Between 1901 and 1990, 70 hectares of new land were created through the infilling of Muggah Creek and a portion of Sydney Harbour. The majority of infilling took place prior to 1950, when blast furnace slag and other waste materials were de-posited along the eastern shore of Muggah Creek. Figure 3.1 shows the timeframe of the infilling. The ubiquitous slag has also been used to infill low areas across the site, cover the foundations of removed buildings and create and maintain roadways.

The former mobile repair department, the scrap storage area, four above ground bulk petroleum storage tanks, and the high dump represent the various uses of this portion of the site, along with the #3 and #4 SYSCO piers. Extensive storage, handling and use of petroleum fuels, lubricants and solvents took place in this area, giving rise to the potential for soil and groundwater contamination.

The High Dump occupies approximately 10 hectares, or 15 percent of the infilled land, consisting of a 30 metre high mound of slag throughout which are located a variety of other industrial wastes, such as mill scale, flue dust, derelict machinery, general refuse and wastewater treatment sludge. It is possible that fill materials were placed on top of contaminated Muggah Creek sediments, regardless of whether the filling took place in 1920 or 1980. Due to the potential for lubricant and other liquids to remain on or in scrap metals, the potential exists for surface soil impacts in the Scrap Storage Area.

Two properly constructed and monitored disposal cells for electric arc furnace dust are located within the infilled lands. The first has been filled and is currently being capped; the second was only partially filled when the steel plant closed. Both disposal cells are operated under an Industrial Approval issued by the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour (NSDEL).

In 2001, a small asbestos waste disposal area was created for low-concentration, non-friable asbestos waste generated during the current demolition program. Wastes consist of concrete debris with a non-friable asbestos-containing coating, and metal siding with a thin layer of asbestos-containing coating, and refractory brick mixed with small amounts of abestos insulation.