March 08, 2021 – Canadian Coast Guard and the Port of Vancouver Fraser Port Authority have decided that the proposed Purfleet Point Navigation Aid Replacement project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects provided all the Environmental Mitigation Measures in the Environmental Protection Plan are followed along with recommendations from First Nations and Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program are followed. Work will only be completed on the Front Range Site during this portion of the project and work on the Rear Range and abandoned site has been delayed until the 2021 least risk to fish window as work in this area would have been harmful to fish and their habitat at this time. In-water work on the Front Range will occur from March 09 – 11, 2021 and work on the Rear Range and abandoned site will not occur until mid-August 2021. Further assessment is required for the work on the Rear Range and an updated Notice to the Public will be posted at a later date.

In making this determination, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard considered the following factors and mitigation measures:

Impacts on rights of Indigenous peoples: Engagement with the Tsawwassen First Nation, Katzie First Nation, Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, Kwikwetlem First Nation, Musqueam First Nation and the Kwantlen First Nation

 

• was conducted and the Nations were interested in the environmental mitigation and project details;
• Some of the Nations expressed concerns regarding any work occurring outside both the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Least Risk Window (ending February 28) and the First Nations Least Risk Window for fish and fish habitat (ending January 31).
• Indigenous knowledge: the lands and waters around the project area were and are traditionally used by Indigenous Peoples. Salmon, Eulachon, and Sturgeon species found in the Fraser River were and are important to Indigenous Peoples;
• Work on the Front Range is supported by the local Nations provided mitigation measures listed in the Environmental Protection Plan and mitigation recommended by the Nations and Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program are followed.  
• community knowledge: There has been community concern over the damaged Front Range leading to Coast Guard implementing this replacement
• comments received from the public: No public comments were received;
• mitigation measures:
  • Environment Protection Plan,
  • Environmental Monitoring including acoustic monitoring, water quality monitoring, side scanning sonar and marine mammal and finfish monitoring;
  • Application of bubble curtains to reduce sedimentation, acoustic disturbance and fish deterent
  • Establishing exclusion zones for fish and fish habitat
  • Application of absorbent booms around creosote piles during removal
  • Diver observations and support

 

 Implementation of mitigation measures is required for the project to address:

• Adjacent marine vegetation areas
• Water and sediment quality
• Coastal riparian and shoreline
• Marine mammal and finfish presence
• Fish and fish habitat
• Indigenous fisheries

Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard is satisfied that there is little potential for the project to cause adverse environmental effects on areas of federal jurisdiction, provided only work is completed on the Front Range at this time of year, all the Environmental Mitigation Measures in the Environmental Protection Plan are followed along with recommendations from First Nations and Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program are followed.

Therefore, Canadian Coast Guard and the Port of Vancouver Fraser Port Authority may 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.