News Release Archive
SUPPLY & SERVICES--SYDNEY TAR PONDS REMEDIATION ------------------------------------------------------------ The remediation of the Sydney tar ponds site is changing direction. Sydney Tar Ponds Clean-up Inc. has recommended to government that the tar ponds be permanently contained and sediment not be incinerated, Supply and Services Minister Gerald O'Malley announced today. "We asked the private sector for proposals to complete the tar ponds clean-up, either through incineration or any other means of equal quality or effectiveness," Mr. O'Malley said in Sydney today. "Some of the world's leading engineering firms responded to this call and their estimates to continue with incineration were staggering." "The lowest estimate we received was for $120 million over eight years, or roughly the equivalent of the budget for three of Cape Breton's largest school boards," Mr. O'Malley said. "To continue with incineration at this cost would have been irresponsible, and indeed, impossible." Instead, Cabinet has approved a STPCI recommendation to accept a proposal from Jacques Whitford Environmental Ltd. and International Technologies Corp. to design and construct a containment system that will secure the tar ponds. The cost of the contract is $20.4 million and government may cancel at any time with 30 days notice. There are approximately 700,000 tonnes of contaminated sediment in the tar ponds. Jacques Whitford of Dartmouth is one of Canada's leading environmental engineering firms and International Technologies of Pennsylvania is among the world's largest and most experienced remediation contractors. Their proposal is to develop a containment system of slag, topsoil and grass based on extensive hydrogeologic and topographic analysis. Two brooks that currently empty into the tar ponds before entering Sydney Harbour will be channelled directly into the harbour. A number of municipal sewage outfalls that also empty into the tar ponds before entering the harbour will be similarly treated. The first priority is to determine the extent of high-level PCBs in the tar ponds. An options report is being prepared as part of the contract and "the report is being prepared with a view to transporting high level PCB sediment out of the province," Mr. O'Malley said. "We will, however, keep the door open to any other option that the contractor may present." The minister said that the proposal will be registered with the appropriate environmental authorities for assessment. Once approval is obtained, the project should be complete within 18-24 months. The Crown corporation will be asked to investigate options for the future of the incinerators. The 13 unionized staff will be retained to ensure the incinerators are maintained. "I am very concerned about some of the decisions that were made before the project was turned over to STPCI," Mr. O'Malley said. "I have ordered an internal review of the decision making process since this project's conception under the previous government. A solicitor from the Department of Justice has been seconded to lead this review." "Today represents a positive step forward towards the remediation of the Sydney tar ponds. Instead of being an environmental blight, there is finally the prospect of this land area serving a useful and positive role in the community," the minister said. -30- Contact: David MacNeil 902-499-2716 trp Jan. 15, 1996