Domtar Tank Removal Progresses

Removal of the Domtar tank from the Coke Ovens site has moved to a new phase.

Contractor Clean Harbours Canada Inc. has completed the removal of tarry liquids from the tank, and will now excavate the solid material that remains. This includes miscellaneous debris such as tires, shopping carts, and railway ties that were dumped into the open-topped tank over the years, as well as hardened hydrocarbons and gravel.

A high hoe inside the temporary building that surrounds the tank will dig out the solid material and place it in closed railway containers for shipment off site.

Periodic heating of the tank contents to ease removal of the tar has ended.

"That should all but eliminate the production of naphthalene," said Wayne Vervaet, the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency engineer overseeing the project.

Once the tank has been emptied, the contract calls for Clean Harbours to dismantle and remove the tank and the temporary enclosure.

The results of air monitoring at the tank removal project are posted daily on the tar ponds agency website at gov.ns.ca/stpa .