Thunder Bay consultant wants cost analysis of harbour clean-up plan

Superior Morning8:45John Parks - Mercury Contaminated Sediment

Could the plan to dredge mercury-contaminated sludge from Thunder Bay's north harbour do more harm than good.John Parks has spent 40 years, studying mercury in water systems. He will be raising his concerns at a public meetingA Thunder Bay resources management consultant said he would like to see a cost benefit analysis of the sediment management plan for the city's north harbour.

• Dredge tainted sludge in Thunder Bay harbour, report says

John Parks has spent over 40 years studying mercury contamination in water systems for various levels of government and a variety of organizations.

He said current studies don't clearly show the probable value or danger in disturbing the contaminated sludge at the bottom of the harbour. 

"A discussion or examination of those uncertainties and benefits, in a clear articulate fashion to the public would be much more helpful than what has been presently available", Parks said.

Parks said the research done to this point is good, but doesn't go far enough.

He said, for example, studies have identified the Bald Eagle as a species at risk due to this contamination.

"However, what is not pointed out in there, is that if you look at the home range of an eagle, the home range of an eagle is typically 10 to 100 times the size of the home range encompassed by the sediments proposed to be remediated," he said.

Parks said it's possible millions of dollars will be spent for very little environmental gain.

"And when we're talking about $50 million, $90 million, for the sake of a tiny, tiny percentage of that, you would get a much, much greater comfort level in what you're going to be spending this money on. Right now, from my perspective looking at it, there could be more harm than good."

Park said he is presenting his findings Wed. night to the public advisory committee meeting on the Remedial Action Plan for the harbour.

He said he'll be encouraging the committee to take the next step.  

"Identify risks from a potential risk to a more probable risk. Quantify what those risks are and explain what those benefits are to the public. Show me the beef. Show me some beef." 

A spokesperson for the project has declined to comment on Parks' concerns until after the meeting.

The event is open to the general public. It begins at 7 p.m. Wed. Jan 7 at the Balmoral Street Centre on the Lakehead University campus.