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Norfolk County is going back to the drawing board in search of a solution to an abandoned gas well in Silver Hill that is leaking toxic fumes.
In doing so, the county is beginning with a clean slate.
Norfolk council took a first step Aug. 18 when it approved $140,000 in funding for an engineering study.
“Subsequent to the first approach being unsuccessful, staff engaged with the Ministry of Natural Resources as to next steps,” CAO Jason Burgess said in a report to council. “Though MNR would not commit to additional funding, they noted that – if there were to be additional funding – a third-party engineering report would have to be developed that evaluated options for stopping the leaking well.”
Norfolk council also approved funding for a project consultant. The county has no one on staff with the geotechnical qualifications to oversee the work.
Money for the engineering report will be drawn from the $1-million strategic-initiative fund council approved in the 2019 budget. Funding for the project manager will be derived from payroll savings arising from vacant positions left unfilled.