Government Announces Sediment Removal at Esquimalt Graving Dock (Canada)

The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today announced that a major environmental remediation project will be undertaken to remove contaminated sediment in the Esquimalt Graving Dock water lot.

A Request for Proposals for the first phase of the project, the construction of a sheet pile wall to provide protection from erosion, has also been posted.

“Our Government’s priority remains the economy and job creation,” said Minister Ambrose. “Through this investment we are not only cleaning up the seabed surrounding the dock, we are creating local jobs also investing in the Greater Victoria economy,”

“The Harper Government takes its responsibilities to protect the health and safety of Canadians and the environment very seriously,” said Minister James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages and Senior Minister Responsible for British Columbia. “This significant investment will clean up decades of contamination in the dock’s water lot, benefit Esquimalt Harbour, and contribute to the economy.”

The Esquimalt Graving Dock has been used for the repair and maintenance of military and civilian vessels since 1927. Decades of work at the dock has contributed to sediment contamination in the seabed around the facility. This project will ensure that the water lot meets federal and provincial environmental standards and will deliver jobs and important economic benefits to the region’s economy over the next two years.

The project involves three components: dredging the contaminated sediment and disposing of it in licensed landfills; construction of an erosion protection sheet pile wall around the south jetty; and creation of new fish habitat.

The Esquimalt Graving Dock Water Lot Remediation Project is funded through the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan, which is coordinated by Environment Canada and the Treasury Board to provide funding to assess and remediate federal contaminated sites.

PWGSC is committed to a fair, open and transparent tendering process, and this project will be conducted through the Government Electronic Tendering System (MERX). In accordance with the Government of Canada Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (PSAB), some of the contracts for the remediation project will be restricted to qualified Aboriginal businesses.

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Dredging Today Staff, August 2, 2012