Randle Reef Contaminated Sediment Remediation Project
Background
Randle Reef is located in Hamilton Harbour, and is considered to be one of the more complex and highly contaminated sediment sites throughout the Canadian Areas of Concern www.on.ec.gc.ca/water/greatlakes/raps/ in the Great Lakes. Randle Reef sediments contain very high concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coal tar. It is known that the PAHs are re-circulating and moving up into the food chain. This site is a priority for remediation in the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan and under the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.
The purpose of the project is to reduce the exposure of organisms in the harbour to the most persistent toxic substances in the sediments. The project will remediate the Randle Reef priority zone, as well as toxic sediment from elsewhere in the harbour.
History of the in situ containment remediation project
In the fall of 2001, Environment Canada, as the project lead, formed a multi-stakeholder Project Advisory Group (PAG) consisting of 17 participating organizations. This was done to develop a consensus around a solution that will satisfy both the objectives of the project and those of the stakeholders represented.
In April 2002, PAG reached a consensus for the in situ (in place) containment option. This option was selected as a preferred remediation approach, as it provides a cost-effective solution for remediating the priority zone, as well as for all of the acutely toxic sediments in the harbour (i.e. a whole harbour solution). In addition, it provides greater opportunity for partnership resources.
In December 2002, PAG agreed to a conceptual design for the containment facility that was prepared and presented by Acres & Associates Environmental Limited. The proposed design involves a 9.5 ha structure that will cover and contain approximately 640,000 m3 of acutely toxic sediments at the Randle Reef site, and from elsewhere in the harbour. The design incorporates some naturalized shoreline and land use, as well as commercial shipping channel and port use.
On condition that a detailed engineering study substantiates the conceptual design and demonstrates that the project satisfies the federal environmental assessment requirements, full funding is in place, implementation agreements between Environment Canada and project funding partners are completed, and the tendering process is completed, the project may be implemented in 2004.
The pages below present more detail on the proposed solution to the Randle Reef Sediment Remediation Project. These displays were presented at the June 11, 2003 Public Open House at Liuna Station, Hamilton.
