Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
Modification of H14 Overflow Parking Lot for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Interim Requirements- Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Uplands

January 16, 2025 — 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 4, 2025 to:

Major Brent McIntyre, CF Real Property Operations Group
Mailing Address:  NDHQ – 101 Colonel By Dr
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K2
E-mail:  brent.mcintyre@forces.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Department of National Defence (DND) is proposing a project. The purpose of this project is to modify the H14 overflow parking compound to support equipment and personnel, facilitating training and operations for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) ahead of the completion of the permanent RPAS Ground Control Centre. Approximately one-third (4,300 m²) of the gross site area (13,000m²) will be fenced and designated as a Restricted access zone, the remaining portion will be fenced as an Operations zone.

The project will include the following components:

• The restricted access zone will include multiple modular office buildings
• The modular buildings will be installed on a concrete or heavy-duty asphalt pad
• Modular reception buildings will be installed at the outer permitter of operation zone to control access/surveillance as well as the secondary access point of the restricted zone
• Hygiene facilities will include an accessible wash-car with supporting water and sewage combo tanks, connection to water/wastewater services will not be required.
• Exterior lighting will be installed to luminate both the buffer zone and compound
• Power to the site will utilize an existing transformer for the H14 overflow parking lot that is anticipated to be repurposed for this project, an additional unit may be required as well as a generator to provide backup power for the restricted zone
• Perimeter fencing