2026 Top 25 Remediation Projects Report - Report - Page 13
GOVERNMENT OF NOVA SCOTIA
5
Boat Harbour
$425 Million
THE BOAT HARBOUR Remediation Project aims to restore A’se’k (Boat Harbour), a former tidal estuary
in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, to its natural state after 50 years of industrial contamination from the
Northern Pulp facility. The Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change officially approved the
remediation plan in January 2025, with conditions to mitigate impacts on fish and migratory birds. As of
early 2026, the project is under judicial review following a February 2025 application by Pictou Landing
First Nation (PLFN), which objects to the permanent storage of hazardous waste in an expanded on-site
containment cell.
Project goals include the following:
• Restore Tidal Estuary: The primary objective is to return the 142-hectare site from its current state as a
freshwater effluent stabilization basin to a healthy saltwater estuary.
• Remove Contaminants: Dredge over one million cubic metres of contaminated sludge containing
dioxins, furans, mercury, and other heavy metals.
• Reconnect to the Sea: Remove the existing dam and causeway, replacing them with a new bridge at
Highway 348 to allow natural tidal flow from the Northumberland Strait.
Location: Pictou County, NS
Owner: Build Nova Scotia, formerly Nova Scotia Lands
Key Players: GHD (planning and design of remediation); WSP
(environmental consultant); and Pictou Landing First Nation
(community partner).
Funding/Financing: Public ($100,000 – Federal; $325,000 –
Provincial)
Types of Contaminants: Sludge containing dioxins, furans,
mercury, and other heavy metals.
Remediation Approach: The remediation approach for the Boat
Harbour Remediation Project (A’se’k) focuses on large-scale
sediment removal and the restoration of natural tidal flows.
Approved in January 2025, the strategy involves the following
key technical components:
1. Sediment Dredging and Dewatering
• Method: Impacted sludge and sediments will be removed
primarily through hydraulic dredging. A dredge sitting on a barge
will suck up the material and pump it through a pipeline to a
containment area.
• Mechanical Excavation: In shallow or tight areas where a
hydraulic dredge cannot reach, mechanical dredging will be
used.
• Dewatering: The dredged sludge, which is approximately 90
per cent water, will be pumped into Geotubes®—large, porous
fabric bags. These bags allow water to drain out while capturing
the contaminated solids inside.
2. Contaminant Containment
• On-Site Storage: The dewatered solids (and the Geotubes
themselves) will be stored in an existing hazardous waste
containment cell on the Boat Harbour property. A condition of
the federal Minister’s approval requires the proponent, with
PLFN, to take steps to identify and assess alternative site(s)
for contaminant, which could lead to an amendment to the
approved project to implement an off-site storage alternative.
• Expansion: To accommodate the large volume of waste
(estimated up to 1,074,000 cubic metres), the containment cell
will be vertically expanded by up to 24 metres.
• Safety Upgrades: The cell will receive an upgraded bottom
liner and a leachate (runoff) collection system to prevent
groundwater contamination.
3. Water Treatment
• Natural and Active Treatment: Water separated from the
sludge will be held in Boat Harbour for natural attenuation. If
it does not meet strict discharge criteria, it will be processed
through a new water treatment plant before being released back
into the estuary.
4. Restoration of Tidal Influence
• Infrastructure Removal: Once all dredging is complete, the
project will remove the existing dam and causeway.
• Bridge Construction: A new bridge will be built to allow
the Northumberland Strait to flow freely into the basin, returning
it to its original state as a saltwater tidal estuary.
5. Wetland Management
• Hybrid Approach: The most highly contaminated wetland areas
will undergo ex-situ remediation (physical removal of soil),
while less impacted areas will be left for natural attenuation to
minimize ecological disruption.
Current Status: While this remains the approved technical plan,
Build Nova Scotia is currently working with Pictou Landing First
Nation to evaluate potential alternative storage locations for the
waste as a condition of federal approval.
In-Situ/Ex-Situ/Both: Both
• Estimated Date of Completion: A multi-year project that may take until 2033.
ENV IR ONMEN TJOURN AL.C A
ENV IRONMENT JOURN AL TOP 25 REMEDI ATION PRO JEC T S 2026
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