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March 29, 2022

Remediation of Port Hope Lions Recreation Centre Park

Port Hope, March 28, 2022 – As part of Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) activities, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) will clean up and restore lands at the Lions Recreation Centre Park located on Thomas Street in Port Hope. The park is owned by the Municipality of Port Hope.

The site contains both industrial waste and historic low-level radioactive waste. As such, it is identified as requiring a cleanup in the 2001 Legal Agreement for the PHAI between the municipality and the Government of Canada. Approximately 12,200 cubic metres of soil are contaminated with industrial waste, including metals and boron, and 2,500 cubic metres of soil has low-level radioactive waste.

CNL presented a cleanup plan to the Municipality of Port Hope that will remove the industrial and historic low-level radioactive waste, allowing the fencing to be taken down and public access to the full park. The plan includes the restoration of wooded areas through the replacement of trees and other vegetation.

As a result of further discussion with the municipality, CNL provided alternative cleanup scenarios that included a risk-based approach to leaving industrial waste behind to preserve some trees. If industrial waste is to be left behind, public access would be restricted in some areas of the park.

A report by municipal staff supporting the plan for a full PHAI cleanup and restoration of the site was presented at the municipality’s March 15 meeting of the Committee of the Whole.

PHAI work at the site is scheduled to begin in fall 2022 with preparatory activities that include tree cutting. As part of the PHAI commitment to environmental stewardship, trees removed will be replaced when the property is being restored.

CNL is holding a virtual information session about the cleanup plans for the Lions Recreation Centre Park on March 31, 2022, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.