How should mercury contamination in the northeast portion of Thunder Bay Harbour be cleaned up? This was the only item on the agenda at the 7 p.m., March 19th meeting of the Public Advisory Committee (PAC) to the Thunder Bay Remedial Action Plan (RAP), or harbour cleanup plan. The meeting took place at Lakehead University and was attended by Public Advisory Committee members and many interested members of the public for a total of just over 50 people.
- View the presentation on cleanup options by Cole Engineering Inc.
- View/listen to a CBC Radio report regarding Thunder Bay Harbour Cleanup options
Key information:
- the harbour location in question is adjacent to a former paper mill near Current River mouth and the Shipyards.
- the area of highest contamination is in the water and is approximately 55 acres or 22 hectares in size
- mercury is mixed with a thick layer of pulpy fiber suspended in harbour water
- there is approximately 350,000 cubic metres of contaminated material.
Related documents and information:
- meeting agenda and complete information package
- directions to the meeting room
- North Harbour overview
- poster boards outlining sediment management options, developed by Cole Engineering
- documents and studies characterizing North Harbour contamination
- Pictures
- short Environment Canada video outlining a L. Superior mercury cleanup at Marathon, Ontario
- directions to join the March 19th meeting online.
- short audio interview (podcast) regarding the Thunder Bay North Harbour site
- Chronicle Journal Letter to Editor – Monday, March 17th 2014
If you are unable to attend the March 19th Remedial Action Plan Public Advisory Committee meeting at Lakehead University, EcoSuperior is hosting a public information session the next day, March 20, 2014 between 4:00-8:00 PM at the Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel and Suites. Cole Engineering will be in attendance to present the results of their “Sediment Management Options Study.” This study outlines options for cleanup of mercury-contaminated sediment in the north portion of Thunder Bay Harbour. Click here for more information about this March 20th event.