A dredger’s skillful removal of a decades-old car from the water marked the start of the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) cleanup in the Port Hope Harbour.
The dredging, which began Oct. 31, is part of the process to remove sediment, objects and other material contaminated with historic low-level radioactive waste from the inner and outer harbour.
The PHAI involves the cleanup of waste on municipal and residential sites in Port Hope and is being undertaken by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) on behalf of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, a federal Crown corporation.
“The removal of historic waste from the harbour is one of the most complex aspects of the PHAI,” said Harvey Seto, CNL’s Director of Major Sites Remediation. “We’re all excited to have reached this milestone; however, it’s important that we work at a measured pace, keeping safety top of mind and adjusting our plans as required.”
From vehicles to appliances, local lore indicates that CNL can expect to recover some storied sunken finds within the sediment. The project team is also on the lookout for objects of historical significance and will safely contain these items while notifying an archaeologist. Most material removed from the harbour will be transported to the Port Hope Long-Term Waste Management Facility for safe storage.
Two types of dredging, mechanical and hydraulic, will be used interchangeably to remove sediment. Mechanical dredging will also be used to remove large objects previously identified through mapping of the bottom of the harbour. This step is critical, as these items can clog or damage the hydraulic dredger used for smaller material.
The remediation of the harbour area, which is being undertaken by Milestone Environmental under contract to CNL, includes the cleanup of the Centre Pier and is expected to be completed in 2023. A year of preparation brought the project to this stage. Activities include electrofishing of the inner harbour to remove fish, installation of a wave attenuator to isolate the work area from Lake Ontario, and shoring, bracing and rehabilitation of the aging harbour walls.
As the cleanup continues, public access to the Centre Pier and the harbour will remain restricted. Anglers are encouraged to access the Ganaraska River and Lake Ontario from the Mill Street side of the river. After the cleanup is completed, the Port Hope Harbour will be returned to the Municipality of Port Hope for its use.
The community is invited to drop in and chat with CNL staff and find out more about this work and the PHAI at a public information session being held on November 21, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lions Recreation Centre, 29 Thomas Street, Port Hope.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
