Work to clean up contaminated former gold mine site to begin this year

Work is underway to clean up contaminated former gold mining sites in Nova Scotia, with plans for construction to begin later this year. Donnie Burke, senior director of the environmental group with Build Nova Scotia, announced that engagement with the community regarding the cleanup in Montague Gold Mines, near Dartmouth, will commence shortly. The project is expected to go to tender next month, with construction set to start this year.

The cleanup efforts have been delayed due to the size of the properties that need to be remediated. Some sites are as large as seven city blocks, requiring careful planning and execution. A containment cell measuring about half a hectare will be constructed in Montague Gold Mines to prevent leakage and blend into the natural surroundings. The process is estimated to take up to three years, followed by long-term monitoring to ensure the area remains safe for both humans and the environment.

Similar cleanup efforts are also planned for a former mine site in Goldenville, near Sherbrooke. The process will take approximately the same amount of time as the Montague project, with preliminary work already underway. The Goldenville site spans between 500 and 600 hectares and requires thorough examination to address the environmental impact caused by the former mining operations.

First Nation consultation is ongoing for a third site, the former celestite mine in Lake Enon, Cape Breton. Once consultation is complete, the project will move to tender, with construction expected to take about a year due to the smaller size of the site.

The provincial government has identified 68 former mine sites in need of remediation. The estimated cost for cleanup efforts at all known contaminated sites in the province is approximately $600 million, with a significant portion allocated to the work at Boat Harbour. The cleanup of abandoned mine sites accounts for about $148 million, with major funds reserved for Goldenville and Montague.

Officials at the public accounts committee informed MLAs that cost estimates for the cleanup of abandoned mine sites are evaluated annually. While some sites may not be fully remediated, measures will be taken to contain and manage the environmental impact of these locations. The government remains committed to addressing contaminated sites and safeguarding human and ecological health in Nova Scotia.