Suncor’s Pond 5 represents one of the largest field trials of a tailings technology in mining history, with the development and deposition of a then-new engineered tailings material known as Consolidated Tailings (CT). This trial was started in 1995, as discussed in detail by Wells et al (2010). After some 13 years of tailings placement, volumes of the resultant deposits exposed at surface proved too weak to support terrestrial reclamation activities, while commitments made as part of Suncor’s operational approvals require Pond 5 to be reclaimed to a trafficable surface. In order to achieve this goal, additional technology developments were required in order to dewater and consolidate this soft tailings material. After a period of technology reviews that included tours of similar global operations, the decision was taken to pursue capping of the soft deposits followed by dewatering through the placement of Vertical Strip Drains. This plan offered the best path to achieve the required timeline for reclamation.