field will be installed to handle all wastewater generated, refer to Appendix B for more details of the design.

A closed water recycling system will be built into the compost preparation and pasteurization tunnels. Any washdown water will be collected and reapplied to the system. All washdown water in the grow tunnels will be disposed of through the septic system.

4.6 Fish and Fish Habitat

The Farm will have no negative effect on fish and fish habitat. All streams are located at least 84m from any of the Farm buildings and tile field. The area between the Farm buildings and the stream is wooded, which should impede any impact from the Farm on the stream.

4.7 Terrestrial and Wetland Environment

The area to be developed as the Farm is in the cleared section of the property so there will be no negative impact on loss of vegetation and wetland environment.

4.8 Health and Safety

During the construction and operation of the Farm, safe work practices will be practiced. In case of an unforeseen accident, emergency contact numbers are provided below. Emergency contact numbers

Contact names and numbers are provided to ensure that the appropriate company representative can be reached at any time. A list of government agencies, contact names and phone numbers is also provided for each area of responsibility should a need arise whereby a company representative must contact the regulating agency.

Meadow Fresh Mushroom Farm Inc.

Manager (Mr. Brian MacKay) Hunter River, PE (902) 314-3846

Fundy Engineering

Environmental Permitting Manager (Mr. Tim Ryan) Saint John, NB (506) 674-9403

Meadow Fresh Mushroom Charlottetown, PE (902) 566-2269


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contact (Mr. Michelle Gough) (902) 439-0093 (cell) Emergency Contacts Fire Department Charlottetown, PE 911 Ambulance Charlottetown, PE 911 Police Charlottetown, PE 911

Local Hospital with 24 hr Emergency Services

Queen Elisabeth Hospital Charlottetown, PE (902) 894-2111 Prince County Hospital Charlottetown, PE (902) 432-2500

Regulatory Contacts

Local PEIDEEF Office

Greg Wilson (Environmental Assessment Section Coordinato)

(902) 569-7746

PEIDEEF, Representatives Jay Carr (Environmental Assessment Officer)

(902) 368-5049

Forest Fires Centers Prince Edward Island Charlottetown, PE 911

4.9 Land Use

The Farm will change the Land Use from an agricultural field to a farm complex. The area of the property to be developed into the Farm is a cleared field so no additional impact is expected.

4.10 Labour and Economy

During site preparation and operation the Farm will have a positive impact on labour and economy.

No mitigation is recommended.

4.11 Lighting

The Farm will require security lighting at building exteriors. Operational lights will be minimal. Since mushrooms grow in the dark,

there will be no high wattage grow lights used in the process. Incandescent lights, with a wattage of 60, will be installed within the

buildings for safety purposes.


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4.12 Vermin Control

The proponent intends to employ high standards of cleanliness endorsed by the CFIA in order to limit vermin on the Farm. A contract with Island Pest Control will be used to ensure there are no outbreaks of vermin on the premises.

4.13 Erosion control

Many site preparation activities alter the natural vegetative cover of the land, making soil more susceptible to wind and water erosion by exposing soil directly to the elements. This in turn creates potential for environmental impacts that may negatively affect terrestrial and aquatic habitat by changing its physical and chemical characteristics.


Develop and implement a sediment control plan for all activities potentially resulting in an increased presence of sediment. Erosion protection controls, such as erosion control fencing, check dams, straw bales, mulch (possibly from shrubs and trees removed during clearing), sedimentation control basins, if necessary, and silt fences are expected to be used.

Erodible soils shall be covered with hay mulch if the area is not actively worked for more than 1 week.


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5.0 SUMMARY OF PROPOSED MITIGATION

Meadow Fresh Mushroom Farm Inc. has developed a mitigation strategy to minimize the environmental impacts from the construction and operation of the Farm. The proposed mitigation is listed below.

5.1 Air Quality

Air quality will be protected by: minimizing activities that generate large quantities of dust; clean-up of mud and dust from paved roads (Dock Road) and access points; cessation of dust generating construction activities during periods of excessive winds; timely stabilization of exposed areas prone to wind erosion; cover truck loads of materials which could generate dust as necessary; use low sulphur fuels and following equipment maintenance schedules; minimizing the extent of clearing; preserving natural vegetation where possible.

5.2 Odour Control

To control and mitigate any odour that may be produced during the production phase, an air filter system will be installed in the pasteurization tunnel that will utilize a variety of filter sizes to insure good air quality (refer to Appendix A). The filter system uses Camfil filters and holders. The filter installation uses RZA mounting frames, MZA installation moldings, SZA bracer moulding, and 4SPXM instillation frame.

Table 3. Filtration System Components

Equipment Specifications

RZA mounting frame

MZA installation moulding

SZA bracer moulding

4 SPXM installation frames

Glass fibre filter 51x51x5cm, >80 % arrestance according to ASHRAE 52/76

Opakfil G-95, Glass Fibre paper filter F8 – efficiency, 4250m2/130hr – Air Flow

Panal Filter Pleated – Cotton/Glassfibre 51x51x5cm, ≥30% according to ASHRAE 52/76

Filter Holding Frames, “L” type 16 gauge roll formed galvanized steel.

LBVL Grade G4 Pleated Panel filter >95% at 5 micron, initial resistance 32Pa

LBRB high efficiency final filter >95% at 0.6 micron, initial resistance 140Pa


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5.3 Noise pollution

To minimize noise pollution all vehicles and generators will have exhaust systems inspected regularly and mufflers will be operating properly. The contractor shall keep idling of construction equipment to a minimum. Noisy activity shall be scheduled / planned during normal daylight hours or workdays if construction schedule permits. Minimize the extent of clearing, where possible, including minimizing the size of temporary workspaces. Preserve natural vegetation where possible

5.4 Surface Water and Groundwater

In order to minimize and control contamination of surface and groundwater during construction every effort shall be taken to avoid rutting in and or near wetland areas (i.e. wheel rutting, track rutting). Sedimentation control structures and site drainage facilities shall be placed and installed in appropriate locations for the construction phase and activity undertaken at the time. Additional sedimentation control structures shall be installed where needed. Site drainage will be diverted from cleared, graded, or excavated areas. Ditching shall be installed at the perimeter of excavation areas to divert natural surface drainage away from the work area.

5.5 Wastewater and Washdown Mitigation Measures

It is proposed that the wastewater produced at the facility will be dealt with on site by a designed septic system and tile field.

A closed water recycling system will be built into the compost preparation, and pasteurization tunnels to mitigate and control washdown water. Any run off water will be collected and reapplied to the system. All washdown water in the grow tunnels will be disposed of through the septic system (refer to Appendix B).

Sanitary waste will be handled using portable restrooms during construction. These will be self contained units, and will not require additional water. The portable restrooms located at the site will conform to the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Act and any city ordinances. All septic waste will be collected by a licensed waste disposal operator and transported off site for disposal at a proper handling facility

5.6 Erosion Control

To control erosion during construction, erosion protection controls, such as erosion control fencing, check dams, straw bales, mulch (possibly from shrubs and trees removed during clearing), sedimentation control basins, if necessary, and silt fences will be used if needed. Erodible soils shall be covered with hay mulch if the area is not actively worked for more than 1 week.


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5.7 Contractor Compliance to Environmental Protection Suggestions

Contractor compliance with the recommended environmental mitigation measures will be a requirement for all contractors that will complete work on the Farm. A detailed review of the environmental protection suggestions will be undertaken between the successful Contractor and Meadow Fresh Mushroom Inc. or their representatives, to ensure that the intent of the environmental protection suggestions are clearly understood prior to the commencement of work.


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6.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

The overall goal of the public involvement for the Farm EIA is to ensure those that are potentially affected by the Farm are aware of the project, are able to obtain information on the project, and are able to express any concerns they may have. It is recognized that not all concerns can be addressed to the satisfaction of the all parties; however, it is the intent of Meadow Fresh Mushrooms Inc. to respond to the public in an open and forthright manner and to resolve as many of the public’s concerns as possible, while identifying those that cannot be resolved. Documenting the public involvement process, outlining the issues brought forward and those resolved, are provided below.

6.1 Public Involvement Plan for this Undertaking

The public involvement plan for the Farm EIA was developed in accordance with the Department of Environment, Energy, and Forestry of Prince Edward Island, Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines. The Department required that a Level I Public Consultation process be completed with a Level II Public Consultation being required if public concern warranted it.

6.1.1 Step 1: Public Notice

A public notice was placed in The Guardian, a local newspaper that has a general circulation in the project area. The first notice was placed on May 15th, giving ten days for response in writing. The response was large so a public meeting was planned and advertised in The Guardian on May 28th.

6.1.2 Step 2: Open House or Public Meeting

An advertised and hosted public meeting held on May 31, 2007, was used as an opportunity for the public to become familiar with the proposed project and ask questions and / or raise concerns about the environmental impacts. This meeting was attended by Mr. Brian MacKay of Meadow Fresh Farms and Mr. Jay Carr, Environmental Assessment Officer of the PEIDEEF. The questions and concerns raised at the public meeting are listed below.

Air quality and odour issues – Describe Meadow Fresh Mushrooms’ (MFM) plans to control air quality and odour issues related to the operation of this Facility. List all devices and/or mitigative measures that will be used for air quality and odour control and the buildings where any device will be installed. The potential release of spores associated with the operation, as they could affect air quality, must also be discussed (refer to sections 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and Appendix A).


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Groundwater and surface water issues – Describe how MFM will protect the groundwater and surface resources in the area from contaminants associated with this facility (refer to section 4.4).

Wastewater disposal – How does MFM propose to dispose of wastewater and washdown water produced from daily operations of the facility? Quantify and qualify all wastewater and washdown water that will be produced in the facility (refer to sections 3.3, 4.5, 5.2 and Appendix B).

Spent compost disposal – MFM must present a plan clearly showing how/where the spent compost from the operation will be disposed of. If future plans involve burning the spent product on-site as a form of bio-fuel for energy, any odour/air quality issues related to the burning process must to detailed (refer to section 2.5, and Appendix C).

Noise pollution – All possible sources of noice pollution must be identified and measures to mitigate any potential problems should be discussed (refer to section 2.2.4, and 4.3).

Facility size – An overall plan of the facility should be included with the assessment, which provides a phased breakdown of the operation and a size description of the total operation when running at full capacity of 30,000 lbs/wk (refer to section 3.3, and Appendix B).

Lighting requirements – Lighting requirements for the facility should be documented. Mitigative measures to minimize the lighting impacts on adjacent landowners should be documented (refer to section 4.11).

Traffic flow to sight – The assessment must list the expected flow volumes of heavy truck traffic to and from the site when operating at full capacity (refer to section 2.5).

Vermin control – A plan for vermin control should be included in the assessment (refer to section 3.3).

Erosion control – Erosion control measures for the construction phase of the development must be implemented and maintained to minimize environmental impacts on adjacent properties and watercourses. These measures should be detailed in the assessment report (refer to section 2.4).

Decommissioning plan – In the event that the facility is no longer in operation, a decommissioning plan for the site must be implemented. A decommissioning plan must be included in the Assessment report (refer to section 2.6).

Approvals and permits – The Assessment Report should list any approvals/permits that will be required from other provincial or federal governmental or regulatory bodies, such as CFIA, Department of Community &Cultural Affairs (Building Permit), etc. (refer to section 7.0).


7.0 APPROVAL OF THE FARM

The Farm will require two permits (i.e., septic system permit and a building permit) and an Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Loan application. A brief description of these permits and application, and the appropriate regulators are listed below.

7.1 Permit 1: Septic System Permit

A permit is required under the On-Site Sewage Disposal Regulations to construct, reconstruct, install or modify a sewage disposal system in The Province of P.E.I. The contractor must supply the Farm with a Compliance Certificate which certifies that the work covered by the permit has been completed and complies with all the requirements of the P.E.I. Environmental Protection Act Sewage Disposal Regulations.

Building and Development Community, Cultural Affairs and Labour Fourth Floor, Shaw Building 95 Rochford Street P.O. Box 2000 Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7N8 Telephone: (902) 368-5250 Facsimile: (902) 368-4121

7.2 Permit 2: Building Permit

A building permit pursuant to the Hunter River Building By-Law and the National Building Code 1995 Edition is required for the construction of the new Meadow Fresh Mushroom Farm. The address of the issuing authority, Town of Hunter River, is:

Building and Development Community, Cultural Affairs and Labour Fourth Floor, Shaw Building 95 Rochford Street P.O. Box 2000 Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7N8 Telephone: (902) 368-5250 Facsimile: (902) 368-4121


7.3 Application: Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC) Loan Application

Capital loans for land and buildings, including fixed equipment and re-capitalization, are available on terms not to exceed 20 years. Total mortgage financing against property should not generally exceed 80% of the fair market value of the real property. In providing loans to finance the acquisition of dairy farms, up to 80% of the quota value may be included where the quota can be unconditionally assigned under a Letter of Direction.

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission National Bank Tower 134 Kent Street Charlottetown, PE C1A 8R8


8.0 SIGNATURE

_________________ _____________________________________

Date Signature of Proponent Contact


9.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The list below presents a summary for the PEIDEEF.

Air quality and odour issues – Application of dust suppressants; use of low sulphur fuels; following equipment maintenance schedules; minimizing the extent of clearing; preserving natural vegetation where possible; minimizing activities that generate large quantities of fugitive dust during high winds; covering truck loads of materials which could generate dust, as necessary; and providing erosion control structures such as silt fences and coffer dams. The Farm may cause odour issues during operation; to mitigate an air filter system on the pasteurization tunnel will be installed. This system will include a serious of various sized screens to eliminate any odour that may occur (refer to section 5.1).

Groundwater and surface water issues – In order to minimize and control contamination of surface and groundwater during construction every effort shall be taken to avoid rutting in and or near wetland areas (i.e. wheel rutting, track rutting). Sedimentation control structures and site drainage facilities shall be placed and installed in appropriate locations for the construction phase and activity undertaken at the time. Additional sedimentation control structures shall be installed where needed. Site drainage will be diverted from cleared, graded, or excavated areas. Ditching shall be installed at the perimeter of excavation areas to divert natural surface drainage away from the work area.

Wastewater disposal – It is proposed that the wastewater produced at the facility will be dealt with on site by a designed septic system and tile field. A closed water recycling system will be built into the compost preparation, and pasteurization tunnels to mitigate and control washdown water. Any run off water will be collected and reapplied to the system. All washdown water in the grow tunnels will be disposed of through the septic system (refer to Appendix B). Sanitary waste will be handled using portable restrooms during construction. These will be self contained units, and will not require additional water. The portable restrooms located at the site will conform to the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Act and any city ordinances. All septic waste will be collected by a licensed waste disposal operator and transported off site for disposal at a proper handling facility

Spent compost disposal – The spent compost will be processed on site in the pelletizing building to produce a soil amendment product that will be sold as a secondary income off island (refer to Appendix C).

Noise pollution – To minimize noise pollution all vehicles and generators will have exhaust systems inspected regularly and mufflers


will be operating properly. The contractor shall keep idling of construction equipment to a minimum. Noisy activity shall be scheduled / planned during normal daylight hours or workdays if construction schedule permits. Minimize the extent of clearing, where possible, including minimizing the size of temporary workspaces. Natural vegetation will be preserved where possible

Facility size – The Farm will consist of four production buildings and one mobile trail to be used by a live-on employee. The four production buildings are a raw compost delivery building, a pasteurization building, grow tunnels – ten quonset huts that are connected by a service arcade, and a pelletization building. The raw compost delivery building and pasteurization building will be 12m x 30.5m each and sit on a concrete slab. The grow tunnels consist of ten Quonset hut design building with five grow rooms on each side of the service arcade, and 3m between each growing room. The service arcade is 61m long and 6m wide providing access to each of the grow rooms. The grow tunnels and service arcade will be placed on a concrete slab that has drainage built into it. The pelletizating building will be 12m x 38m

Lighting requirements – The Farm will require security lighting at building exteriors. Operational lights will be minimal since mushrooms grow in the dark there will be no high wattage grow lights used in the process. Incandescent lights will be installed within the buildings for safety purposes.

Traffic flow to sight – One 20-ton truck load per week of compost will be delivered at the start of production and will increase to three 20-ton truck loads per week when full production capacity has been reached. One Delivery truck per day, five days a week, will come to the Farm to pick-up the packaged mushrooms for sale.

Vermin control – The Farm intends to employ high standards of cleanliness endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to limit vermin on the farm and a contract with Island Pest Control will be used to ensure there are no outbreaks of vermin on the premises.

Erosion control – Sediment control will involve use of erosion control fencing, straw bales, mulch (possibly from shrubs and trees removed during clearing), sedimentation control ponds if necessary, and silt fences.

Decommissioning plan – If the Farm should cease to operate, then the buildings would be dismantled and sold off. All equipment would be sold as well. No new compost or spent compost would be left on site in the event of closure of the Farm.

Approvals and permits – The Farm will require two permits (i.e., septic system permit and building permit) and an Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Loan application.


I trust that you will find the contents of this report satisfactory for your purposes. Please fell free to contact me by telephone at 902.566.2269 or via email at [email protected] if any clarification is required.

Respectfully submitted,

Mr. Tim Ryan, M. Eng., P.Eng., P.E. Ms. Michelle Gough, EIT

FUNDY ENGINEERING & CONSULTING LTD.


10.0 REPORT DISCLAIMERS AND DISCLOSURES

The sole purpose of this report and the associated services performed by Fundy Engineering & Consulting Ltd. is to complete an Environmental Assessment report for the Construction and Operation of the Proposed Meadow Fresh Mushroom Farm. The scope of services was defined by the Prince Edward Island Department of Environment, energy and Forestry.

The observations made and facts presented in this report are based on information provided to Fundy Engineering by Mr. Brian MacKay of Meadow fresh Mushroom Farm and Mr. Jay Carr, Environmental Assessment Officer of the PEIDEEF between May 2007 and July 2007. No site conditions or groundwater quality were assessed by Fundy Engineering. All data presented are based on the statements, recollections, and observations of various individuals and where this is the case, sources are indicated. No independent confirmation of this information was made.

This report has been prepared on behalf of and for the exclusive use of the Client. The report expresses the professional opinion of Fundy Engineering experts and is based on their technical / scientific knowledge. Fundy Engineering & Consulting Ltd. accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report or data by any third party.

10.1 Project Team

Brief biographies for members of Fundy Engineering’s Environmental Team that generated this report are provided below. Tim A. Ryan, M. Eng., P. Eng., P.E. Senior Environmental Engineer, Environmental Director, Saint John Office

Since starting with Fundy Engineering in January 1996, Mr. Tim Ryan has been “Serving Our Clients’ Needs First”. He obtained his Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1990 from the University of Waterloo and then went on to graduate from the Masters of Civil Engineering program at the University of New Brunswick in 1996. He is a registered Professional Engineer in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Maine.

Mr. Ryan is our Environmental Team Director. His expertise includes site professional services, site remediation, environmental impact assessments, project management, environmental permitting, contaminant hydrogeology, Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, clean water initiatives, hydrogeology, and project assessment. Some noteworthy projects Mr. Ryan has managed include:


environmental impact assessment, permitting, monitoring, and compliance for portions of the $750 million LNG Marine Terminal and Multi-Purpose Pier Project, the first in eastern North America to be developed; environmental impact assessment, permitting, monitoring, and compliance for the Red Head Secondary Access Road, a new roadway for citizens in the unstable slope area of Red Head; environmental analysis and permitting for the ultra-low sulphur diesel pipeline between the Irving Oil Limited Refinery and the East Saint John Terminal; and competitive analysis reporting of proposed eastern North American LNG projects in terms of upstream supply and downstream markets.

Michelle Gough, EIT. Environmental Engineer in Training Michelle gough, EIT, a resident of western PEI, has a Diploma in Engineering from St. Francis Xavier University and her Bachelor of Environmental Engineering from Dalhousie University. She is also an alumnus of the Aerospace Engineering program at Carleton University. Ms. Gough’s experience includes project management, field investigations and report writing. The majority of her experience is in environmental site assessment, water treatment and greenhouse gas remediation. Ms. Gough is an EIT with the Association of Professional Engineers of Prince Edward Island and works as an Environmental Engineer at Fundy Engineering, Charlottetown.


Appendix A:

Air Filtration System


Appendix B:

Construction Plans


Appendix C:

Pelletizing Equipment and Process


Pellet Equipment List Components included: 1 - FSP60 hammer mill with screen sized according to specified finish pellet

dimension. Rated capacity 1000 kg/hr.

18 KW electric motor to CE standard, 220/440 volt, 60 hz, 3 ph Pneumatic discharge through integrated blower removal system 1 - Cyclone c/w filters for dust control from hammer mill to pre pellet storage 1 - Rotary air lock from discharge of cyclone 1.5 KW electric motor, CE standard, 220/440volt, 60 hz, 3 ph 1 - Bucket Elevator(TDTG26/23) for product transfer to pre pellet storage bin 1.5 KW electric motor, CE standard, 220/440volt, 60 hz, 3 ph 1 - Pre pellet storage bin for continuous product flow to pellet mill 1.5 cubic meters volume 1 - Magnetic Inline separator prior to inlet of Pellet mill 1 - PCK250 Ring Die, twin roller, belt drive pellet press, c/w feeder,

conditioner with steam injection fitting, and die injection feeder for controlled product supply to ring die. Total power comsuption to be 27 kw. Motors to be CE standard, 220/440 volt, 60 hz, 3 ph

1 - Horizontal belt conveyor for product transfer from pellet mill exit to bucket

elevator 1.5 KW electric motor, CE standard, 220/440 volt, 60 hz, 3 ph 1 - Bucket Elevator(TDTG26/23) for product transfer to cooler 1.5 KW electric motor, CE standard, 220/440volt, 60 hz, 3 ph 1 - Rotary air lock for supply to cooler 1.5 KW electric motor, CE standard, 220/440volt, 60 hz, 3 ph 1 - SKLN 11x11 Counterflow Cooler for pellet conditioning c/w fines screen 1.5 KW electric motor, CE standard, 220/440 volt, 60 hz, 3 ph 1 - Rotary air lock from output of fines sieve .55 KW electric motor, CE standard, 220/440volt, 60 hz, 3 ph 1 - Cooler blower 10 KW electric motor, CE standard, 220/440 volt, 60 hz, 3 ph


1 - Cyclone dust collector c/w filters at output of cooler 1 - Electric control cabinet, CE standard 1 - Misc fittings, duct work etc. Pellet Process:

Material is first reduced in size by fine grinding through a hammer mill

Material is transferred to pre pelletizing storage by air, complete with cyclone and dust collection.

Material is pelletizied by a rind die pellet press through a pressure process by forcing the material through a series of small holes in the die. The configuration of the die holds the material in a confined space for a period of time which makes the material bond together.

The pellets are transferred to a cooler by means of a bucket elevator. The cooler forces ambient temperature air through the pellets to cool. The air is filtered through a dust collection system, complete with cyclone.

The cooled pellets are transported to bags for storage or a holding area.


Appendix D:

Compost Product Guidelines and Compost Analysis


Appendix E:

Resumes


COLIN STURGEON 66,Fordhams Close, Stanton, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP3I 2EE Tele No: 01359 250750 D.O.B. 11/12/42

I served my apprenticeship in General Engineering and Project Management.

I spent 30 years with Chesswood Produce (one of the largest mushroom producers in the UK) which was part of the Rank Hovis McDougall group of companies. The Company produced approx. 745,000 lbs/week with a workforce of approx. 1500 over the sites both here in Suffolk and in Sussex. During this time I became heavily involved with the composting and growing areas, of which I was responsible for the production and quality. I have worked with some of the worlds leading consultants on composting and growing over the last 35 years.

PROJECTS OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS Design and construction of a high-tech farm £4,000,000 Design and construction of a low-tech farm £225,000 Extension to existing pack hall including new cold store facility; 7 offices, Q.C. department all without disruption to operations. £500,000 Design and construction of Pasteurization tunnels. £225,000 RESPONSIBILITIES

All engineering budgets for all sites.

All capital expenditure for all sites.

During the 30 years I was Divisional Engineer for the food group. Consisting of 11 major food companies.

Part of The Energy, Hygienic Design, Building & Civil committees within the Rank Hovis Group.

I am a member of the Agricultural Training Board for the east of England.


I was responsible for Health and Safety on site and set up the H&S committee liasing with government Health and Safety officer for out district.

During the last 10 years I have designed and built my own mushroom farm, which produces approx. 10,000 lbs/wk.

Built a pasteurization tunnel at Bay bulls(Canada) capable of 60 tonnes of pasteurized and conditioned compost.

Additional projects ranging in cost from £50,000 upward.

Within the last 6 years I have been employed, as a consultant, by an Irish Company, to restructure and implement new procedures on their two farms in England, which turned them from loss-making situation into one of profit. Along side this I was also responsible for the expansion of their compost yard in Ireland.

Over the last two years I have been involved with a project, funded by the government, into the feasibility of using green waste to produce mushroom growing medium. This has proved to be a very successful project and we are growing both the normal white mushroom and the chestnut variety also.


LEE MICHAEL STURGEON Date of Birth 22nd October 1969

Qualifications 9 “O” levels Grade B – C

“B” Tec national Diploma in Distribution Business Studies & Applications – Merit Level Additional Vocational Courses Attended: Hygiene Pack Room Procedures Sales & Distribution Human Resource Management Forklift Driving First Aid Qualified to Health & Safety Level in Pesticide Application. Electricity in the Workplace

Experience I have occupied the position of Farm Manager at Coldham

Wood Mushrooms for the past 9 years. My duties include: Growing and maintaining 10,000lbs of quality

mushrooms each week. Disease control Watering Regime The recording of technical data Spawn running Organizing Casing Overseeing Hygiene Processing Orders and Liasing with Customers to

ensure their specific requirements are met. Organising Deliveries. Liase with Composter to ensure quality of compost is

of a high standard. First Aider


Controlling required external supplies for the farm (Spawn, Casing, Packing materials ect.)

Organisation of the Workforce including:

• Picking

• Service Operators

• Maintenance Technicians

• Packing Operatives

• Waters

• Cleaners

• Production Workers

During my time as a grower I have increased the weekly yield of mushrooms from 5,500lbs to 10,000lbs and have managed to maintain this yield and quality whilst working with a variety of growing techniques i.e. bags, blocks and tray growing. Within the past two years I have, along with my father, developed a growing technique using green waste compost. This technique has proven to be very successful. This was a government –backed scheme to find alternative uses for waste materials.

Interests Music

Football. I qualified as a coach in 2003 including child protection and 1st Aid currently I run an under 10’s team on Sundays.


Brian MacKay P.O. Box 188 Hunter River, PEI Tel: (902) 314-3846 Email: [email protected]

Professional Profile

• Journeyman Electrician

• Business Owner

• Manufacturer

• Agricultural Producer

• Exporter

• Class 1A Driver

Professional Experience

MacKay Electric, Red Isle Farm Ltd., Green Gables Farm,

Pellagri Energy, Meadow Fresh Mushroom Inc. (Hunter River, PE) (1984-2007) (Business Owner, Farmer, Manufacturer, Transport Driver) Darlington Farms Ltd. (North Wilshire, PE) (1981-1982) (Farm Manager) Norlin Properties, (St. John’s, Newfoundland) (1978-1981) (Manager Special Project) Ionel Electric, Airdrie, Alberta (1978-1981) (Electrician)


Rackham Electric, Wheatley River, PE (1974-1978) (Electrician)

Extra circular Activities

Masonic Lodge – Past master Prince of Whales Lodge Eastern School Board – Past Chairman CanBio – Member Canadian Hay Association - Member PEI Federation of Agriculture – Member

Education

Prince County Vocational School, Summerside, PE Electrical Apprentice 1974

References

References available upon request.

Documents

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT PID 294504: …