Breaking New Ground—Stories from Defence Construction Breaking_new_ground | Page 109

Did You Know?
Since 1995, DCC has been performing the contracting,
project management and contract management for the
DEW Line Cleanup project.
cleaning up this legacy, the Arctic itself created additional
difficulties: limited access, a short construction season
and the intense cold and limited sunlight that slowed
the natural degradation of pollutants.
Following years of investigations and community
consultation to determine the scope of the project, a DEW
Line Cleanup (DLCU) protocol was drafted in 1992,
listing specific environmental concerns at each site
along with detailed assessments. The DCC project team
grew to take on the full project and environmental
management function to meet the DND requirements.
In February 1996, DND signed a $68 million, seven-year
agreement with the Inuvialuit Settlement Region for the
cleanup of the six sites on its territory in Canada’s western
Arctic, including the removal of PCBs and inorganic
elements such as copper, lead and zinc—these
contaminants were of significant concern because of
their effects on the Arctic food chain and their propensity
to be spread, especially by water. The agreement also
BREAKING NEW GROUND
DEFENCE CONSTRUCTION CANADA
covered procedures for the cleanup work and for
Aboriginal content in the contracts. Site work had begun
at Cape Hooper and Tuktoyaktuk by 1997.
After years of negotiation, DND signed an agreement in
September 1998 covering the cleanup of the 15 sites
in Nunavut, allowing for each site to be the subject of
a complete inventory and environmental assessment,
with cleanup to be completed on a 10-year schedule.
A companion agreement on economic provisions dealt
with such issues as Inuit employment requirements.
Sites included Cape Young, Lady Franklin Point, Byron
Bay, Cambridge Bay, Jenny Lind Island, Gladman Point,
Shepherd Bay, Pelly Bay, Mackar Inlet, Hall Beach,
Longstaff Bluff, Dewar Lakes, Cape Hooper, Broughton
Island and Cape Dyer.
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