| POLICY DIRECTIVE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division: | Water Resources Management | P.D. | W.R. 92-2 | |
| Prepared By: | Amir Ali Khan, Ph.D, P.Eng | Issue Date: | October 2, 1992 | |
| Approved By: | Haseen Khan | Director | Re-Issue Date: | Jan 17, 2019 |
| Approved By: | Dana Spurrell | ADM | Review Date: | |
| Authorized By: | Jamie Chippett | DM | Superseded: | |
| Hon. Graham Letto | Minister | Cancelled: | ||
Subject:
Use of Creosote Treated Wood In and Near Fresh Water.
1.0 OBJECTIVE
To adopt a consistent approach to the use of creosote treated wood in and near bodies of fresh water in order to protect the water resource from a source of potential pollution.
2.0 BACKGROUND
Creosote treated wood has been a building material of choice for many years where protection against decay and rot is required. It is effective against marine borers. Before the development of newer products, creosote treated wood, which was first patented in 1838, was used whenever long term durability was required. Creosote is one of the oldest types of preservatives used for the protection of wood against all forms of wood destroying agents. Creosote is a distillate of coal tar produced by high temperature carbonization of bituminous coal. Containing over 160 compounds, creosote is primarily composed of liquid and solid aromatic hydrocarbons as well as some tar acids and tar bases which provides protection against destructive insects and organisms. Used in a mixture, creosote is blended with petroleum oil.
Creosotes are traditionally specified by their physical properties (density, water content, distillation intervals, etc.) mainly because their complex chemical composition and variation makes detailed chemical specification almost impossible. Creosote, a commercial product which contains several hundred chemical components, and creosote treated wood are commonly used in marine installations (wharves, jetties, breakwaters etc), utility poles, railway ties, bridges, dams, retaining walls, guardrails, fences and foundation pilings. There are various industry guidelines that deal with the manufacture, handling and use of creosote treated woods. The complex chemical composition of creosote and its widespread use as a building material is of course an issue of serious concern to environmental protection authorities. Leaching and bleeding of creosote, especially in hot weather, is a particular problem noticeable as oil films on affected water bodies and by the odour.
3.0 LEGISLATION
Water Resources Act, SNL 2002 cW-4.01, (“the Act”).
4.0 POLICY
4.1 The Department will not recommend approval of any project under Section 48 of the Act if the project involves the use of new or old creosote treated wood in or near any body of fresh water.
4.2 Specifically, but without limitation, no approval will be granted under Section 11 for dams, bridges, walkways, culverts, wharves, pilings, embankment protection or cribbing protection, or any other structure if that proposed structure is designed with the use of creosote treated wood in fresh water.
4.3 For the purpose of definition of a body of water, a body of water is as defined in the Act but also includes wetlands and bogs, any ditch leading to any body of water and any land within 15 m of the high water mark of any body of water.
4.4 The use of creosote is banned for all purposes anywhere in a protected water supply area and anywhere upstream of any drinking water source or swimming area whether protected or not.
4.5 In so far as creosote treated wood is a traditional building material in the marine environment, its use in salt water will not be considered a sole reason for not recommending approval for a project. However, proponents must justify the use and benefits of the material for the particular installation and whenever possible, alternative designs or use of other materials should be considered.
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