Randle Reef

[SteelTown]

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...e-reef-dollars

[thistleclub]

Five years after the feds matched the province's funding commitment...

"According to the memo, the city will contribute a maximum of $14 million to the clean-up over 10 years."

So based on the city's payment schedule, we can look forward to Randle Reef remediation being completed on by 2022-2023. Or thereabouts.

"There’s still no firm timeline for the project, which will involve building a containment structure around the most contaminated sediment in the reef, a shallow area of Hamilton Harbour near U.S. Steel’s Hamilton Works."

[SteelTown]

I hear the Premier will be in town tomorrow.

[thistleclub]

Hopefully it's concrete good news!

[durandy]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Hopefully it's concrete good news!

what's funny about that link is that the president of St Mary's Cement argues the cancellation of the quarry will add millions to Ontario's deficit...based on St Mary's cement suing Ontario for $275 million!!!

What does it have to do with Randle Reef?

[SteelTown]

Province commits $46m to Randle Reef cleanup

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...e-reef-cleanup

The province is committing millions of dollars for the cleanup of Hamilton’s polluted harbour.

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment announced Monday afternoon that the province will contribute $46.3 million to help cap sediment in Randle Reef.

[coalminecanary]

That cement story is hilarious. Everyone on Flamborough is against the quarry. So now when you make decisions according to constituents' desires you get sued for "protecting your seat"? Sounds like the company banked on manipulating their way into a quarry there and when it didn't work they went crying to their lawyers. This litigiousness is a major problem in our society. Soon it will be like the states where suing people is basically a career for a good chunk of the population. We wouldn't need so much aggregate if we stopped tearing our buildings down, building needless overpasses and insisting on more roads and highways to nowhere.

[coalminecanary]

Now that's a good rant. See how many non sequiturs I crammed in there? I just realized I'm becoming an old crank quicker than I thought

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by durandy

what's funny about that link is that the president of St Mary's Cement argues the cancellation of the quarry will add millions to Ontario's deficit...based on St Mary's cement suing Ontario for $275 million!!!

What does it have to do with Randle Reef?

Nothing. (I suppose in theory St. Mary's could be involved in the cap-containment of the RR sediment, but might just as easily go to Dufferin/Holcim.) Just a funny nugget turned up in seaching info on "McGuinty Hamilton," in reference to the previous post. I should have quoted Steeltown.

FWIW, Ontario's Environmental Commissioner has been championing recycled aggregates for years, and recently underlined his point in an interview with the OSSGA. (For anyone sufficiently interested/bored, that interview is bracketed by industry-centric pieces on both recycled and close-to-market aggregate.)

[coalminecanary]

It's hard to get people interested in these issues unless there's a quarry being proposed in their neighbourhood. It's kind of like the aerotropolis. Just uttering the word "aggregate" puts people to sleep. We only seem to get riled up about things like the stadium and casino.

[thistleclub]

Feds making Randle Reef announcement
(Hamilton Spectator, Emma Reilly, Dec 18, 2012)

The federal government is expected to remove the last remaining hurdle facing the cleanup of Randle Reef this morning.

Environment Minister Peter Kent is in Burlington today to announce a top-up of Federal funding for the $140 million project.

Both the feds and the province previously promised around $30 million before project costs jumped due to inflation.

Both the city and the province topped up their contributions last month.

The 12-hectare shale reef is heavily polluted with coal tar, a byproduct of turning coal into coke. It is also the biggest toxic coal tar deposit in Canada, now that a cleanup of the Sydney tar ponds in Nova Scotia is almost complete.

Though the feds have informally committed to cover the full share of the costs, it has yet to release that funding.

Environment Minister Peter Kent recently stated in question period that the top tier of government was waiting for the province’s updated commitment before officially freeing up its $46 million contribution.

[thistleclub]

News release:

Harper Government Announces Funding to Clean Up Randle Reef in Hamilton Harbour

HAMILTON, ON, Dec. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - The Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment, today confirmed the Government of Canada's funding to clean up contaminated sediment at Randle Reef in Hamilton Harbour. Environment Canada will lead the Randle Reef Contaminated Sediment Remediation Project in partnership with the Province of Ontario, the City of Hamilton, the Hamilton Port Authority, U. S. Steel Canada, the City of Burlington, and the Regional Municipality of Halton.

"The Harper Government is strongly committed to ensuring clean, safe, sustainable water quality for present and future generations," said Minister Kent. "Cleaning up Randle Reef is vital for Hamilton and the region. This initiative will deliver environmental, health, and economic benefits to the local community over the eight year life of the project, including the creation of approximately 60 jobs."

The Randle Reef site contains sediment contaminated with persistent toxic chemicals and heavy metals, which were deposited over a long period of time from industrial operations that are no longer active. In 1985, Hamilton Harbour was identified as an Area of Concern under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement due to significant water quality impairments. While many improvements have been made to reduce pollution in the harbour, the contaminated sediment at Randle Reef remained a principal environmental challenge.

"The Province is looking forward to working with our partners to improve Burlington Bay's environment for the benefit of the people of Hamilton, Burlington, and indeed all of Ontario," said Jim Bradley, Ontario's Minister of the Environment.

"When those in the future look back, this is the time and the event that they will say presented a new face for Hamilton to the world. The water that provided us with our identity will now be restored to the standards of civilization. For this we will be forever grateful to our partners in the federal and provincial governments," said Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina.

"The City of Burlington is fortunate to include Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment, both of which are natural assets worthy of protection by all levels of government," said Mayor Rick Goldring. "The City of Burlington is pleased to contribute to the remediation of Randle Reef. Burlington will benefit as we share the watershed and shoreline of Burlington Bay, protecting this waterway for future generations."

"As part of U. S. Steel Canada's ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, we are pleased to contribute to a remediation project that will benefit the entire Hamilton community," said Anton Jura, President and General Manager of U. S. Steel Canada. "The new port facilities and green space added to the harbour front will improve the viability of the harbour to move our city forward."

The estimated cost of the Randle Reef sediment remediation project is $138.9 million. In addition to the $46.3 million in funding from the federal government, the Province of Ontario has committed to provide $46.3 million, and $14 million is being contributed by the City of Hamilton, $14 million by U. S. Steel Canada and $14 million by the Hamilton Port Authority, as well as $2.3 million from the City of Burlington and $2 million from Halton Region.

As with any project, and keeping with the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, funding for the implementation is contingent on completion of the Environmental Assessment process.

Cleaning up Randle Reef will be the last major step in the process to restore Hamilton Harbour and remove it from the list of Areas of Concern. This initiative will improve water quality, making it safer to consume fish caught in the harbour. When completed, it will also remove current restrictions on navigation and generate economic returns through the creation of valuable port lands. The Randle Reef clean-up is part of the Government of Canada's Action Plan for Clean Water.

[thistleclub]

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency:

Randle Reef Sediment Remediation Project: Public Comments Invited on the Comprehensive Study Report

OTTAWA – January 4, 2013 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is conducting a comprehensive study environmental assessment for the Randle Reef Sediment Remediation Project located in Ontario. The public is invited to comment on the Comprehensive Study Report for this proposed project.

The Comprehensive Study Report includes the conclusions and recommendations regarding the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures and whether or not the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.
The Comprehensive Study Report and more information on this project are available on the Agency’s website (registry reference number 80001).

Copies of the Comprehensive Study Report are also available for viewing at the following locations:

Environment Canada
Canada Centre for Inland Waters Library
867 Lakeshore Road, Room: L200
Burlington, ON
Please contact 905-336-4982 to arrange viewing

Environment Canada
Downsview Library Services
4905 Dufferin Street, Floor 3rd
Toronto, ON
Please contact 416-739-5702 to arrange viewing

Hamilton Port Authority
605 James Street North, 6th Floor
Hamilton, ON
Please contact 905-525-4330 to arrange viewing

Hamilton Public Library
Central Branch
55 York Boulevard, 3rd Floor Reference Desk
Hamilton, ON

Burlington Public Library
Central Branch
2331 New Street
Burlington, ON

Written comments in either official language must be sent by February 3, 2013 to:

Randle Reef Sediment Remediation Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
55 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 907
Toronto ON M4T 1M2
Tel: 416-952-1576
Fax: 416-952-1573
RandleReef.EA@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

This is the final public comment period of the environmental assessment of the project. After this public comment period, the Minister of the Environment will take into consideration the Comprehensive Study Report along with comments received from the public and Aboriginal groups and issue an environmental assessment decision statement.

This project was assessed using a science-based approach. As for any project assessed under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, it will continue to be subject to Canada’s strong environmental laws, rigorous enforcement and follow-up, and increased fines.

The Proposed Project
The project involves the construction of a capped engineered containment facility (ECF) of about 7.5 ha, consisting of a peninsula attached to Hamilton Port Authority’s Pier 15. The ECF would cover in-situ about 130,000 m³ of contaminated sediments and contain about 500,000 m³ of dredged contaminated sediments from the surrounding areas.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.

[thistleclub]

Green space vision in Randle Reef plan getting fuzzy
(Hamilton SPectator, Mark McNeil, Jan 16 2013)

An eleventh hour decision to water down green space provisions in the $140-million Randle Reef plan is raising the wrath of Hamilton Harbour remediation advocates.

The initial plan called for one-third of the more than 7.5-hectare surface area to be naturalized. But a revised plan, expected to be available Wednesday at a public open house, would apparently allow the Hamilton Port Authority to develop the whole site.

The move is interesting because attention over the past several years has been focused on subsurface aspects of the plan, with a decision finally made to contain the toxic hot spot rather than removing it.

The proposed capped engineered containment facility (ECF) will enclose and trap the contaminated sediment, instead of scooping it out. Sediment will also be dredged from the surrounding waters to be contained in the ECF.

With that part of the plan settled, and funding in place while a process of public consultation begins, attention is shifting to the topside....

~

RANDLE REEF OPEN HOUSE

When: 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Waterfront Centre, 555 Bay St. N.

[SteelTown]

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/41...reef-in-place/

[SteelTown]

Hamilton Harbour Randle Reef cleanup gets final go-ahead

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilt...head-1.1873366

It's official: the clean up of Randle Reef, one of Hamilton's largest environmental problems, is moving ahead.

All the agreements are officially in place to move forward with the $139.9-million project to clean up a large area of toxic sediment in Hamilton Harbour.

“All legal agreements to fund and implement the project have been completed and signed,” the partners said in an announcement Monday.

That includes the federal and provincial government, the city of Hamilton, the Hamilton Port Authority, U.S. Steel Canada, the city of Burlington and Halton Region.

“The clean up of Randle Reef is important for the future of this community and reflects the Government of Canada’s commitment to clean water for Canadians,” said Leona Aglukkaq, federal environment minister, in a statement.

[ScreamingViking]

Get 'er done.

Hopefully costs will not rise substantially over the life of the project. And a double-hope for no big surprises once work is under way.

[ScreamingViking]

No turning back on Randle Reef
Work will begin this year on the $138.9-million remediation project
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/43...n-randle-reef/

It's an oozing mess of environmental embarrassment that many feared would contaminate Hamilton Harbour and taint the city's image forever.

But a call for tenders this month to take on construction of the $138.9-million Randle Reef remediation project is being viewed as a no-turning-back development in containing the worst coal tar-contaminated site in Canada.

A request for proposals from Public Works Canada means the project will start this spring or summer after years of delays, arguments over the best approach, disputes about who should pay for it and legal fears about liability.

"They're hoping to have shovels in the water by April," said Chris McLaughlin, executive director of the Bay Area Restoration Council.

...

[thistleclub]

Capturing the blob at Randle Reef
(Hamilton Spectator, Mark McNeil, Feb 26 2014)

Twenty-five years after Environment Canada scientist Tom Murphy pulled a sediment sample of "black, oily, oozing sludge" into his boat from a section of Hamilton Harbour known as Randle Reef, a massive $138.9-million remediation project is set to begin on the ghastly environmental mess he discovered.

It has taken more than two decades of scientific research, changing plans, shifting priorities, squabbling over responsibility and escalating cost estimates, but the project is finally calling for tenders to begin the first phase of the work later this year, probably in the spring.

Randle Reef, just west of Stelco (U.S. Steel) property on the harbour, is the worst coal tar-contaminated site in Canada and its remediation is expected to take eight years. The plan involves building a 7.5-hectare steel containment structure over the worst part of the polluted area. Then, less contaminated sediment from a 50-hectare surrounding area will be dredged and pumped into the structure. Water will be removed from the captured sediment, and the structure will be capped and made into a port facility with green space. The containment facility is capable of holding enough coal tar sediment to fill FirstOntario Centre (formerly Copps Coliseum) three times.

A harbour area, now off limits to ships to avoid stirring up contaminants, is destined to become a docking facility and a shining symbol of waterfront renewal and urban revitalization.


Read it in full here

[Pearlstreet]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Capturing the blob at Randle Reef
(Hamilton Spectator, Mark McNeil, Feb 26 2014)

Twenty-five years after Environment Canada scientist Tom Murphy pulled a sediment sample of "black, oily, oozing sludge" into his boat from a section of Hamilton Harbour known as Randle Reef, a massive $138.9-million remediation project is set to begin on the ghastly environmental mess he discovered.

It has taken more than two decades of scientific research, changing plans, shifting priorities, squabbling over responsibility and escalating cost estimates, but the project is finally calling for tenders to begin the first phase of the work later this year, probably in the spring.

Randle Reef, just west of Stelco (U.S. Steel) property on the harbour, is the worst coal tar-contaminated site in Canada and its remediation is expected to take eight years. The plan involves building a 7.5-hectare steel containment structure over the worst part of the polluted area. Then, less contaminated sediment from a 50-hectare surrounding area will be dredged and pumped into the structure. Water will be removed from the captured sediment, and the structure will be capped and made into a port facility with green space. The containment facility is capable of holding enough coal tar sediment to fill FirstOntario Centre (formerly Copps Coliseum) three times.

A harbour area, now off limits to ships to avoid stirring up contaminants, is destined to become a docking facility and a shining symbol of waterfront renewal and urban revitalization.


Read it in full here

..and then what? Would there be potential of a leak from this structure they plan to contain all the sediment in? All the effort and cost, but no way to recycle or clean it?