Public Notice

 

Canadian Coast Guard Seymour Narrows Radar Site and Power Line

December 13, 2021 – The Canadian Coast Guard and Innovation, Science and Economic Developement Canada must decide whether the addition of radar to the Canadian Coast Guard Seymour Narrows Radar Site and Power Line, 1km South from Browns Bay and 15km North of Campbell River, BC is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this decision, Canadian Coast Guard and Innovation, Science and Economic Developement Canada are inviting comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. All comments received will be considered public [and may be posted online]. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by January 11, 2022 to:

Stephen Childs

Project Engineer

Canadian Coast Guard - Maritime & Civil Infrastructure

25 Huron Street, Victoria, BC. V8V 4V9 Western Region

Cell 250-418-5425

Stephen.childs@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Canadian Coast Guard is undertaking a project to construct a new Radar and Communications Site and new powerline at Seymour Narrows. The site is located along the west coast of BC near Campbell River at a high elevation to enhance range to radar signals. The purpose of developing this new radar site includes but not limited to:

• Enhance marine situational awareness for the Coast Guard and other federal partners such as National Defence and Port Authorities;
• Address immediate gaps in radar coverage on Canada's Westcoast in support of marine safety activities;
• Enhance the Coast Guard's ability to identify vessels and to improve the common operating picture in the area;
• Provide support to Transport Canada in enforcing the moratorium on tanker traffic on British Columbia's north coast; and
• Provide a back-up solution for MCTS centers in the event of the loss of digital signals from vessels navigating in Canadian waters.

In general, the new facility started construction in September 2020 and will wrap up in  March 2022. Environmental Assessment and clearing activities for the radar site, road and powerline were completed in 2018 and 2019. 

The scope of the project is to build an approximately 150ft (46m) radar tower, 16ftx33ft (5mx10m) equipment building, 1km powerline to Browns Bay, 300m access road, and a helicopter landing pad. The proposed implementation of the site development is as follows:

• Summer 2018 – Preliminary Site Investigations:
  • Clearing a temporary 75ftx75ft (23mx23m) helicopter landing area
  • Site survey
  • Site layout drawing
  • Environmental Assessment
• Summer 2019 – Design Development:
  • Site clearing
  • Powerline clearing
  • Road Construction
  • Detailed survey
  • Design drawings for building, tower, and helipad
• Summer 2020 – Winter 2021 – Construction Activities
  • Tower, building, powerline, and helipad installation
• March 2022 Radar activited

Environmental Assessments and site clearing were completed in the project areas in 2018 and 2019 before the Impact Assessment Act was implemented in August of 2019. With the addition of permitting required for the addition of Radar capabilities this project is being posted to the Public Registry. 

Coordinates: 50° 09' 02.5"N         125° 22' 17.0"W

1km South from Browns Bay and 15km North of Campbell River, British Columbia