UPDATE:
This past week, Base31 received the results of additional soil testing that it conducted within the Sensory Garden proper, which included the interior spaces of the garden. The results revealed that there were no exceedances to acceptable levels of lead in the soil and that the source of the issue is contained well within the fenced area.
The Sensory Garden continues to remain open for the public to enjoy.
August 6, 2024
An update on the safety of Base31’s Sensory Garden and plans for the children’s day camps in the weeks ahead: As you know from our earlier communication, we are following Public Health guidance related to the discovery of lead in the soil in places along the perimeter of Building #3 including one location within the Sensory Garden.
It is worth noting that in assessing the risk within the Sensory Garden, Public Health did not require the space to be closed to the public. Public Health provided guidance on further steps to be taken for the areas related to the perimeter of Building #3, including installing a solid fence and additional ground cover close to the perimeter of the building, which we are undertaking with great care. The goal of these measures as we understand them is to prevent people from coming into contact with the building and the soil immediately around it. A public notice has been posted at the entrances to the Sensory Garden and on our website. Patrons and employees that have spent time in the Sensory Garden were emailed with this notice as well.
The health and safety of our visitors and staff is paramount and as we revitalize Base31 and as we work to preserve the deep history here, we take great care in ensuring the appropriate measures are taken to bring the buildings up to current standards. Prior to commencement of renovations of any spaces that are used, a comprehensive Designated Substances Report is conducted by a certified hazardous material professional and any hazardous materials are removed by licensed contractors.
For the Sensory Garen and its use as a day camp, Base31 worked with a certified environmental assessment firm to assess the location and found no potential risk to human health present within the Sensory Garden and area around Moir House. Subsequent samples that were collected by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), as well as the certified environmental assessment firm (Palmer), were identified to be above the MECP Soil Standards threshold for lead. Upon receipt of the samples identified to be above the MECP Soild Standards threshold for lead, a potential risk to human health was identified following consultation with Public Health Ontario, the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks, and the Ministry of Health. As a potential risk to human health was identified, a Community Health Protection Order was issued by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health on August 2nd, 2024.
While the new fencing and soil topup is undertaken, Public Health has advised that visitors to the Sensory Garden can also take the following precautions when visiting:
- Wash your hands after spending time at the Sensory Garden, and before eating;
- Remove outdoor footwear before entering your home or interior spaces;
- Clean any soil or dust that is brought into the home or interior spaces by sweeping, mopping or vacuuming the floors;
- Brush pets with a damp brush after time spent at the Sensory Garden and before entering the home; and
- Additional information can be found in the Fact Sheet from Public Health linked here.
While the testing undertaken by the Ministry did not determine the source of the lead found in the soil, we know that lead is found in a number of building materials such as pipes and all paints manufactured before 1980. We believe that the window frames and cedar shakes on the building were likely once painted with paint manufactured before 1980 and therefore that flakes of paint might have fallen off into the soil. The level of risk associated is likely similar to that for all buildings with painted surfaces that were constructed before 1980. If the source of the lead is paint, exposure would most likely come from ingesting soil or contact with skin. Given the extensiveness of the use of lead-based paints, the precautions recommended by Public Health should be used in and around all buildings constructed before 1980.
NOTICE
As of information shared with us on the afternoon of August 2, 2024 by the Board of Health of the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit, soils in and around the Sensory Garden were found to have lead levels in exceedance of the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Soil Standards.
The Sensory Garden remains open. Lead is a common substance in building materials, such as paint and other building materials constructed before the 1970s. As we revitalize Base31, we are taking the appropriate measures to bring the buildings up to current standards as the health & safety of our visitors and staff is paramount. Public Health has advised that visitors can take the following precautions when visiting the park:
- Wash your hands after spending time at the Sensory Garden, and before eating;
- Remove outdoor footwear before entering your home or interior spaces;
- Clean any soil or dust that is brought into the home or interior spaces by sweeping, mopping or vacuuming the floors; and
- Brush pets with a damp brush after time spent at the Sensory Garden and before entering the home.
We have taken immediate action to reduce potential health risks from lead exposure for visitors to our site, in response to a Community Health Protection Order issued by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) on August 2, 2024. The mitigation strategies we will be completing on or before Aug. 9, 2024, include:
- We have installed a fence around Building 3 in areas where testing showed exceedances of lead in the soil. A more permanent barrier will be installed in the coming days in the areas around Building 3 and the Sensory Garden to ensure children and members of the public can’t touch the exterior surface of Building 3 or the soil directly adjacent to the building;
- Installing wood chips, mulch and/or clean fill as ground cover over the areas around Building 3 and the Sensory Garden, which will reduce risk of contact with contaminated soil;
- Posting signage at the entrance of the Sensory Garden to inform visitors of the MECP’s soil test results, potential risk, and steps visitors can take to reduce their risk;
- Providing information on our website to inform the public about the test results from the MECP and the corrective action we are taking to reduce potential health risks from lead exposure.
For more information, please contact info@base31.ca or (613) 476-3064.
