The Sediment Sub-Committee of the Public Advisory Committee (PAC) to the Thunder Bay Remedial Action Plan met April 8th to discuss options, as presented by Cole Engineering Inc., for cleanup of contaminated Thunder Bay North Harbour sediment. Approximately 55 acres of fibrous, pulpy material contaminated with mercury lies in the northern portion of Thunder Bay Harbour near the shipyards.
Sediment Committee recommendations are draft only and will be tabled for approval by the entire PAC at their May 14th meeting. Draft recommendations are as follows:
1. The favoured cleanup option is on-site disposal in a new Confined Disposal Facility utilizing the existing mill effluent lagoons.
2. Effort should be made to achieve synergies or “co-benefits”; at a minimum these should include soft engineering for habitat but could include recreational, industrial or other benefits.
3. There should be public access to the remediated site.