NOTICE OF DETERMINATION

Montreal – September 8, 2023 – Transport Canada have determined that the proposed Replacement of the Very high-frequency Omni-directional range (VOR) at Val d'Or airport (YVO) is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

This determination was based on a consideration of the following factors:

• impacts on rights of Indigenous peoples;
• Indigenous knowledge;
• community knowledge;
• comments received from the public; and
• technically and economically feasible mitigation measures.

Mitigation measures taken into account for this determination are:

Emergency plans, accidents and malfunctions

• Before work begins, the equipment must be inspected and be in good working order, clean and free of oil or lubricant leaks.
• An emergency plan must be elaborated by the contractor to efficiently manage any environmental incident, spill, or fire and submitted to all parties.  At a minimum, this plan must include the contact information of the contractor, clients, and regulatory agencies who would be implicated during an emergency.
• An emergency spill kit must be present on Site throughout the entire project. Any spill must be quickly contained, and any contaminated material must be managed in accordance with the applicable regulations. Any waste or environmental impacts related to a spill must also be managed and disposed of in accordance with the applicable regulations.  A copy of the disposal manifests confirming compliance to the applicable regulations must be submitted to TC.
• All spills must be reported immediately to ECCC's emergency services (1-866-283-2333) and to the Environmental Emergency Department of the Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec (MELCCFP) (1-866-694-5454).  Transport Canada will also need to be notified.

 

Natural environment disturbance

• Ensure access road is watered regularly during dry times to ensure excessive dust in entering the environment. If required, the barriers must comply with the following guideline: BNQ NQ 2410-300 « Abat-poussières pour routes non asphaltées et autres surfaces similaires ».
• Erect a silt fence around the work area the avoid an undue harm to the main wetland surrounding the area and limit dust and sediment into surface water.
• Work and traffic must be marked out before the beginning of work. Limit machinery traffic to the footprint of the road and delimited work areas to minimize impacts on surrounding natural environment.
• The plant cover must be preserved until the work is carried out. Deforestation must be limited to the areas necessary to perform work. Clearing must be done taking care to avoid damaging, destroying, removing or disturbing the active nest of migratory birds.
• Fueling and maintenance of vehicles must be done a minimum of 30 m from a water body or 15 m from a drainage ditch.  All measures will be taken to minimize the risk of spill.
• Ensure that work equipment and machinery are clean and free of invasive species upon arrival at the site and maintain them in this condition thereafter and at the end of the work.
• Invasive species colonies must be buried and covered with 2 m of material free of invasive species when observed less than 30 m from a shoreline or between 10 m and 30 m from a wetland. Backfilling at 30 m or more from a shoreline or a wetland must be covered at least 1 m of backfill material free of invasive species.
• Machinery will be washed prior to leaving site to ensure no spores of invasive species will be carried off site.

Storage tank decommissioning and Removal

• The above ground storage tank (AST) and piping from a former will be emptied by a licensed contractor and disposed of as per provincial regulations.  This decommissioning work must be conducted by an Régie du bâtiment (RBQ)-certified contractor.  The compliance report must be submitted to TC and must include photos of each step of the decommissioning process.
• Dismantled AST materials, piping and other dangerous products must be place in a sealed storage container or a poly tarp large enough to contain any spill or runoff.

Soil excavation, disturbance, compaction and potential contamination

• Excavated soils can be reused on site in accordance with Appendix 5 of the Guide d'intervention, Protection des sols et réhabilitation des terrains contaminés of the MELCCFP.  The excavated soils must also meet the applicable federal soil criteria for reuse on the land.  The soils cannot exhibit any hydrocarbon odors.  The analytical laboratory certificates are required and must be kept on file. Backfilling activities with clean soils must follow the stratigraphic order of the surroundings.
• Any work that results in bare unconsolidated soils (excavation, disturbed or reworked soils, stockpiled materials, etc.) must be accompanied by erosion and sediment control measures to avoid the presence of sediment in streams, lakes and wetlands.
• If contaminated soil is discovered work will stop immediately and an environmental consultant will be retained to inspect and sample the soil in the area and provide expert opinion the managing and disposal of the soil.
• If suspected contaminated soils are excavated, they must be stockpiled on and covered with a waterproof membrane, sampled, and managed in accordance with the regulations.  Suspected contaminated soils cannot be reused on Site.
• If required, all excavated soils must be managed and disposed of off-Site, in accordance with applicable regulations.  Off-Site disposal activities must follow the provincial regulations, Guide d'intervention – Protection des sols et réhabilitation des terrains contaminés, as well as the Règlement concernant la traçabilité des sols contaminés excavés.  A report, detailing the off-site soil management, including all transport manifests and information provided by Traces Québec must be presented to TC.
• Any granular, imported materials used for backfilling must be clean and exempt of contamination.  The backfill material must meet both the CCME's and the MELCC's criteria, whichever is more stringent. An analytical laboratory certificate must be provided to prove the environmental quality and origin of the material. 
• Machinery will be cleaned prior to arriving and before leaving the site. Machinery and equipment must be inspected prior to use to ensure its in good working order and there are no leaks or oil staining.  All equipment must be adequately maintained throughout the project.
• Restore the land to its pre-existing state. Soil must be remediated and the plant cover of all disturbed surfaces in wetland and water must be restored.  
• Provide the site with all sanitary equipment in sufficient quantity to prevent any dispersion of waste into the environment (transportable chemical toilets, garbage cans, bins, etc.).
• At the end of the period of use of the site, the work areas must be cleared of equipment, machinery, demolition materials, waste, scrap and excavated material as quickly as possible. These materials will have to be managed in sites authorized to receive them according to the applicable regulations and this, for all types of waste that will be produced as part of this work.

Building demolition, waste management and disposal

• Suspected lead-based paint will be further tested for disposal by Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) analysis or undergo remediation and disposal as hazardous waste as per Provincial legislation.
• Ensure that any temporary storage of debris or materials during the project minimizes water runoff into the environment or being dispersed by wind. A waste management plan for construction debris to optimize reuse and/or recycling must be prepared.  Disposal of debris or wastes must be brought to an authorized site, according to their properties.
• The contractor must comply with all applicable regulations concerning the storage, handling, transport and disposal of hazardous materials and dangerous wastes.  Hazardous materials must be disposed of using both provincial-approved companies and disposal sites. A copy of all transport manifests must be kept on file.
• All dangerous or hazardous materials used throughout the project must be stored in a secure area and transported in sealed, labelled containers.
• Ensure that the Site is cleared of all wastes at the end of the project.

Transport Canada is satisfied that that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Therefore, the promoter may carry out the project, exercise any power, perform any duty or function, or provide financial assistance to enable the project to be carried out in whole or in part.