Controversy
Establishing a cleanup plan for the Tar Ponds and coke ovens site has taken more than 22 years. Hundreds of volunteers contributed more than 100,000 hours to the Joint Action Group's search for acceptable cleanup options. JAG and its government partners have attracted vocal critics, most prominently Sierra Club Canada. Delays in getting the project started have left many residents frustrated.
Opinions divide on the best cleanup method. Some residents favour digging up and destroying all of the contaminants. Others prefer not to disturb the contaminated material at all. Sierra Club Canada opposes plans to incinerate the PCB materials in favour of novel destruction technologies such as hydrogen reduction and soil washing. Project managers say the community has asked that only proven technologies be used.
In 2005 and 2006, the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency has undertaken four preliminary cleanup projects, including the re-routing of the Coke Ovens Brook Connector to a less contaminated area, and the construction of a rock barrier at the boundary between the Tar Ponds and Sydney Harbour. The preliminary projects are intended to prevent further environmental damage while the larger cleanup is assessed.
In July 2006, the environmental engineering firm EarthTech, Ltd., completed a preliminary engineering design for the big cleanup. A contract for the final engineering design and construction oversight is expected to be awarded by September 2006.
Read more about this topic: Sydney Tar Ponds
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