Dredging Today Mr Peter Kent minister of the environment 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, US Steel Canada, the City of Burlington, and the Regional Municipality of Halton.
Minister Kent said that "The Harper Government is strongly committed to ensuring clean, safe, sustainable water quality for present and future generations. 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toxic chemicals and heavy metals, which were deposited over a long period of time from industrial operations that are no longer active.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.
Mr Jim Bradley Ontario's minister of the environment said that "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."
Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina said that "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."
Mayor Rick Goldring said that "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. 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."
The estimated cost of the Randle Reef sediment remediation project is USD 138.9 million. In addition to the USD 46.3 million in funding from the federal government, the Province of Ontario has committed to provide USD 46.3 million, and USD 14 million is being contributed by the City of Hamilton, USD 14 million by US Steel Canada and USD 14 million by the Hamilton Port Authority, as well as USD 2.3 million from the City of Burlington and USD 2 million from Halton Region.
