Project Summary

Haida Gwaii Aids to Navigation Rebuild and Helipad Construction

July 4, 2022 – The Canadian Coast Guard, in consultation with Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site (Gwaii Haanas)  must decide whether the proposed rebuild of three Navigational Aids and one new helipad in Haida Gwaii will have a significant impact and are likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this decision Canadian Coast Guard and Gwaii Haanas 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 August 3, 2022 to:

Andrew Wight
Vitoria Coast Guard Base 25 Huron St, Victoria, BC. V8V 4V9
andrew.wight@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Robin Connelly                                                                                                                                                                                      Institute of Ocean Sciences 2860 West Saanich Road, Sidney BC. V8L 4B2                                                                              robin.connelly@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

A condition review of the navigational aids in the Haida Gwaii has found that many of the structures are in poor condition, non-compliant to Canadian Coast Guard directives for service, and/or non-compliant to current Canadian standards for safety to the workers who maintain them. There are also several sites where access is via helicopter hover exit, which, along with heavy equipment and poor weather, make it very difficult and risky for the employees regularly maintaining them.

The Canadian Coast Guard, in consultation with Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site propose to rebuild three Navigational Aids in Gwaii Haanas and build a new helicopter landing pad at one of these sites. The project will be completed with the support of tugs and barges as working platforms and equipment storage. Helicopters will be used to deliver people and materials to and from the sites. Work is proposed to occur between mid-August to mid-October. The table below lists the proposed sites and what work is to be completed at these sites.

 

LL Number	Site Name	Proposed Work
811.9	Gowgaia Point	Rebuild Navigational Aid and build new helipad, vegetation and tree clearing
769	Flatrock Island	Rebuild Navigational Aid
773	Scudder Point	Rebuild Navigational Aid

 

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site  Coordinates: 

LL/UL	Aid Name	Latitude (North)	Longitude (West)	Location Description
811.9	Gowgaia Point	52º 24' 1"	131º 35' 17"	Central west coast of Moresby Island
769	Flatrock Island	52º 6' 27.2"	131º 10' 7.8"	Southwest coast of Moresby Island
773	Scudder Point	52º 26' 47.3"	131º 14' 15.9"	Northeast coast of Burnaby Island