A.63 Randall Reef, ON

Randle Reef Sediment Remediation Project - Hamilton Harbour Ontario, Canada)

A.63.1 Site Description

Embayment located at the western tip of Lake Ontario and connected to the lake by a ship canal across the sandbar that forms the bay.

Contaminants of concern: Heavily contaminated coal tar (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) as well as metals

A.63.2 Remedial Objectives

Remove the major source of highly contaminated PAHs (and metals) from Hamilton Harbour

Summary of Project Plan:

• Construct a 7.5 hectare Engineered Containment Facility (ECF) with environmental features.
• Minimize disturbing the most highly contaminated sediment (130,000 m3 in situ) by building the ECF on top of this material.
• Remove 500,000 m³ by dredging and place within ECF.
• Treat sediment by dewatering.
• Isolate/capA covering over material (contaminated sediment) used to isolate the contaminants from the surrounding environment. sediments in U.S. Steel Intake/Outfall Channel.
• Create a multi-use facility with port features and open green space.

A.63.3 Remedial Approach

A detailed feasibility study that compared remediationThe act or process of abating, cleaning up, containing, or removing a substance (usually hazardous or infectious) from an environment. alternatives was completed with public input incorporated. Removal combined with containment approach for sediment remediation was selected for Randle Reef. Of the limited number and type of alternatives available for large-scale sediment remediation, hybrid approaches that include containment generally offer the best combination of environmental protection, practicality, and cost-effectiveness.

A.63.4 Costs

$105M over 10 years (technical)

A.63.5 Advantages and Limitations

Community: This project had issues with community acceptance, a viable option was proposed previously but was rejected by a community who felt their input was not sought/incorporated thoroughly enough. They then re-worked their entire plan and added significant stakeholderAffected tribes, community members, members of environmental and community advocacy groups, and local governments. and community input/review to come up with an acceptable feasible option. This held up remediation by several years.

A.63.6 Resources

Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan. http://ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=976258C6-1&news=491B73F8-2719-4B56-B632-5C1327F9350F.

Publication Date: August 2014