Greens Decry Spending on Unproven Technology in Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup

SYDNEY--In response to the $52 million funding announcement made today by Peter MacKay and Gordie Gosse regarding the Sydney tar ponds and coke ovens cleanup, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May expressed her disappointment that recommendations resulting from the Joint Review Panel hearings in 2006 that no money should be spent until solidification and stabilization was proven to be safe to humans and the environment were being ignored. “This solidification and stabilization technology, which essentially is stirring concrete into the sediment, has never been used anywhere in the world on sediments so heavily contaminated with coal,” said Ms. May. “The sediments are about fifty percent coal and according to the expert witnesses at the environmental panel hearings, the coal will prevent the sediment from solidifying.”

“I have serious concerns about the increased health risks to the nearby residents as a result of the government’s plan,” said May.  Nearby Sydney residents will remain onlookers as workers dig up areas of sludge the size of football fields, which the technology calls for in order for the sludge to dry.  The problem is that as the sludge will not be enclosed, the technique will cause volatilization of dangerous PAHs (poly-aromatic hydrocarbons) as the sun hits the sediment.  “People living around this area can expect headaches and similar reactions as they are exposed to these chemicals,” said Ms. May. 

"The government had a chance to maximize the usefulness of the money being provided for the cleanup," said Ms. May. “Unfortunately instead they are choosing to recklessly pursue an unproven technology.  The risks to the community are high and the benefits low. Many more jobs could have been created in cleaning up the estuary and the contaminated backyards properly.”

As of now, there has been no plan announced to clean up highly contaminated backyards of community members who live near the tar ponds.  The tar ponds and associated coke ovens contain over 700,000 tonnes of toxic sludge, created over a century ago in the tidal estuary at the mouth of Muggah Creek, which empties into Sydney harbour.

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Contact:
Debra Eindiguer-Zimmermann
613-562-4916 ext.239
(c) 613-614-4916
debra@greenparty.ca