Find out about how we're managing the Marwell Tar Pit site

Where is it?

• In the Marwell Industrial Area of Whitehorse.
• Less than 500 metres from Two Mile Hill, at the foot of the Takhini East bluffs.
• The Marwell tar pit site is fenced off and has posted signs.

History of the Marwell Tar Pit remediation project

• Part of a crude oil refinery that operated for less than 1 year before closing in March 1945.
• When the refinery was dismantled, sludge from the refinery tank bottoms ended up in the pit of a dismantled storage tank.
• The deposits were covered with locally-sourced soils.
• Declared a "Designated Contaminated Site" in 1998 under the Environment Act.
• In June 2010, the governments of Canada and Yukon agreed to jointly fund the remediation of the Marwell Tar Pit.

Current work

• Excavation began in May 2018 and is expected to continue into December 2019.
• The contaminated soil is segregated and treated on site using Enhanced Thermal Conduction.
  • This process heats the soil and vaporizes the contamination.
  • Vapours are then captured and destroyed through “burning” that meets air quality standards.
  • CO₂ and water vapour remains.
  • The remediated soil is then used to backfill the excavation.
• On-site treatment of soil is not expected to cause public health concerns.
• This method of remediation has been used elsewhere for decades, but this is only the second time it has been used in Yukon.

Project timeline

2011

• Project started in 2011 with assessment work.
• This determined the extent and types of contamination.

2018

• Contract for remediation work awarded in February.
• Construction work began in May.
• Excavation and remediation began in July.

2019

• Excavation and remediation paused for January through mid-March.
• Excavation and remediation is expected to continue until December.
• Monitoring will continue in the years following the project's completion.