Connected Coast Marine Fibre Optic Cable Project – Public comments invited from April 17 to May 17, 2023 

April 17, 2023– Parks Canada and Indigenous Services Canada must decide whether the proposed project Connected Coast Marine Fibre Optic Cable Project, located in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada  is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. Parks Canada and Indigenous Services Canada will be assessing this project using a Detailed Impact Assessment.

To help inform this decision, Parks Canada and Indigenous Services Canada is issuing this notice of intent to make a determination and inviting comments from the public on the project's potential effects on the environment as the public consultation for this proposal. All comments received will be considered public. For more information on the public nature of your comments, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

In order to submit comments or request a copy of the draft Detailed Impact Assessment report, contact:

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
P.O. Box 280
2040 Pacific Rim Highway, Ucluelet BC  V0R 3A0
Telephone: 250-726-3500
Email: Pacrim.info@pc.gc.ca

Comments must be submitted by May 17, 2023.

Project Summary: The Connected Coast Cable Partnership is proposing to install a fiber optic marine cable to connect approximately 139 remote communities along the British Columbia coast. This assessment will focus on the portion of the Connected Coast Cable Project that falls within Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Three cable connection points will be installed at Long Beach, Pachena Bay and Nitinat Bar to connect communities within or adjacent to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The marine cable will be placed directly on the surface of the seabed from a vessel, while in intertidal areas, excavation at low tide will be needed to bury the cable at each of the three connection points. Parks Canada will assess this work using a Detailed Impact Assessment pathway.

Scope of Assessment: Parks Canada requires the Detailed Impact Assessment to address potential impacts of the marine cable on Indigenous fishing rights; archaeological sites and areas of high archaeological potential; sensitive marine habitats including eelgrass and kelp beds; migratory seabirds; and at-risk species including the Southern Resident Killer Whale and Northern Abalone, both of which have critical habitat overlapping with the Project area within Parks Canada's jurisdiction.