Thunder Bay Area of Concern North Harbour Sediment Management Options Evaluation Quick Facts PROJECT QUICK FACTS  Thunder Bay’s harbour on Lake Superior is one of 43 areas of concern identified through the 1987 Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.  The North Harbour site has approximately 390,000 m3 of enriched organic sediment (EOS) contaminated with mercury and wood/pulp fibre spread over 26 hectares following decades of industrial pollution.  Canada is committed to the protection of Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health. The Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement has been an important framework for ensuring cooperative action to restore, protect and enhance the water quality and ecological health of the Great Lakes since first signed in 1972.  To help meet Canada's obligations under the binational Agreement, the governments of Canada and Ontario cooperate and coordinate their activities to restore, protect and conserve Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health through a series of Canada-Ontario Agreements dating back over 40 years.  Environment and Climate Change Canada leads on the implementation of these Agreements on behalf of the Government of Canada; and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks leads on the implementation for the Government of Ontario.  Canada and Ontario strive to work together to engage all levels of government, First Nations, Métis, non-government organizations, and the public, in the restoration of the Thunder Bay Area of Concern in Lake Superior.  Under the current Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, Canada and Ontario are committed to developing a contaminated sediment management strategy for the TBNH. Transport Canada is involved in this project as the majority waterlot owner, and Thunder Bay Port Authority) has the administration and control of the impacted waterlot. February 2020 1 Thunder Bay Area of Concern North Harbour Sediment Management Options Evaluation Quick Facts  Environment and Climate Change Canada and Transport Canada, in collaboration with the Thunder Bay Port Authority and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, have established a Sediment Management Options Working Group to recommend a preferred option to manage contaminated sediments in the Thunder Bay North Harbour Site. Transport Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada are co-chairing this working group.  Invitations to join the working group were extended to organizations including managers or operators of the impacted water lots or associated land-based facilities, current or past neighbouring property owners, and those having regulatory or other interests pertaining to the Thunder Bay North Harbour Site. The working group consists of representatives from:              Transport Canada (Co-Chair) Environment and Climate Change Canada (Co-Chair) Ontario Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks Thunder Bay Port Authority Cascades Fine Papers Group City of Thunder Bay, Infrastructure & Operations Fort William First Nation Lakehead Region Conservation Authority Métis Nation of Ontario Public Advisory Committee (PAC) to the Thunder Bay Remedial Action Plan Red Sky Métis Independent Nation Richardson's International Wilderness North PLEASE SEE THE THUNDER BAY NORTH HARBOUR PROJECT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PAGES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT. HISTORICAL PHOTO WITH MILL IN OPERATION February 2020 2 Thunder Bay Area of Concern North Harbour Sediment Management Options Evaluation Questions and Answers THE SITE 1. What are the primary contaminants at the Thunder Bay North Harbour site?  The primary contaminants of concern at the Thunder Bay North Harbour site include:   2. Paper fibre/pulp waste Mercury What is the source of the contamination at the Thunder Bay North Harbour site?  3. The source of the paper fibre/pulp waste at the Thunder Bay North Harbour site is years of paper making operation. The paper fibre/pulp waste is contaminated with mercury. What is sediment?   4. Sediment is the ‘mud’ found at the bottom of lakes, rivers and ponds. Sediment may contain a mixture of mineral grains (sand, silt and clay), decaying organic matter, insects, clams and/or worms (“invertebrates”). Why is sediment important?    Sediment provides habitat for bottom dwelling aquatic invertebrates, which serve as a food source for species higher up in the food chain (i.e. fish). Sediment acts as a ‘sink’ for materials and substances entering aquatic environments, including chemicals, some of which – like methylmercury – are toxic and biomagnify up the food chain. Chemicals such as methylmercury, can be transferred from sediment to water, plants, invertebrates, fish, and to fish-eating wildlife and humans. February 2020 1 Thunder Bay Area of Concern North Harbour Sediment Management Options Evaluation Questions and Answers 5. What is Enriched Organic Sediment (EOS)?  Enriched Organic Sediment is the term used to refer to the contaminated material in Thunder Bay’s north harbor. It consists mainly of digested pulp, silt and clay contaminated with mercury. CONTAMINATION 6. What is mercury?   Mercury is an inorganic element (like copper, lead, zinc, etc.) derived from rocks, of natural origin and is indestructible. Like all metals, mercury exists in multiple forms such as:    7. Dissolved “pure” elemental form (liquid at room temperature, as in thermometers) Gas (mercury vapour) Solid - as part of various minerals (mercury ore). What is methylmercury?    Methylmercury is the most toxic form of mercury generally found in the environment. Under specific conditions, mercury is converted in sediment from mercury to methylmercury, which is available to aquatic organisms where it accumulates in their tissues. Methylmercury is persistent, bioaccumulative (accumulates in the tissue of organisms) and toxic. February 2020 2 Thunder Bay Area of Concern North Harbour Sediment Management Options Evaluation Questions and Answers 8. What are the risks from methylmercury?  The risk from methylmercury can include:   9. Build up in fish and the animals that eat fish. Methylmercury biomagnifies, meaning the concentration increases with each level in the food web. All mercury in fish is assumed to be methylmercury. Long term mercury exposure can affect development and cause neurological impairment in humans. Are fish from Thunder Bay Harbour safe to eat?  The Guide to Eating Ontario Fish issues advisories for consuming fish caught from Thunder Bay Harbour, depending on fish size and species. The Guide can be found online at: https://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/sport-fish-consumptionadvisory?id=48258910 10.  Are there other contaminants present at the site related to the former mill operations? Why is the focus on mercury when other contaminants are present as well? There are other contaminants present at the site, which include:       Paper fibre/pulp waste Copper Lead PCBs Resin Acids & Fatty Acids Mercury was selected as the contaminant on which to base management decisions, because:    Concentrations of mercury are higher relative to other contaminants. The mercury contamination is most extensive, therefore management of mercury would manage the other contaminants. The ecological risk assessment conducted at the site indicated that potentially unacceptable risk is present for: a. b. c. d. February 2020 Benthic (lake bottom) communities (from mercury, resin/fatty acids); Fish (from mercury, copper, PCBs); Fish-eating mammals (from mercury); and, Fish-eating birds (from mercury). 3 Thunder Bay Area of Concern North Harbour Sediment Management Options Evaluation Questions and Answers 11.  How does contaminated sediment in Thunder Bay North Harbour affect me? Risks associated with the contaminated sediment in Thunder Bay North Harbour are negligible as long as the Guide to Eating Ontario Fish is followed, and frequent direct contact with the sediment or ingestion of contaminated sediment is avoided. THE PROJECT 12.   Why does the contaminated sediment in Thunder Bay North Harbour need to be managed? There is a need to manage the contaminated sediment in Thunder Bay North Harbour, as approximately 26 hectares (approximately 31 Canadian football fields) of fish habitat have been destroyed/altered with the mercury contaminated pulp fibre. Potential risks have been identified for:       13.  Benthic (lake bottom) communities Fish Fish-eating mammals (including humans) Fish-eating birds Industrial/construction workers if they come into frequent contact with the material in Thunder Bay North Harbour. Management of the contaminated sediments is a step toward restoring one of several remaining impairments in the Thunder Bay Area of Concern. What are the benefits of the future sediment remediation project? There are a number of benefits that would result from a future sediment remediation project, which could include:     February 2020 Restoration of fish habitat for future generations Reduction of risk to the environment and wildlife Contribution to the delisting of Thunder Bay as a Great Lakes Area of Concern Promotion of future development of the Thunder Bay Harbour waterfront 4 Thunder Bay Area of Concern North Harbour Sediment Management Options Evaluation Questions and Answers 14.    15.   16.  17.  Would dredging the contaminated sediment affect drinking water? Any future dredging will be conducted with mitigation measures in place to contain any release of material so drinking water will not be affected. Monitoring will be conducted to ensure contaminated sediment is not released from the work site the dredging activity. Water samples taken annually around Bare Point municipal drinking water intake indicated that the mercury levels in water outside the breakwater were compliant with drinking water standards. Sediment samples taken outside the breakwall in 2009 indicated that mercury levels are compliant with Provincial Sediment Quality Guidelines (Lowest Effect Level). When will the Thunder Bay North Harbour Sediment Management Options Working Group (Working Group) recommend a preferred sediment management option? It is anticipated that the Working Group will propose a recommended option by June 2020. The Working Group was formed in 2018 to recommend an option to manage the contaminated sediment. The Working Group is considering all previous and new information on management options, represents each organization's interests in the deliberations, and will consider community input in recommending a preferred sediment management. Who is the Working Group making recommendations to? The Thunder Bay Sediment Management Options Working Group will make its recommendation in the form of a report to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Transport Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the Thunder Bay Port Authority. What happens after the Working Group makes their recommendation? Environment and Climate Change Canada, Transport Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the Thunder Bay Port Authority (and potentially other partners) will select a preferred sediment management option considering the following:    February 2020 Identification of the project lead and contracting authority Ownership, monitoring, maintenance, responsibilities for the containment facility Funding model for engineering design and implementation 5 Thunder Bay Area of Concern North Harbour Sediment Management Options Evaluation Questions and Answers 18.   19.    20.  When would the sediment remediation project start and finish? How long will it take? The sediment remediation project is proposed to start once a preferred sediment management option is selected, a detailed engineering design is developed, and project funding and agreements are in place. The duration of the construction project depends on the option selected. Will an Environmental Assessment (EA) be done for the remediation project? The requirement for an EA is dependent on the sediment management option selection, final confined disposal facility ownership and project details. The requirements of federal EA under the Impact Assessment Act and the requirements of a provincial EA under the Environmental Assessment Act will have to be reviewed once a sediment management option has been selected. If an EA is required, it would take place during the engineering/design phase of the project, and results of previous studies will be used as appropriate to reduce duplication. How will the integrity of the Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) be ensured in the long-term? Long term monitoring and maintenance plans will be developed and carried out to ensure environmental containment of the contaminated sediment. The future site use at the facility will have restrictions to ensure that the integrity of the Confined Disposal Facility is not compromised. POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS 21.  What sediment management options (SMOs) were previously evaluated in 2014/15? There were a number of sediment management options previously evaluated, including:       Monitored natural recovery Capping Dredging and upland disposal Dredging and disposal in the local Mission Bay Confined Disposal Facility Dredging and disposal in a new on-site confined disposal facility Results of 2014/15 SMO assessment indicated that dredging and disposal at an onsite confined disposal facility and dredging and disposal at the Mission Bay confined disposal facility ranked at the top. February 2020 6 Thunder Bay Area of Concern North Harbour Sediment Management Options Evaluation Questions and Answers 22.  Has incineration been considered? Incineration was considered and found not to be a feasible option due to:    23.  High costs related to incinerating enriched organic sediment (low fibre density, clay, low heat value) Risks associated with vaporized mercury during incineration Potentially high transport costs What options are being evaluated by the Thunder Bay North Harbour Working Group? The Thunder Bay North Harbour Working Group is reviewing these options: A. Dredging and disposal at an on-site confined disposal facility (CDF), B. Dredging and disposal at the Mission Bay CDF, and C. Constructing a berm to contain all the enriched organic sediment and then infilling (this option was not assessed in 2014/15 (new in 2018))  24.    25.  Please refer to the provided factsheets for each option. Does the public have any say in a recommendation of a preferred sediment management option? Public opinion is very important, and this input will be gathered in the public engagement sessions. The public engagement process and resulting feedback will be summarized and forwarded to the Working Group members for consideration in recommending a preferred sediment management option for Thunder Bay North Harbour. A summary of the results from public engagement will be posted on the InfoSuperior Website. How does the public find out what option was selected? At minimum, the selection of the sediment management option will be posted on the InfoSuperior website. COST 26.  How much would the Thunder Bay North Harbour sediment remediation project cost? Conceptual cost estimates for short listed options range between $65 million to $80 million. The cost of the project will depend on the option selected. February 2020 7 Thunder Bay Area of Concern North Harbour Sediment Management Options Evaluation Questions and Answers 27.   Who will fund the Thunder Bay North Harbour remediation project? Determining potential financial implications to implement the project will not be addressed by the Working Group. As part of the sediment management option selection process, the Government of Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and project partners will work together to develop a funding model to implement the project. FOR MORE INFORMATION 28.  How does the public access information on the recommendation of the sediment management options? Background reports and additional information are available, and will continue to be posted, on the InfoSuperior website: http://rap.infosuperior.com/northharbour/ 29.  Who can I contact to discuss the project? Key contacts are provided in the table below: Name and Title Roger Santiago (Working Group Co-Chair) Head, Sediment Remediation Unit Great Lakes Areas of Concern Tera Yochim Hope (Working Group Co-Chair) Regional Environmental Advisor, Environment and Engineering Organization Environment and Climate Change Canada Contact Information roger.santiago@canada.ca Tel: (416) 739-5876 Transport Canada tera.yochimhope@tc.gc.ca Tel: (416) 952-0501 Dawn Talarico Great Lakes Advisor Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Thunder Bay Port Authority Guy Jarvis Director of Engineering and Harbour Master Alternate Contact: Monique Mousseau (Regional Manager Environment and Engineering) monique.mousseau@tc.gc.ca dawn.talarico@ontario.ca Tel: (807) 629-2678 guy@tbport.on.ca Tel: (807) 345-6400 THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND INPUT! February 2020 8