December 22, 2025 – Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed remediation project in Serpent River First Nation is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by January 22, 2026 to:

Amenda Hong, Environment Officer
655 Bay Street, Toronto ON 
amenda.hong@sac-isc.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

Serpent River First Nation has proposed a remediation project for the metals, Sulphate, low pH, petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) impacts at the Former Cutler Acid Site. The project involves excavation of all areas with impacted soil, excluding areas impacted only with low pH which will be remediated with hydrated lime, will be taken to a MECP licensed landfill or selected treatment facility. The Site currently contains approximately 82,200 m3 of contaminated soil requiring excavation and off-Site disposal. 

Physical activities will include tree clearing and grubbing, culvert and ditch installations, excavation of impacted soil, and removal of terrestrial debris (fill, concrete house foundation, and construction and demolition materials such as concrete, bricks, wood, metal machinery parts, metal piping, reinforcing bars, and wire). After excavation is completed, the site will be backfilled and restored to a natural state in accordance with Serpent River First Nation's native grass and plant species. Any gravel roadways that were present will prior to excavation will be reinstated.