Preparation Begins for Further Cleanup of Sysco Properties

The province is moving forward with an environmental site evaluation on two former Sysco properties as a first step in developing a remediation plan. This information gathering phase will cover areas of Tobin Road and provincially-owned land at the former Princess Mine site.

The work follows a successful pilot project conducted in 2004 to remove some of the old mine workings, backfill the site and re-vegetate the area.

"Significant work is required to address safety concerns around the abandoned mines," said Murray Scott, Minister responsible for the Sydney Steel Corporation Act. "This evaluation will provide the information needed to clearly identify the issues at the site and support the preparation of a remediation plan."

The work will be overseen by Nova Scotia Lands Incorporated, a provincial Crown corporation established to manage the environmental cleanup on the former steel plant site. Their work to date includes the remediation of former land to create the Habourside Commercial Park in Sydney and a new sports field for the area.

The phase one site evaluation will include a review and documentation of the site history, a title search and land ownership mapping, identification of sources of site contamination, and a review of any geotechnical reports.

A request for proposals for the environmental site evaluation can be viewed at www.gov.ns.ca/tenders/search/search_advanced.asp .