Environment


Environment Overview

Hamilton Port Authority continues to be a leader in the environmental restoration of the harbour and has integrated environmentally-friendly practices in its daily operations. Port lands are being landscaped to make them more visually attractive and environmentally friendly. Initiatives to protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat are continuing in cooperation with environmental groups and government agencies. Many HPA projects undergo federal Environmental Assessment Screenings so that negative environmental effects are minimized and positive effects are introduced. In our recreation business, HPA provides leadership throughout the Great Lakes by participating in the innovative Green Marine Program.

The Port of Hamilton Spill Control Group (POHSCG) was pioneered in the early 1970s (more information on the POHSCG can be found below). This program has matured and is now known as the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan, or RAP.

The HPA has made the environmental health of Hamilton Harbour and its shoreline a priority. Most significantly, the HPA has committed to taking a lead in the remediation of Randle Reef, a toxic hot spot on the Great Lakes. In 2002, HPA partnered with Environment Canada and the provincial Ministry of the Environment to develop the preferred option of containing and capping the contaminated area to deal with this issue. Construction of this option will conclude with making the site aesthetically appealing and preparing it for future economic development. This project is an essential part of the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan (RAP).

The RAP began in 1986, and is a long-term environmental project involving all levels of government, industry, the Hamilton Harbour Commissioners (HHC), and public organizations. RAP's objective is the restoration of fish, plant and animal life in Hamilton Harbour and the adjoining Cootes Paradise. In helping to achieve these goals, the HHC regularly provided financial and project management assistance. The Hamilton Port Authority (which replaced the HHC in 2001) still provides assistance and is actively involved in several RAP-related committees and organizations.

The Hamilton Port Authority's Interim Environmental Report highlights the Port's environmental activities, and provides details on current environmental projects, operations and community engagement. Several Great Lakes programs and the Port's role in the important Randle Reef project are included. Being proactive with environmental management benefits Hamilton Harbour, its wildlife, and the entire region's economic development. Click the following link for the complete Interim Environmental Report.


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Sherman Inlet Revitalization

HPA identified Sherman Inlet for special status and revitalization in the 2002 Land Use Plan. This former natural creek provides a unique opportunity to combine ecological regeneration with an open space area, and appropriate public access to this central part of the industrial harbour. Led by the Hamilton Conservation Authority, the Sherman Inlet Technical Steering Committee was formed in 2004 to plan the development and revitalization of the Inlet.

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Randle Reef Contaminated Sediment Remediation Project

In 2001, Environment Canada, as the project lead, formed a multi-stakeholder Project Advisory Group (PAG) for the "Randle Reef Contaminated Sediment Remediation Project". Randle Reef is located in Hamilton Harbour, Ontario and is one of 43 "Areas of Concern" (AOC) identified in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States. The Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan (commonly called the "RAP") is a detailed strategy to clean up the Harbour in order to delist the Harbour as an AOC. Remediation of various contaminated sediment sites within the Harbour has been recommended under the Hamilton Harbour RAP.

Randle Reef is considered to be one of the more complex and highly contaminated sediment sites throughout the Canadian AOCs in the Great Lakes. Randle Reef sediments contain polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in very high concentrations in coal tar. This site is a priority for remediation in the Hamilton Harbour RAP and under the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.

The proposed remediation of Randle Reef involves the construction of a dry cap dyked containment facility approximately 9.5 ha (hectare) in size. This would cover in-situ about 130,000 m³ (cubic metres) of sediments contaminated with PAHs, and contain about 500,000 m³ of PAH contaminated sediments from the immediate surrounding project area, as well as other toxic sites in the Harbour. Its proposed end use will be a mix of 2/3 port activities and 1/3 naturalized open space. The port facility will be suitable for ships of Seaway draught. The channel, to be provided between the peninsula and the extension to Pier 15 will also allow vessels to enter and exit the berths along Pier 15 north of Sherman Inlet.

View this entire document (423 KB PDF version, opens in a new tab or window), or view the project on the federal government's Great Lakes Sustainability Fund web site (opens in a new tab or window).

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Environmental Screening Reports

Pier 22 Wharf Completion Project Enviromental Assessment of Wellington Street, Emerald Street, Strathearne Avenue and Wentworth Street Slips VICWEST Project, Pier 15, Port of Hamilton - Insulated Metal Panel Production Line Pier 25 Maintenance Dredging

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Clean Marine Program

The Clean Marine Program is a comprehensive environmental audit system for recreational marinas. Together, the Ontario Marina Operators Association (OMOA), Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, developed standards for more than 200 environmental practices, covering all aspects of marine operations, from fueling to waste oil management and paper recycling. To qualify for a rating, a participating marina must pass a comprehensive environmental audit to ensure compliance with the program standards set out in the Clean Marine manual of environmental practices.

Marinas are audited by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, a third party firm licensed by Environment Canada, providing the marina with a detailed report on their compliance with the standards of the Clean Marine Program. Results of this audit are then converted to a five point Eco-rating system.

Harbour-West Marina achieved the 5 Green Leaf Anchor rating in 2005 from the Ontario Marina Operators Association (OMOA) and its Clean Marine Program. A 5 Green Leaf Anchor rating is the highest level that can be attained in the program and shows a commitment to true environmental leadership.

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Local Environmental Groups

Marilyn Baxter, Manager, Environmental is a member of the Bay Area Implementation Team (BAIT). Hamilton Port Authority is a strong supporter of both the Bay Area Restoration Council (BARC) and the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan.

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Port of Hamilton Spill Control Group (POHSCG)

In the absence of spill control contractors in the 1970s, the Port of Hamilton Spill Control Group (POHSCG) was organized to provide a quick response capability for containment and clean up of oil at a spill site. The response is intended to cover the geographical area embracing the locations of group members and centering around Hamilton Harbour. Member companies included:

  • Westway
  • Bunge
  • Columbian Chemicals
  • Dofasco Inc.
  • Hamilton Port Authority
  • IKO Industries Limited
  • Vopak Transit Inc.
  • Petro Canada Mississauga Refinery
  • Provmar Fuels
  • Stelco Inc.
  • Sun Canadian Pipelines Co.
  • Upper Lakes Group Inc.

Today, with all member companies having "first response" equipment and manpower on-site and private contractors abundant, the need to maintain trained personnel and expensive equipment for use port-wide is unnecessary and redundant. In that regard, the Spill Control Group has now been dissolved.

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Green Marine

Lead by industry CEOs and the Chamber of Maritime Commerce, the Green Marine program is a voluntary, bi-national program (Canada and the U.S.) designed to strengthen the marine sector's environmental performance, build stronger relations with Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Waterway stakeholders and improve the awareness of the marine industry's activities and environmental benefits. Marilyn Baxter, Manager, Environmental, is the co-chair of the newly formed Great Lakes Environmental Committee (GLEC).

More information on the Green Marine program can be found on the Chamber of Maritime Commerce web site (the link will open in a new tab or window).