the “strongly growing” fauna and flora
New meeting about the rehabilitation of the gravel pits site in Toulouse. Tuesday, November 29, the prefect of Haute-Garonne again brought together the total monitoring committee for this former gunpowder factory located south of Toulousewhere 4,200 tonnes of nitrocellulose are still stored.
This explosive used during the First World War is stored in powder form in artificial lakes in the Braqueville district. 2021, the State services and Toulouse Métropole are considering different scenarios in order to evacuate the substance “while preserving the richness of its fauna and flora”. At the same time, studies have been planned to determine the species currently present on the site of the ballast pits.
The first results of the naturalist studies introduced in the spring of 2021 have shown that beyond the presence of new species on the site (red squirrels and birds in particular), the environmental richness is growing rapidly”, explains the prefect, Étienne Guyot.
Powders “safe for local residents and the environment”
In addition, studies on the site’s hydrogeological functioning are also underway and should be completed in the first half of 2023. “They are necessary to optimize its hydraulic management and control the conditions for carrying out destocking operations”, add the services of the ‘State.
On the treatment of nitrocellulose, “innovative treatment-destocking processes are being examined”. Indeed, samples have been designated to companies in order to study the relevance of these solutions compared to more traditional measures such as the heat treatment of powders. The results of these tests should be known at the start of 2023. Next year should therefore make it possible to specify the schedule for work carried out on the gravel pit sitefor a start of construction in 2024. Until then, the prefecture and Toulouse Métropole want to reassure local residents.
The powders contained do not explode in the open air and are safe for local residents and the environment, because nitrocellulose is not soluble in water and is not a chemical pollutant”, they indicate. in a press release.
The monitoring committee should meet again in mid-2023.
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