Mount Helmcken telecommunications tower replacement

Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
Mount Helmcken telecommunications Tower Replacement

June 11, 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 July 11, 2026 to:
Jordan Grootendorst, Environmental Technologist
Mailing Address:  Canadian Coast Guard – Marine and Civil Infrastructure
25 Huron Street
Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 4V9
E-mail:  jordan.grootendorst@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has altered its planned tower build at the Mount Helmcken Communications site. The initial work plan will be the same as before, however instead of a free standing tower, a guyed tower will be installed. Below is the updated plan. This project is planned for August 2026 and will be conducted in 4 phases.

In Phase 1, CCG crews will arrive on site and remove the antennas and salvageable equipment from the small tower located 16 meters southwest of the 61-meter tall guyed tower. The salvaged equipment will then be installed on the existing radar tower situated south of the main building.

Phase 2 involves the construction of the concrete base for the new tower. This base will be designed and built by the tower contractor adjacent to the main building on the north side, between the building and the existing 61-meter tower. The work will include rock drilling, some vegetation grubbing, and surface soil removal, followed by the construction of formwork and the pouring of concrete. The exact location, size and spacing of the tower base will be determined based on CCG deliverables specifications and the contractor's tower plan specifications. The contractor will also be installing guy wire anchors adjacent to the current ones, as well as removing up to 10 trees to make way for new guy lines. The species of tree requiring removal is Douglas fir. A few trees will require some trimming as well and these include a Pine tree, 2 Arbutus trees and some Douglas fir trees. Installation of the guy wire anchor blocks will require excavation down to bedrock. The site has undergone environmental assessments specifically aimed at identifying purple sanicle and prairie lupine, both of which have suitable habitat on the property. No individuals were observed on site.

In Phase 3, a tower installation company will be contracted to design and build the new tower according to specifications provided by the CCG. The contractor will arrive on site and construct the tower on the newly built base. The new self-supporting tower will be of similar height to the existing tower, though the actual height will be determined by the contractors based on design and structural requirements.

Finally, in Phase 4, the CCG rigging crew will return to the site to transfer all communications equipment from the existing tower onto the new tower. The method of dismantling will be established based on the contractor's proposed methodology.