20/09/2005 - MP Joe Comuzzi,
on behalf of the Honourable Stéphane
Dion, Minister of the Environment; MPP Michael
Gravelle, on behalf of the Honourable Laurel
Broten, Ontario Environment Minister; and
industry representatives announced today the
completion of a $20 million cleanup of contaminated
sediment around the Northern Wood Preservers'
site in Thunder Bay, Ontario. This site, where
wood preserving activities took place for
more than 60 years, was one of the most contaminated
sediment sites in Canada.
"The restoration and protection of the
Great Lakes Ecosystem is a high priority for
the Government of Canada and part of Project
Green, our policy for environmental sustainability
and economic competitiveness", said Mr.
Comuzzi. "Our government remains dedicated
to ensuring a healthy Great Lakes environment
and to working domestically and with the United
States to protect the Great Lakes. The successful
competition of this project in Thunder Bay
is an example of our dedication and commitment."
"This project demonstrates our government's
commitment to protecting the Great Lakes system",
said Mr. Gravellle. "It is important
to balance growth and economic strength with
the need to protect Ontario's sensitive environment.
I commend all the partners involved in this
project for their hard work and dedication
to Thunder Bay Harbour."
The cleanup of the site was possible through
the combined efforts of Environment Canada,
the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Abitibi-Consolidated
Inc., Northern Wood Preservers Inc. and Canadian
National Railway Company.
"This project is an example of the type
of collaboration of which we are extremely
proud", said Francine Dorion, Vice-President
of Environment and Sustainability at Abitibi-Consolidated.
"By being able to draw upon the diverse
skills and technical abilities of our member
parties, the team was able to bring a complex
environmental project to completion. We all
learned and the Great Lakes environment benefited.
It was a powerful example of how synergy can
be created through commitment, perseverance,
goodwill, knowledge and effort."
This project, referred to as the Northern
Wood Preservers Alternative Remediation Concept
(NOWPARC), isolated the contaminant source,
cleaned up the contaminated sediment, and
enhanced fish habitat. Long-term monitoring
of the sediment and fish habitat is ongoing
to track the continued recovery of the harbour.
Sediment contamination by polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons, chlorophenols, dioxins and furans
around Northern Wood Preservers contributed
to the Thunder Bay Harbour being designated
as an Area of Concern in 1985 under the Great
Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Governments,
industry and the public have since joined
to develop a Remedial Action Plan that identified
water use goals and initiatives for the remediation
of the harbour.
For details regarding the NOWPARC project,
refer to the "NOWPARC Sediment Remediation
Project" booklet. To learn more about
Canadian Remedial Action Plans for the Great
Lakes Areas of Concern, visit www.on.ec.gc.ca/water/raps.
To learn more about the Canada-Ontario Agreement
respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem
(COA), visit www.on.ec.gc.ca/coa. To learn
more about the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement,
visit www.on.ec.gc.ca/greatlakes.
