The Owen Sound Chamber of Commerce says it would likely cost millions of dollars to dredge the estimated 75,000 cubic metres of hazardous waste from the harbour.
That's enough waste to fill up the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre to the rafters four times.
The chamber has summarized over 5,500 pages of reports from Dillon Consulting for Transport Canada.
Chamber Chair Steve Coffey says the soil would have to be taken to hazardous waste disposal sites.
He says negotiations on the divestiture of the harbour with Transport Canada are at a stalemate, and there is a lack of information on the challenges the city or a third party would face by assuming ownership.
He hopes the information generates factual vigorous discussion on the issue.
Chamber President Bert Loopstra says the city must find out the exact cost and make sure the federal government pays.
"The city needs to probably retain a consultant that can accurately determine what the costs are going to be," says Loopstra.
Loopstra says ideally the harbour will be dredged, the government pays for it, and the harbour remains a viable commercial port.
-With files from Janice MacKay