Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Range - 12 Wing Shearwater

February 18, 2026 — The Department of National Defence must decide whether the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this decision, the Department of National Defence is inviting comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. All comments received will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by March 9, 2026 to:
Lt Cdr Matthew Cary, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer
Mailing Address:  PO Box 99000 Stn Forces, Halifax
Nova Scotia, Canada, B3K 5X5
E-mail: matthew.cary@forces.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Department of National Defence (DND) has proposed a project. The Department of National Defence is proposing to construct an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) range at 12 Wing Shearwater in Shearwater, Nova Scotia. Currently, Joint Task Force Atlantic does not have an EOD range in the Halifax area to dispose of munitions that are tasked for disposal by the Royal Canadian Navy's Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic. Live ordnance and white phosphorus munitions are currently being transported on public roads to the 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick to complete safe disposal. This is not best practice and is a significant drain on limited Unit personnel. The proposed EOD range will address this safety deficiency for the Unit.

The EOD range will consist of several purposed areas, including:

• a fenced area with a sand pit and surrounding berm for the disposal of white phosphorus munitions;
• a fenced area with dirt or fine gravel and surrounding berm for the disposal of all other conventional unexploded ordnance (UXO); and
• an operational readiness suite (demolition bunker) consisting of an intermodal shipping container surrounded by protective works.