Governments Boosts Investment in Cleanup of Tar Ponds, Create Jobs

A vital component of the Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens Cleanup began today, June 26, with a $52-million contract to solidify and stabilize tar ponds sediment.

Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, and MLA Gordie Gosse, on behalf of Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, announced that Nordly's Environmental, a Cape Breton company owned by J&T van Zutphen Construction Inc. of Southwest Mabou, and ECC of Marlborough, Mass., won the contract.

About 40 construction jobs will be created over the life of the contract and it will provide local labourers valuable remediation skills and experience.

"This significant investment by the government of Canada demonstrates the government's commitment to the environment here in Sydney and, at the same time, creates jobs and knowledge that can be shared across Canada," said Mr. MacKay.

"The skills and experiences these local companies will gain over the next five years will lead to other meaningful opportunities," said Mr. Gosse. "The positive economic benefits from this milestone project will extend across Nova Scotia."

Tar ponds sediments will be solidified and contaminants, including PCBs, will be stabilized. Cement will be mixed into contaminated material, immobilizing hazardous contaminants. Cement reacts with water in the material to change physical and chemical properties and prevent contaminants from escaping into the environment.

The site will be capped and a layer of clean soil will allow future development.

In January 2007, the government of Canada and province of Nova Scotia committed $400 million to ensure the cleanup is completed by 2014.