Notice of Determination

New Westminster, B.C. – October 31, 2024 – The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Environment and Climate Change Canada have determined that the proposed Maintenance dredging – Coastland Wood Industries located at 404 Salter Street, New Westminster is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

The 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.

Best efforts were made to consult with Katzie First Nation, Kwantlen First Nation, Kwikwetlem First Nation, Musqueam Indian Band, Semiahmoo First Nation, S'ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance, Tsawwassen First Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Vancouver Island groups, including, Cowichan Tribes, Halalt, Penelakut, Lyackson, Stz'uminus and Ts'uubaa-asatx. Themes raised by Indigenous groups were:

• Requesting more detail on mitigation measures to detect adult and juvenile sturgeon;
• Requesting mitigation measures for sediment release; and
• Indigenous group Guardians be present for any archaeological or environmental fieldwork taking place.

The Project was posted to the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry on May 24, 2024 for public comment. No comments were received.

Summit Earthworks, an adjacent tenant was notified of the Project on June 25, 2024. No comments were received.

Mitigation measures and/or permit conditions taken into account in making the determination include:

• The physical activities will be conducted in a way to avoid increasing sedimentation of foreshore and nearshore areas and induced turbidity of local waters.
• The barge and other support vessels will be prevented from grounding on the foreshore, seabed or otherwise disturb the foreshore or seabed.
• There will be no in-water works during the fisheries-sensitive period staring from March 1 to June 15, inclusive.
• All material intended for disposal at sea will be disposed of under a valid Disposal at Sea Permit pursuant to the provisions of Part 7, Division 3 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
• The works will not deposit a deleterious substance in water inhabited by fish or affect fish or fish habitat in a manner contrary to the Fisheries Act.
• A spill prevention, containment and clean-up plan will be developed for the project and be available in the immediate working area, and project personnel will be trained on spill prevention, containment, and clean-up.
• Side-scan sonar survey will be undertaken to confirm the effectiveness of ‘soft starts' in instigating avoidance of the work area by sturgeon during sensitive periods.
• There will be opportunities for interested Indigenous groups to monitor and be present on the Project site during monitoring events carried out by the environmental monitor.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Environment and Climate Change Canada are satisfied that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Should you require more information on the project, please reach out to PER@portvancouver.com.