Contract Awarded for Air Quality Testing

A company with a 15-year history of providing environmental services in Cape Breton, will monitor air quality during the Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens cleanup.

ALL-TECH Environmental was the successful bidder for the contract. ALL-TECH will be responsible for ambient air monitoring from the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency's existing fixed monitoring stations; real time monitoring of air quality around the perimeter of the Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens during construction; review and evaluation of the data collected; preparing daily, monthly and annual reports on the data collected. The company will immediately notify the agency of any conditions which might be a health concern.

ALL-TECH will also be responsible for posting the results of its monitoring activity on the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency website, www.tarpondscleanup.ca, and for working with the agency to develop alternative options to improve its air monitoring program.

Terry Smith, general manager at ALL-TECH, said winning this contract will allow the company to expand its operations in Cape Breton. "We bring a qualified team to this project and will hire new staff to address increased field requirements," said Mr. Smith. "We will have 10 full-time employees working on this project, as well as future assignments throughout Cape Breton."

Frank Potter, president of the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency said the company will be an important part of the cleanup team.

"Air monitoring is a key element of the cleanup," Mr. Potter said. "It is one of the tools we will use to ensure the cleanup is accomplished, in a manner which is protective of human health and the environment."

The air monitoring program designed by the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency also addresses one of the major recommendations in the report of the joint panel environmental review issued in July 2006.

ALL-TECH will set up an office in the new Harbourside Commercial Park on the lands of the former Sysco steel plant. They join 16 other tenants including the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality who have located in the new business park.

The Sydney Tar Ponds cleanup is a joint, cost shared project of the government of Canada and the government of Nova Scotia.