Cleaning up contaminated sites north of 60

PWGSC and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) are partnering with private industry to improve the environment in Canada's North.

The collaboration stems from a $4 billion Government of Canada (GoC) commitment to clean up contaminated sites countrywide for which it holds full or partial responsibility.

A construction crew digs a cut-off trench at the Colomac Mine, northwest of Yellowknife, to prevent seepage of mine toxins into the adjacent Steves Lake. PWGSC and INAC are working in partnership with the local Tlicho people to remediate the site — a gold mine operated by Royal Oak Mines Inc. from 1989 to 1997.

"The GoC is taking concrete action and spending significant money to ensure that these sites are left in a safe condition," says PWGSC's Margaret Kenny, Director General, Office of Greening Government Operations. Most of the contamination originated from mining and military activities that took place in the mid-to-late 20th century.

INAC is the responsible custodian and project lead for stabilizing sites resting north of the 60th parallel — in Nunavut, Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories — and called upon PWGSC for help.

"We wanted to leverage PWGSC's expertise in delivering large, environmental services," says INAC's Michael Nahir, a Senior Engineering Advisor. Under a five-year services agreement, PWGSC is contributing project management, technical, procurement and environmental services in the implementation of INAC's assessment and remediation projects in the North.

"Our client's main goal is to make the sites stable and safe, and protect the environment for the long term," says Ms. Kenny.

At each site, a project team assesses the nature and scope of contamination and then, working with technical experts, local community leaders and other stakeholders, develops a remediation plan. "During this process, we support INAC as they consult with all critical stakeholders, such as local residents and First Nations groups," says Ms. Kenny.

After selecting a plan, engineers design the specifications, and procurement specialists tender the construction contracts.

Solutions vary depending on the site. For example, at Yellowknife's Giant Mine, toxic arsenic trioxide dust is being safely contained in underground chambers. At Colomac Mine — a former gold mine located northwest of Yellowknife — cyanide- and ammonia-contaminated water is being securely contained and safely treated with phosphorus, which promotes the growth of algae that breaks down the contaminants into non-toxic substances.

In addition to making the environment safer, says Ms. Kenny, "this program is going to create important economic opportunities for communities, like new job and contracting possibilities."

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