Aboriginal construction companies take lead in cleanup of tar ponds.

A multi-million dollar environmental reclamation project at the Sydney Tar Ponds has been undertaken by several Aboriginal businesses. The project promises to bring economic stability to the area for many years to come.

Located on Cape Breton Island, the tar ponds consist of tons of contaminated soil and sediment left over from 100 years of production as the Sydney Coke Ovens turned coal into coke, a key ingredient in steel production. The resulting deposits left from the activity have become a blight on the Island landscape.

The five First Nation communities on Cape Breton, or Unama'ki in Mi'kmaw, met to discuss the projects that may be possible as reclamation operations began.

"They formed an economic partnership and agreed to take a business approach to going after opportunities, setting up an office and pursuing numerous possibilities," said well-known Sydney businessman Owen Fitzgerald, director of the Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office.

"The big thing is that the local construction companies are bursting with confidence now as they've had previous successes and gained considerable experience at a smaller level. Even though it's a new experience to be taking on multi-million dollar contracts, they are ready."

The office is more than a liaison between the Sydney Tar Pond Agency and the companies, as it also identifies where there is need for training. "We ensure that people have the necessary skills for the employment that will be available. Some of it can be done on the job, but others will require attendance at a post-secondary institution, such as heavy equipment operators and so on," he explained. "The Aboriginal communities have a growing population, with 50 per cent under 25 years of age, so it's a great opportunity to get them trained and filling the shortage of young, skilled trades people in all areas of the Maritimes."

The office will provide guidance and training as Unama'ki businesses submit proposals and bids. Staff will also demonstrate the advantages to all construction companies in the area of hiring First Nations employees. Further partnerships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal businesses and communities will also be explored.

Cleaning up the industrial mess is also in keeping with the renewed determination of the people to restore the environment and look after Mother Earth.

"The legacy that these tar ponds has left is indeed destructive, and it's great to know that getting rid of them is not only a much-needed environmental activity, but it can bring economic benefits at the same time," said Fitzgerald.

"It's pretty impressive that Aboriginal companies are leading the way to eliminating something that's been a scar on our landscape for decades." The Tar Ponds are in the heart of Sydney, which at one time produced nearly half of Canada's steel. The mill closed in 2001, leaving more than a million tonnes of coal-based wastes to clean up.

At one time more than 5,000 people worked at the Sydney steel mill and another 20,000 worked in the Cape Breton coal mines.

Fitzgerald said that Frank Potter, the president of the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency, has stated that without question the success of the venture so far is largely attributable to the Aboriginal contractors working on the project.

"They have responded to the challenge of a demanding environmental project and in the process have acquired valuable skills and training from some of the top experts in the field of solidification and stabilization. Through their hard work, important partnership were developed and their ability to compete for other cleanup projects, both regionally and globally, has broadened," said Potter.

A full description of the ongoing work is available at www.unamaki.ca where the Cooling Pond project is cited as the first to deal with the actual cleanup of the Tar Ponds, following previous work which centered on planning, engineering and site preparation.

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The Cooling Pond project is valued at more than $3 million and is being done by three local Aboriginal companies. Water and air monitoring and dust suppression will be conducted throughout the cleanup project.

The Unama'ki Economic Benefits Office plans to be aggressive and proactive in securing contracts, hoping to gain up to $38 million in contracts to employ as many as 60 full-time workers.

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"This cleanup is going to continue for at least another seven years," concluded Fitzgerald. "Today there are no coal mines and no steel mills in Cape Breton, but there is a growing optimism. And most importantly, there is a strong spirit of cooperation that is giving life to collaboration and collective action for progress."