North Cargo Hardstands

Notice of determination

August 7, 2026 - The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and Transport Canada have determined that the proposed North Cargo Hardstands project located at Toronto Pearson International Airport is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

 

This 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; and
• technically and economically feasible mitigation measures.

Mitigation measures taken into account for this determination are:

• All work to be conducted in compliance with the Toronto Pearson Airport Construction Code.

• Site Specific Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) must be developed and implemented prior to construction.

• CEMP shall include the following requirements outlined in the Environmental Management Plans developed to mitigate effects from LIFT Construction work:

 Groundwater, Dewatering, Surface Water and Stormwater

• Site Specific Erosion and Sediment Control measures must be implemented and maintained for the duration of the project works.
• Spills Prevention and Emergency Response Plan has been developed for the project and will be followed.   Spill kits will be located on site.
• Design includes construction of surface water storage to manage increased runoff.
• Oil grease interceptors will be part of the design for the hardstand apron area.
• No discharge of turbid/sediment‑laden water to storm drains or watercourses; use bags, tanks, ponds and energy dissipation sized for expected flows.
• Protect SWM: Prevent sediment carryover into GTAA SWM facilities; clean/maintain controls; no by‑pass without Environmental Services direction.
• Monitor & Triggers: Check discharge clarity/flow routinely; if controls fail or a visible plume form, STOP PUMPING, isolate, correct, and notify the PACT EM who will notify GTAA Environmental Services/IOC of any deleterious release.
• Documentation: Maintain logs of dewatering, equipment maintenance, and disposal/haul tickets for any removed solids/fines.
• Quality: Where contamination is suspected, sample/assess potentially contaminated water prior to discharge. Any water from dewatering operations that is contaminated shall be contained and either treated on-site (if simple mechanical filtration or settlement is feasible) or sent for disposal in compliance with the EPA and managed per EPA and GTAA directions.
• Keep excavations/dewatering discharges controlled; no pumping of water with suspended solids to drains/waterways.
• Provide flow checks (straw bales/rock checks), sediment bags/tanks, and energy dissipation; maintain until vegetated stabilization.
• Prevent siltation of SWM facilities.
• Where appropriate, water from dewatering operations shall be assessed for contamination. Please note section 36(3) of the Fisheries Act, R.S.C. 1985, which states: "no person shall deposit or permit the deposit of a deleterious substance of any type in water frequented by fish or in any place under any conditions where the deleterious substance or any other deleterious substance that results from the deposit of the deleterious substance may enter any such water."
• Where a permit to take water is not required and dewatering is to take place, a detailed dewatering plan, prepared in conjunction with PACT staging activities and complementary to a detailed erosion and sediment control plan shall be submitted to the Construction Manager and the EM for review prior to execution. The Construction Manager and the EM reserve the right to request modifications to the Sub-Contractor's dewatering plan.
• The extent of the dewatering plan shall depend upon the scale of the dewatering operation. However, plans should be sufficient to meet with the approval of all Regulatory Agencies, should the need arise.
• As a minimum, the dewatering plan shall incorporate the following:
  • The method of assessment of the quality of the water from dewatering operations.
  • The method, equipment, and materials to be used to dewater creek flows and excavations.
  • The anticipated volume of water removed on a daily basis and the duration of dewatering operations.
  • The proposed locations for generators and pumps, if applicable.
  • Drawings/sketches to detail methods of water diversion, water storage, erosion control, sediment removal and water discharge complete with locations of each.
  • The proposed methods of noise abatement for equipment.
  • During dewatering operations, wetlands and wells, if present will be monitored to determine if impacts are occurring that require mitigation.
• BMPs must be put in place with respect to containment/isolation and ESC measures. Accounting for major storm events must be included in dewatering plans.

  Soil Excavations, Site Contamination

• Site Specific Erosion and Sediment Control measures must be implemented and maintained for the duration of the project works
• Site Wide Assessment of Past Uses (APU) and Soil Characterization Reports will be prepared based on program sampling and analysis plans to characterize the soil on site and determine how it will be handled.
• Excess soil that meets CCME Commercial SQG criteria may be managed and reused within the GTAA Site, where appropriate.
• Excess soil will be managed in accordance with O.Reg. 406/19.
• Contaminated soil will be managed in accordance with the CCME's Soil Remediation Guidelines.
• No stockpile shall be within 30 m of a watercourse, waterbody or identified sensitive area.
• Based on the preliminary environmental assessment of the subsoil, stockpiles shall be segregated and classified as meeting criteria and contaminated.
• Topsoil and subsoil stockpiles will be segregated to prevent intermixing of materials.
• Stockpile volume will be limited to a maximum of 2,500 m3 per O.Reg. 406/19 (as amended).
• All stockpiled materials on site shall be covered when not in use for periods of 24 hours or longer.
• Stockpiles shall be covered prior to any precipitation and located in such a manner that runoff or erosion into natural environment is prevented.
• Implementing best management practices (BMPs) for the handling, segregation, and storage of potentially contaminated soil and groundwater, with appropriate labeling and containment;
• Conducting regular inspection of containment systems, pumps, hoses, and fueling areas to identify leaks, deterioration, or evidence of contamination;
• Maintaining spill-prevention and response readiness consistent with the SPERP and the Contaminated Sites Contingency Plan 

  Dust and Air Quality

• emissions from construction traffic and non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) will be controlled compliance with applicable emission regulations for NRMM, antiidling, adherence to speed limits, use of wellmaintained and mechanically sound plant, and minimization of construction traffic movements around the working area where practicable.
• Water will be used as a dust control measure.
• Cutting, grinding or sawing equipment will be fitted with or used in conjunction with suitable dust suppression techniques such as water sprays or local extraction, e.g., suitable local exhaust ventilation systems.
• Surfaces will be damped down and swept at regular intervals as required.
• Site fencing, barriers and scaffolding will be kept clean using wet methods.
• Enclosed chutes and conveyors and covered skips will be used.
• Equipment will be made readily available on-site to clean any dry spillages and clean up spillages as soon as reasonably practicable after the event using wet cleaning methods.
• To avoid scabbling (roughening of concrete surfaces) where practicable, concrete retarder will be used as an alternative such that the concrete surface can be roughened by a jet washer.
• Sand and other aggregates will be stored in designated locations and not allowed to dry out, unless this is required for a particular process, in which case ensure that appropriate additional control measures are in place. These will be bunded if it is appropriate to do so based upon best practice guidance and the regulations in place at the time construction commences.
• No bonfires and/or burning of waste materials will be permitted on site.
• Stockpiles will be stabilized by means of back blading the stockpile and revegetating with an acceptable quick-establishing seed mix to help reduce dust and to prevent unintentional creation of wildlife habitats.
• Dust-generating activities will be suspended or modified during periods of high wind, as required.             

  Noise, Vibration and Ambient Light

• Maximize the distance between noise sources and receptor locations.
• Review construction methods and equipment to use low noise options.
• Avoid shouting, the use of radios and stereos outdoors and the overuse of public address systems where sensitive receptors can be affected.
• Use acoustic screening to reduce noise transmission to sensitive receptors (e.g. screening using temporary acoustic barriers, enclosures, material stockpiles or berms, temporary site buildings, existing buildings, etc.).
• Avoid the generation of unnecessary noise (such as engines idling between operations, excessive revving of engines, dropping items when handling materials, constant banging when erecting or striking scaffolds) by effective site and equipment management.
• Fixed construction equipment and tools should be powered from a main supply instead of using
• generators. Where this is not possible, locate generators as far as possible from operators and sensitive receptors.
• Avoid dropping materials from height.
• Examine and consider implementing, where feasible and reasonable, the option of reducing noise from metal chutes and bins by placing damping material in the bin.
• Equipment known to emit noise strongly in one direction is to be orientated so that noise is directed away from noise sensitive areas.
• Regularly inspect and maintain equipment to ensure that it is in good working order including the condition of noise reducing devices (e.g. mufflers, enclosure door seals).

  Non-Hazardous, Hazardous Substances and Hazardous Waste

• Provide labeled, covered bins or roll-off containers for major waste streams (e.g., concrete, asphalt, wood, metals, cardboard, plastics, organics, general refuse).
• Separate non-recyclable wastes from recyclable and reusable materials; prohibit mixing with hazardous wastes.

• Conduct continuous housekeeping to prevent accumulation of debris and litter migration.
• Cover bins and stockpiles with lids or tarps; fence staging areas if required.
• Store bins in designated areas away from storm drains, watercourses, and sensitive receptors.
• Remove organic and food wastes regularly to prevent odours and pest attraction.
• Prohibit open burning, on-site burial, or unauthorized disposal of waste materials
• Proper labelling, and immediate transfer to designated storage areas in accordance with EMS procedures and BMPs.
• Hazardous waste must be separated from non-hazardous streams and incompatible classes (e.g., acids vs. bases, oxidizers vs. flammables).
• Workers must identify hazardous waste by checking SDSs, WHMIS labels, container markings, and Work Package Plan instructions; when unsure, treat the material as hazardous and confirm with the DCP or PACT Environmental personnel.
• Use only compatible, leak-proof containers with tight-fitting lids; do not use cardboard, open buckets, or makeshift containers. Keep lids closed at all times. Damaged or unapproved containers must not be used.
• Move filled or partially filled containers to designated hazardous waste storage areas as soon as practicable (within the shift unless PACT authorizes otherwise).
• Place absorbent pads under dispensing or draining activities, clean up minor spills immediately, and place cleanup materials into approved containers.
• Inspect containers for leaks or damage before moving them. 

   Vegetation Management, Wildlife Protection, Species at Risk, Invasive Species and Habitat Restoration and Rehabilitation

• All clearings shall be confined to the limits identified in the contract document.
• If outside the contract limits, equipment shall not be stored, staged or material stockpiled within regulated TRCA areas within the airport lands.
• No trees shall be felled into or across a watercourse unless it is unsafe to do otherwise.
• No trees shall be felled so as to avoid damaging standing trees that are to be preserved.
• Grubbing shall not take place within 30 m of a watercourse until such time as all the appropriate erosion control devices are in place and the drainage structures are in place and shall be in full compliance with any related permits.
• Stabilization of disturbed areas and appropriate erosion control measures shall be completed concurrent with construction.
• A tree inventory will be completed to document the number of trees and whether there is any evidence of use by Schedule 1 birds, whose nests are protected.
• Where mature native trees have been specifically identified to be retained and which are impacted by grading, all exposed roots over 25 mm in diameter shall be cut back cleanly to the soil surface within 48 hours of being exposed.
• Clean Equipment Protocol for Industry will be followed to help minimize the unintentional spreading of invasive species.
• Avoid any vegetation clearing occurring during active SAR Bird, Monarch Butterfly and Bat active season
• SAR screenings by qualified professionals prior to disturbance during the active season or exclusion measures implemented to prevent nesting/roosting prior to the active season.
• An Erosion and sediment control plan will be put in place for any work involving disturbing vegetation and will outline environmental measures to be followed in addition to restoration details at conclusion of work.  
• All sediment and erosion control shall remain in place until enough vegetation is established. If vegetation re-application is required, all seed mix must comply with GTAA standards.  

   Archaeology Management

• Stage 1 and Stage 2 Archaeology Assessments were completed.

 

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority and Transport Canada are satisfied that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Therefore, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and Transport Canada may carry out the project, exercise any power, perform any duty or function, or provide financial assistance to enable the project to be carried out in whole or in part.