Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
Dredging at Former Jetty NE - Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax

January 10, 2023 — 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 January 29, 2023 to:
Ryanne Hamblin, Project Manager
Mailing Address:  PO Box 99000 Stn Forces
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3K 5X5
E-mail: ryanne.hamblin@forces.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Department of National Defence (DND) has proposed a project, with Maritime Forces Atlantic undertaking the coordination. Jetty NE was constructed in the 1940s and demolished in 2012. During construction, a berm of granular material was created below the jetty footprint to compensate for a lack of overburden required to install piles. The berm and some piles/debris were not removed during the 2012 demolition. The proposed project includes removal of piles/debris located below the footprint of former Jetty NE and disposal at an approved facility, removal of the berm via dredging, and subsequent disposal of the dredged materials at a land-based facility. Dredging will be conducted to remove the berm to a chart datum of -9.2 meters. Project activities do not include blasting. It was anticipated that approximately 17,500 cubic meters of material would require dredging and subsequent disposal. Fisheries and Oceans Canada were contacted to review and provide authorization of the project, during the preparation of environmental effects determination. Measures to avoid causing harm to fish and fish habitat are included in the environmental effects determination and are to be incorporated into the contract specifications/scope of work. Transport Canada was contacted to determine if the demolition project would impact navigability in the area. It was determined that no other federal departments would be contacted in relation to the proposed project.