Public Notice

Renovate and expand of the Vancott Cottage – Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area – Public Comments Invited

September 6, 2024 – The authority must determine whether the proposed renovation and expansion of the Vancott Cottage at Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, the authority is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.

 

Written comments must be submitted by October 9, 2024 to:

John Viengkone

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service

4905 Dufferin St., Toronto, ON M3H 5T4

416-884-5148

John.Viengkone@ec.gc.ca

 

The Proposed Project

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Canadian Wildlife Service (ECCC-CWS) is proposing to undertake building renovations and expansion to the Vancott Cottage at Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area (PEPNWA). The PEPNWA is located in Milford, Ontario and is federal land managed by ECCC-CWS.

The purpose of the project is to repair deficiencies in the building, address health and safety concerns and to increase the living space to better meet the needs on site. The current building requires extensive repairs to the walls, floors and foundation. The proposed project will utilize the existing footprint (79m²) of the building as well as expand it by 74.6m²

To accommodate the expansion some vegetation, including some trees, will be removed. The building will be stripped to the studs during demolition and new material will be used to replace the walls, floors and roof.  Machinery will be used for the demolition and construction. The existing roads and lawn will be used to transport machinery and materials safely on and off site.

The proposed work will occur from November to March 2025 when disturbance to birds and other wildlife will be minimal. Minor vibration and noise disturbance may occur during this project as a result of moving and transporting building debris and construction materials. Work duration will be minimized to decrease overall disturbance and will be completed by a contractor who can comply with permits, obligations, and requirements of the area.

Exposed soil and excavated material will be re-graded, stabilized and/or re-seeded as needed using suitable native plants, soils, seed mix and seed application to benefit wildlife including species at risk. Appropriate waste disposal containers and methods will be used to reduce risk of spills and contamination. This work will require a Canada Wildlife Act permit, and the Contractor will be required to assess the site for species at risk and stop work if encountered. The Contractor will also be required to do regular inspections and maintenance of vehicles and machinery to ensure they are free of fluid leaks, invasive species, and wildlife.