Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
G Jetty and Jetty 11 Remediation in Esquimalt Harbour

September 8, 2022 — The authorities must decide whether the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this decision, the authorities are inviting comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. All comments received will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by September 27, 2022 to:
Becky MacInnis, Environment Officer / MARPAC Formation Safety and Environment
Mailing Address:  Formation Safety and Environment, Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, PO Box 17000 Stn Forces
Victoria, BC, Canada, V9A 7N2
E-mail:  Rebecca.MacInnis@forces.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The G Jetty and Jetty 11 Remediation Project is a proposed marine sediment remediation project at the Department of National Defence Colwood facility in Esquimalt Harbour, British Columbia. The Department of National Defence, which administers Esquimalt Harbour, is implementing a remediation and risk management program in Esquimalt Harbour as part of a long-term strategy to address sediments that have been contaminated by historical industrial activities. Various remediation projects have been or are currently being undertaken in Esquimalt Harbour as part of the remediation and risk management program. The G Jetty and Jetty 11 Remediation Project is the latest project being planned under this program and is being undertaken under the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.

The G Jetty and Jetty 11 Remediation Project is proposed to include temporary removal of select jetty structures, mechanical dredging and excavation of contaminated marine sediment and debris, processing of dredged sediment and debris to remove unexploded explosive ordnance, stabilization of sediment with leachable metals, potential dewatering of dredged material, in-water transportation of dredged material, offloading/stockpiling/potential treatment of dredged material, upland transportation of dredged material, disposal of dredged material, placement of clean material, and replacement of select jetty structures.

The purpose of the temporary removal of select jetty structures is to dredge contaminated sediment underneath the jetty structures and to place clean material over the dredged area or to place clean material over areas that will not be dredged to act as remedial cover. Area to be dredged is approximately 5,200 m2.