Notice of Determination

City of New Westminster, B.C. – June 10, 2024 – The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has determined that the proposed Eagle Mountain barge landing FortisBC located at the head of Indian Arm of Burrard Inlet 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
• Technically and economically feasible mitigation measures

Best efforts were made to consult with Squamish Nation, Musqueam Indian Band, S'ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance, Tsleil-Waututh First Nation. The concerns raised were:

• Emergency and spill preparedness and response plan for Indian Arm and Indian River Estuary
• Impacts from boat traffic
• Herring sensitive timing window
• Condition relating to sedimentation
• Background underwater noise monitoring
• Marine mammal monitoring

The project was posted to the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry on January 23, 2024 for public comment. No comments were received.

Metro Vancouver, Burrard Yacht Club, and Royal Vancouver Yacht Club were notified. The comments raised were:

• Concern about the potential for wake and wash from water taxis.

Mitigation measures taken into account in making the determination include:

• Nest surveys will be conducted prior to any vegetation clearing during the general bird breeding season, between April 1 and July 31, inclusive, or outside this time if occupied nests are present. Nest surveys will be conducted by a qualified professional.
• A qualified environmental professional will be retained to monitor works and activities with the potential to negatively affect fish or fish habitat.
• Speed restrictions as described in the Port Information Guide section 8.2 (Speed Limit Areas for Indian Arm North and South) will be followed
• The barge and other support vessels will be prevented from grounding on the foreshore, seabed or otherwise disturb the foreshore or seabed
• 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.
• All construction debris and waste materials will be collected in the immediate working area and disposed of at an appropriately licensed facility
• A spill prevention, containment and clean-up plan will be developed for the project, be available in the immediate working area, and project personnel will be trained on spill prevention, containment, and clean-up

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is 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 email per@portvancouver.com.