Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
Plumper Bay Risk Management Project – Esquimalt Harbour

February 9, 2024 — 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 February 28, 2024 to:
Becky MacInnis, Environment Officer / MARPAC Formation Safety and Environment
Mailing Address:  Formation Safety and Environment, Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, PO Box 17000 Stn Forces
Victoria, BC, Canada, V9A 7N2
E-mail:  Rebecca.MacInnis@forces.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Department of National Defence (DND), which administers Esquimalt Harbour, is proposing to implement the Plumper Bay Risk Management Project (PBRMP) in Plumper Bay, located in Esquimalt, British Columbia. The PBRMP consists of remediation of existing contaminated marine sediments, removal of wood waste contamination, removal of debris, and enhancement of the ecological and recreational function of the shoreline by restoring nearshore beach areas.

The Project will reduce current contaminant levels in marine sediments by removing contaminated material and by placing clean material to manage residual contamination. Additionally, nearshore soils at Ashe Head will be excavated and clean fill will be imported to limit future erosion of contaminated soils into the adjacent marine environment. The justification for remediation is based on concentrations of contaminants of concern in marine sediments and upland soils exceeding applicable sediment quality guidelines, resulting from historical contamination.

Remediation is proposed to include dredging and excavation of contaminated sediment and debris, placement of clean material over both dredged and un-dredged areas, and removal of debris. Sampling will be conducted in portions of the site following remediation to confirm that the remedial targets for the Project have been met. Ancillary activities will include dewatering of sediment, offloading, transportation and disposal of sediment and debris, construction of erosion protection features to armour the existing shorelines, and riparian and bioretention planting.