Public notice

Sulphuric acid storage tank replacement - Chemtrade – Public comments invited

September 16, 2025 – As part of its Project and Environmental Review process, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority must determine whether the proposed Sulphuric acid storage tank replacement - Chemtrade, located at 100 Amherst Way, North Vancouver, is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. 

To help inform this determination and a decision on whether or not to approve the proposed project, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority 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. In addition, your contact information may be shared with third parties, e.g., the tenant, other relevant agencies, to help respond to your questions and inform possible mitigations.

Written comments must be submitted by October 15, 2025 to:

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Project and Environmental Review
100 The Pointe, 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6C 3T4
per@portvancouver.com

The proposed project

Chemtrade Electrochem Inc. proposes to replace a sulphuric acid (H²SO4) storage tank of approximately 77,000 L capacity with a new H²SO4 storage tank with approximately 45,000 L capacity (the "Project"), at its facility in 100 Amherst Way, North Vancouver. The new tank would be located at a different location from the existing tank to provide better truck access, parking and unloading of H²SO4.

The existing H²SO4 storage tank has been in service for over 60 years and needs replacement. It is corroded and does not meet seismic and secondary containment codes. The exciting H²SO4 storage tank also experiences issues with the existing metering pumps. This Project would bring the foundation and containment up to modern-day codes, and upgrade the metering pumps, reducing the risk of chemical acid spills.

The Project would require approximately 130 m² of asphalt to be removed to make room for the new containment area and truck unloading area. A new 0.6 m deep raft foundation will be provided to support the new H²SO4 storage tank and containment. The raft will be about 1 m below grade to allow for the adjacent truck loading slab to drain into the containment, and to provide sufficient containment volume to meet the 110% tank requirement. The Project would also include new piping (above ground), a new safety shower and eyewash station, and hose washup stations. Electrical will utilize the existing electrical distribution infrastructure.

Following the installation and start-up of the new system, the existing H²SO4 tank and pump area will be demolished down to about 0.45 m below grade to allow the removal of the existing containment walls and support slab. The area will be filled and compacted. The demolition also includes cleaning and neutralizing the old H²SO4 tank, removal of the tank, removal of the piping system, and removal of the instrumentation and electrical cables.

H²SO4 is delivered to Chemtrade Electrochem Inc. by truck and offloaded using air padding into the storage tank. Trucks will continue to supply H²SO4.