Port Hope Harbour: Area of Concern
Port Hope Harbour was designated an Area of Concern (AOC) in 1987 under the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Industrial activity from Eldorado Mining and Refining between 1933 and 1953 resulted in approximately 86,700 m3 of contaminated sediment with low-level radioactive material within the turning basin and west slip of Port Hope Harbour. As a result, one beneficial use impairment (BUI) was identified. BUIs measure the environmental, human health or economic impact of poor water quality.
Restoration of beneficial uses
Work continues on restoring the beneficial use:
- restrictions on dredging activities – the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI), launched in 2001 and delivered by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories for Atomic Energy Canada Limited, focuses on the clean-up and management of waste from the harbour and a number of sites within Port Hope and neighbouring Clarington
Accomplishments
Significant progress has been made to address contaminated sediment in Port Hope Harbour. This includes:
- sediment remediation activities conducted from 2018 to 2025, including the removal, dewatering and off-site disposal of contaminated sediment at a long-term, low-level radioactive waste management facility developed through the PHAI
Remaining actions
We will continue to work with federal, provincial and local partners to confirm that site cleanup criteria have been met.
Outlook
Under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health, we will work with the province of Ontario to continue to make significant progress towards remediation, environmental recovery and restoration of the beneficial use in the Port Hope AOC.
Partners
We partner with other levels of government, non-government groups, Indigenous communities and members of the public. This restoration work requires a large amount of scientific and technical expertise, local knowledge, hard work and the help of: