Final Remediation Options Recommended

Tar Ponds

Option 3: Soil Washing, Bioremediation

Co-Burning, Containment ($330 million; seven years.)

This option would excavate sediment from both ponds and treat it with soil washing and possibly bioremediation. Fuel material recovered in this manner would go to an offsite power plant or cement kiln for co-burning. PCB materials would be treated on the site with pyrolysis or thermal desorption, then destroyed through offsite incineration, plasma, or hydrogen reduction.

Option 4: Co-Burning ($220 million; eleven years.)

This option would excavate sediment from both ponds and send it to a power plant or cement kiln for co-burning. PCB material would go to an offsite incinerator approved for PCB destruction.

PCB Treatment option (included with each of the propositions):

PCB material could be treated in one of the following ways: onsite incineration in an approved mobile unit; onsite thermal desorption or pyrolysis with offsite destruction of the concentrate using incineration, plasma, or hydrogen reduction; or, capping in place.

Coke Ovens

Option 3: Soil Washing and Co-Burning ($120 million; seven years.)

This option would excavate the top two metres of soil from contaminated areas and replace it with clean fill. Soil washing would separate contaminants from excavated soil. Fuel material recovered in this manner would be sent to an offsite power plant or cement kiln for co-burning. The remaining material would go into an engineered landfill on site. Underground chambers and tunnels would be removed or filled, and the site would be covered with clean soil and planted with grass. 

Option 4: Pyrolysis and Co-Burning ($100 million; seven years.)

This option would excavate the top two metres of soil from contaminated areas and replace it with clean fill. Pyrolysis would separate contaminants from the excavated soil. Fuel material recovered in this manner would go to an offsite power plant or cement kiln for co-burning. The remaining material would go into an engineered landfill on the site. Underground chambers and tunnels would be removed or filled, and the site would be covered with clean soil and planted with grass.