Environment Department still investigating report waste water dumped in harbour

SYDNEY — There’s no obvious end date in sight to an investigation of a report of Sydney tar ponds waste water being dumped into Sydney harbour.

Cape Breton Post
Fri., Dec.2, 2011

There’s no obvious end date in sight to an investigation of a report of Sydney tar ponds waste water being dumped into Sydney harbour.

That’s much to the dismay of a former employee of the industrial cleaning company that is under investigation.

The Nova Scotia Environment Department launched the examination of AIC Sullivan’s Environmental Services last year.

Tim Sullivan, a former employee, alleges 34,000 litres of waste water was transferred to the company’s sewage lagoon in Sydney and then absorbed into Sydney harbour. “I guess I’m just wondering why the investigation is not complete,” said Sullivan, who is suing the company for wrongful dismissal, claiming a former boss is unfairly blaming him for knowing the waste water was being dumped into the lagoon. “I just want to prove my innocence and move forward.”

The waste water is thought to have contained soil residue washed off trucks before they leave the tar ponds work site. It is supposed to be collected and transported to Debert in Colchester County where the waste is properly treated.

A spokesperson with the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency had previously said there was nothing in the water that would cause harm to the environment.

Environment Department spokesperson Karen White, said the investigation is ongoing, but there is nothing new to report at this time. “They can be pretty complex, so it makes it really difficult for us to determine how long the investigation could take,” she said.