April 5 2022 The Canadian Coast Guard and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada must decide whether the proposed Canadian Coast Guard Denny Island Radar and Communications Site is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this decision, 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 May 4 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

Project Summary

The Canadian Coast Guard is undertaking a project to construct a new Radar and Communications Site, this sites navigational abilities will be enhanced by the addition of Very High Frequency and Microwave antenna as well as a High Gain X-Band Radar. The site is located 8 kilometers southeast from Bella Bella on Denny Island, 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 Marine Communication Traffic Services 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 May 2022 and end in October 2022. Clearing and scrubbing activities for the radar site have been completed in 2018 and 2019 and assessed under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Within the construction period, two months of foundation and radar tower installation on site, is anticipated. During this time, fabrication of the communications building will be completed remotely at the Victoria base, and then installed on site in the month of June 2022. Starting in July 2022 over the course of three months radar equipment is to be installed. Activation of the High Gain X-Band Radar, VHF and Microwave antenna once attached to the steel tower is proposed to happen October 2022. Project dates and duration will be dependent on the selected contractor's methodology. Key equipment and machinery that will be used includes: material supply barge, support tugs, a heavy lift helicopter, lifting crane for handling of steel piles and sheet pile panels on the ground.

The scope of the project is to build an approximately 80 ft (24.4m) 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:

o Clearing a temporary 75ftx75ft (23mx23m) helicopter landing area

o Site survey

o Site layout drawing

o Environmental Assessment

• Summer 2019 – Design Development:

o Site clearing

o Detailed survey

o Design drawings for building, tower, and helipad.

• Summer 2022 – Construction Activities

• Tower and foundations installation
  • Building fabrication and fit up at Vic base
  • Building Installation
  • Building system commissioning
  • Radar Installation
• Radar Satellite enabled

 

Environmental Assessments were completed in the project areas in 2018 before the Impact Assessment Act was implemented in August of 2019 and assessed under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act of 2012. With the licensing requirement for the installation of multiple Very High Frequency and Microwave antenna as well as a High Gain X-Band Radar 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 2012.

Project Locations

Coordinates: 52° 06' 12.7" N, 128° 04' 27.6" W.

8 kilometers southeast from Bella Bella, British Columbia