THUNDER BAY — Federal government representatives will provide more information Tuesday concerning the renewed effort to deal with a broad area of mercury-contaminated sediment in Thunder Bay's harbour.
Approximately 350,000 cubic metres of contaminated industrial sediment sits on the bottom of the north harbour—enough material to fill more than 150 Olympic-size swimming pools.
A 2013 report identified potential risks to people from eating fish or coming into contact with the sediment, and risks to birds and sediment-dwelling organisms.
Representatives of the recently-constituted North Harbour Steering Committee will attend a public meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the next steps in determining how to remediate the site.
According to a news release from the Thunder Bay Remedial Action Plan, presenters from Environment and Climate Change Canada and from Transport Canada will participate.
The contamination is located offshore from a former paper mill near the shipyard, several hundred metres from the mouth of the Current River.
Officials say the highest level of contamination is in the water and is approximately 30 football fields in size. The mercury is mixed with a thick layer of pulpy fibre suspended in the water.
The information meeting will take place Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Lakehead University's Faculty Lounge at the University Centre.
