Project Summary

March 18, 2022 – The Canadian Coast Guard and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada must decide whether the proposed Canadian Coast Guard Telegraph Cove Radar and Communications Site, 3km South-East from Telegraph Cove and 22km South-East from Port McNeill, BC is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this decision, Canadian Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada are inviting comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. All comments received will be considered public [and may be posted online]. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by April 16, 2022 to:

Brian Teng

Senior Project Engineer

Canadian Coast Guard - Maritime & Civil Infrastructure

25 Huron Street, Victoria, BC. V8V 4V9 Western Region

Cell 250-413-2847

Brian.Teng@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Canadian Coast Guard is undertaking a project to construct a new Radar and Communications Site, this areas navigational abilities will be enhanced by the addition of VHF and Microwave antenna as well as a High Gain X-Band Radar. The site is located, 3km South-East from Telegraph Cove and 22km South-East from Port McNeill, BC at a high elevation to enhance range to radar signals. The purpose of developing this new radar site includes but not limited to:

• Enhance marine situational awareness for the Coast Guard and other federal partners such as National Defence and Port Authorities;
• Address immediate gaps in radar coverage on Canada's Westcoast in support of marine safety activities;
• Enhance the Coast Guard's ability to identify vessels and to improve the common operating picture in the area;
• Provide support to Transport Canada in enforcing the moratorium on tanker traffic on British Columbia's north coast; and
• Provide a back-up solution for MCTS centers in the event of the loss of digital signals from vessels navigating in Canadian waters.

In general, project works that have not already been completed are proposed to start in March 2022 and end in June 2022. Clearing and blasting activities, building foundation, tower and helipad installation as well as communications building fabrication and installation for the radar site have all been completed in 2018 through 2022. Within the next four months, two months of systems installation and commissioning are anticipated. Starting in June 2022, radar equipment is to be installed as well as activation of the High Gain X-Band Radar, VHF and Microwave antenna once attached to the steel tower. Project dates and duration will be dependent on the selected contractor's methodology.

The scope of the project is to build an approximately 120 ft (37m) radar tower, 16ftx33ft (5mx10m) prefabricated aluminum building, and a helicopter landing pad. The proposed implementation of the site development is as follows:

• Summer 2018 – Preliminary Site Investigations:
  • Clearing a temporary 80ftx80ft (24mx24m) helicopter landing area
  • Site survey
  • Site layout drawing
  • Environmental Assessment
• Summer 2019 – Design Development:
  • Site clearing
  • Detailed survey
  • Design drawings for building, tower, and helipad.
• Summer 2020 – Construction Activities

• Tower, and helipad installation
• Communications building fabrication

• Winter 2022

• Communication building installation
• Systems installation and commissioning

• Spring 2022

• Radar Installation
• Radar SAT enabled

Environmental Assessments were completed in the project areas in 2018 before the Impact Assessment Act was implemented in August of 2019. With the additional plans to install multiple VHF and Microwave antenna as well as a High Gain X-Band Radar and licencing requirement after August of 2019 this triggered the Impact Assessment Act no longer allowing the project to be grandfathered in to the 2012 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

Coordinates: 50° 31' 42.1"N         126° 47' 23.5"W

Mount Collinson, 3 kilometres south-east from Telegraph Cove and 22km South-East from Port McNeill, British Columbia.