News Release Archive
SUPPLY & SERVICES--SYDNEY TAR PONDS REMEDIATION
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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.
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Contact: David MacNeil 902-499-2716
trp Jan. 15, 1996