Public Notice

Oil Tank Removal for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Retrofit at St. Andrews Biological Station – Public Comments Invited

July 22, 2025 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada must determine whether the proposed Oil Tank Removal for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Retrofit at St. Andrews Biological Station, located in St. Andrews, New Brunswick is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Fisheries and Oceans Canada 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 August 21, 2025 to:

Kendra Campbell
Bedford Institute of Oceanography

1 Challenger Drive

Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2
782-640-6006
kendra.campbell@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

 

The Proposed Project

Fisheries and Oceans Canada intends to complete a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) retrofit in the Penhallow and Needler buildings at the St. Andrews Biological Station in St. Andrews, NB. The retrofit scope includes:

• Implementation of a seawater heat pump system for primary heating and cooling;
• Removal of the existing fuel oil boiler system and replacement with a propane boiler system for auxiliary heating;
• Removal of the existing rooftop cooling unit (cooling will be provided solely by the heat pump system); and
• Ventilation and fume hood control upgrades.

One 36,150 L above ground storage fuel oil tank will be removed, along with the boiler system it serves. A certified tank installer will decommission the tank and confirm whether any contamination is present. New propane tanks will be installed in the concrete pad of the existing fuel oil tank. Minor modifications to the pad will be completed to ensure it meets the most recent codes and regulations. Temporary propane piping and tanks will be installed for the duration of the oil-fired system removal. Both the temporary and permanent propane tanks and will be provided and managed by the propane supplier.

Aside from the fuel tanks and piping, construction work will be focused inside existing buildings. The marine environment will not be disrupted as the new heat pump system will leverage existing seawater infrastructure (e.g., seawater intake pipes) that is used on-site for marine research.