The first phase of cleanup of one of Canada's worst environmental hot spots at the former Kam Kotia mine is on schedule and close to being completed. A lime-treatment plant filters and neutralizes acidic runoff from mine tailings that is seeping into the Little Kamiskotia River. New ditching and a tailings dam should be complete by July. Cleaning up the former zinc mine is part of a four-year, $27-million effort which began last fall by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. Three companies, including contractor B.H. Martin of Timmins, are supervising the project. Future plans include creating a wetland area to naturally filter pollutants for the longterm. Pollutants have been destroying the area since the 1960s when the former Kam Kotia mine went bankrupt.
