Contract awarded for tar ponds cleanup

Cape Breton Post
Wed., Aug. 13, 2008

Sydney - A major contract has been awarded as the cleanup of the famed Sydney Tar Ponds begins.

The Sydney Tar Ponds Agency announced Tuesday that Hazco Environmental Services, of Sydney, has been awarded the contract to build underground cut-off walls to keep water from reaching and leaving the contaminated property.

"This project represents the start of remediation at the coke ovens site," said Frank Potter, president of the agency, adding that more cleanup opportunities are on the way.

The walls will be constructed along the north and south sides of the 68-hectare property. The north wall will be made from betonite/soil slurry, which is a soft clay and water mixture. The south wall will be made from clay.

The $800,000 project is expected to take about three months and will begin in September.

Other cleanup activities slated to get underway soon include the installation of a groundwater collection system and a water-treatment facility.

Completed work includes the removal of all above-ground buildings and structures and building two channels that direct water from contaminated areas.

The site is heavily contaminated with a host of chemicals and other products left behind after nearly a century of steel making.

Hazco Environmental Services established an office in Sydney more than two years ago.