Corner Brook Pulp and Paper to remove nearly century-old waste from Humber Canal

Nearly a hundred years after it sunk to the bottom, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper is putting together a plan to remove waste from the Humber Canal.

About a year ago residents spotted debris floating in the Humber Canal waters. Corner Brook Pulp and Paper then hired divers, who located two sunken barges used during the original construction of the canal between 1923-1925, and two barrels from the 1940s or ’50s.

“It’s certainly something from quite a number of years ago,” said Darren Pelley, the general manager for Corner Brook Pulp and Paper.

“In fact, from many years prior to Kruger’s operation of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper and Deer Lake Power.”

The Humber Canal is an 11-kilometre waterway that connects Grand Lake, the largest lake on Newfoundland, to the forebay at the Deer Lake Power facility. The water is then used to generate electricity to power Kruger’s paper mill in Corner Brook.

Pelley said they’re not sure if the items were sunk in the canal intentionally, but said Kruger is committed to removing them. A cleanup plan has been submitted to the Newfoundland and Labrador government for approval, with the priority placed on getting the barrels removed first.

While he can’t yet give a number on what the cost of removing the debris is, he said it is “significant.”
more at:  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/humber-canal-debris-barges-barrels-1.4612785