Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
Office Building Construction – Canadian Forces Support Unit Ottawa – Uplands

October 22, 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 November 11, 2024 to:
Frank Caruso, Senior Project Manager
Mailing Address:  101 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa
Ontario, Canada, K1A 0K2
E-mail:  Franco.Caruso@forces.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Department of National Defence (DND) has proposed construction of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System - Ground Control Centre ( RPAS GCC ) Building– Canadian Forces Support Unit Ottawa – Uplands site. The Early Works package for the RPAS GCC building was previously posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry under Reference Number 85787.

The construction of the RPAS GCC building includes the following:

1. Site preparation phase - this phase includes clearing, grubbing and topsoil stripping on the Site to prepare the construction areas. This phase also includes preliminary site grading;
2. Construction phase - this phase includes the construction of the new RPAS GCC building, upgrading the parking facilities, and all associated utilities and civil works. The new infrastructure is composed of one two-story building. Associated utilities and civil works include water, sanitary, electrical, heating and cooling, communications, and stormwater management;
3. Site restoration - this phase consists of reinstating and restoring all areas disturbed by the construction, including implementation of a tree compensation plan. This phase would be completed after completion of the construction phase.

The RPAS GCC project will be carried out on federal developed land located in the Greenbelt of the National Capital Region. In addition to DND as the project proponent and land custodian, the National Capital Commission also has a trigger to make a section 82 determination under the Impact Assessment Act for the RPAS GCC project stemming from the issuance of federal approvals under the National Capital Act to enable it to proceed.

The RPAS GCC construction is anticipated to be carried out, commencing in the spring of 2025 with anticipated completion by the end of September 2028.