Public Notice

August 18, 2025 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Real Property and Environmental Management, Ontario and Prairie Region, Technical Services must determine whether the proposed Electrical and Exterior Lighting Project to take place at our Canadian Coast Guard Base in Amherstburg, Ontario is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Real Property and Environmental Management, Ontario and Prairie Region, Technical Services is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by September 17, 2025 to:

 

Jason Boland, PMP, GPM-b

Senior Project Technologist,

Real Property and Environmental Management, Technical Services

Ontario and Prairie Region

520 Exmouth Street

Sarnia, Ontario

N7T 8B1

Telephone:         226-402-2846

Email:                    Jason.Boland@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

 

The Proposed Project

Fisheries and Oceans Canada owns, operates, and maintains a facility (including related land, buildings, and other infrastructure) on the eastern shore of the Detroit River/Amherstburg Channel in Amherstburg, Ontario. Municipal address of the site is 370 Dalhousie Street, Amherstburg, Ontario, N9V 1X3. Approximate GPS coordinates of the site are 42°05'49.81"N, 83°06'47.12"W. The facility, known as the Canadian Coast Guard Base Amherstburg, serves as a regional base from which the Canadian Coast Guard can support its programs and operations within this subdistrict that comprises the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and the surrounding local waterways.

A condition assessment of existing electrical distribution and exterior lighting systems has found some components to be in poor condition, at the end of their useful lives, and in need of replacement to meet current Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Canadian Electrical Code, and as part of good life cycle management practices. System upgrades will be implemented in accordance with the commitments under the Greening Government Strategy.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Real Property and Environmental Management, Ontario and Prairie Region, Technical Services is proposing to:

1. Replace all existing exterior light fixtures on site and add additional bollard style fixtures to improve on-site illumination and meet minimum standards stipulated in the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. All new lighting will be more efficient to reduce Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) and will be LED;
2. Install new submetering systems to better track and monitor electrical usage of each building and shore power pedestal across the site in accordance with the Greening Government Strategy;
3. Install two new Level 2 electric vehicle supply pedestals (each with two ports) including constructing associated concrete pads and electrical trenches in preparation of adoption of zero-emission vehicles within the Departmental Fleet. Existing asphalt will be removed and reinstated as required for this work;
4. Install new access control systems and hardware including associated electrical trenches for existing pedestrian gates;
5. Replace one existing transformer within the Search and Rescue Station Office and Living Quarters building
6. Replace existing electrical distribution components including splitters and electrical panels at the end of their useful life. All components are installed within existing building electrical rooms;
7. Remove abandoned electrical equipment no longer needed or used. All equipment is installed in existing buildings.

Construction activities are currently planned to take place starting in late Fall 2025 and are anticipated to be completed no later than early summer 2026.

Based on historic site activities and projects completed in the past at the Canadian Coast Guard Base Amherstburg, excavation work for electrical trenches is expected to involve excavation and disposal of existing contaminated soil. Soil will be tested against the appropriate Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines and will be disposed of in compliance with any applicable provincial requirements including, but not limited to O. Reg. 153/04 and O.Reg. 406/19.