Notice of Determination

Ottawa – September 17^th, 2024 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has determined that the proposed Culverts Replacement Project - Ottawa Laboratory (Fallowfield) 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 will be implemented to address potential environmental adverse effects on the following components of the environment:

• Watercourses
• Vegetation communities
• Wildlife
• Birds
• Insects (including Monarchs)

Some of the mitigation measures taken into account in this determination are as follows:

• Developpement of a culvert-specific Erosion and Sediements Control plan
• Installation of silt fencing
• Limitation of vegetation clearence to the extent possible and re-vegetation with native species
• Inform on-site personnel of the potential presence of wildlife, wildlife habitat, and SAR and obligations under SARA, recommended mitigation measures, and actions in the event of an encounter.
• Schedule vegetation clearing and ground disturbance activities outside of the breeding and overwintering period for wildlife to the extent possible (i.e., schedule between September 1 and October 15).
• Schedule vegetation removal outside of the general nesting period (i.e., schedule between September 1 and March 31) when possible.
• Avoid vegetation clearing within milkweed patches during the Monarch breeding season, when eggs, caterpillars or chrysalids may be present (i.e., avoid clearing between June 1 to September 30).

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is satisfied that that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Therefore, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency 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.