The Coral Harbour remediation site is a former military base that was constructed during the Cold War and used until the 1970s. It was used by Canadian and American forces during the construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line in Northern Canada and is located approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northwest of the Hamlet of Coral Harbour, Nunavut, on Southampton Island. After decommissioning, most of its infrastructure was abandoned or buried, leaving behind hazardous materials and debris in an ecologically sensitive Arctic landscape. Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) retained Nunami Stantec on behalf of Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) to plan, design, and oversee environmental remediation at the site.
CIRNAC’s goals were to remediate or manage environmental risks at eight areas of environmental concern (AECs). Situated within the Nunavut Settlement Area, Coral Harbour is an Inuit community with cultural and environmental significance. This required a remediation approach that respected Inuit land use and incorporated Inuit and community perspectives into planning and decision-making.
Our team completed a range of studies including phased environmental site assessments and assessments of hazardous materials, archaeological impacts, borrow area, human health and ecological risk, and remedial options. The eight AECs each presented distinct environmental, geotechnical, and regulatory challenges, so we tailored remedial approaches for each.
We integrated environmental, geotechnical, regulatory, and community considerations to develop a cost-effective remediation plan with minimal permafrost disturbance. Key decisions included selecting remedial technologies for each waste stream, developing detailed soil and materials management strategies, and engineering an onsite nonhazardous waste landfill suitable for Arctic conditions. We also implemented a quality assurance program, oversaw landfill construction, verified borrow material suitability, and determined that all activities adhered to design specifications. Crews completed remediation activities on time in 2024.
One of the most significant contaminated-site cleanups in Nunavut, the result is a cleaner, safer, and more resilient landscape that supports ecological integrity and community well-being.
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