Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
Construction of New Central Heating Plant and New Consolidated Sub-Station – Canadian Forces Base 5 Wing Goose Bay

July 3, 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 July 22, 2025 to:
Corey Cooney, Wing Environment Officer, 5 Wing Goose Bay
Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 7002, Station C, Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, A0P 1C0
E-mail: Corey.Cooney@forces.gc.ca

or

Amanda Drew, Regional Sustainability Manager, Real Property Operations Group North
Mailing Address: 101 Colonel By Dr
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0K2
E-mail: amanda.drew@forces.gc.ca

 

The Proposed Project

The Department of National Defence (DND) is proposing a project. Currently, 5 Wing Goose Bay's central heating plant has three fuel-oil fired boilers that supply steam heat during the winter months to various operational buildings at 5 Wing Goose Bay, including hangers, warehouse/storage buildings, accommodations, office buildings, etc. In an effort, to modernize the central heating plant and potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 5 Wing Goose Bay, alternate heating modernization solutions were evaluated as part of an Energy Performance Contract.

Based on the analysis, the DND selected a partially decentralized hybrid system which includes the construction of a new central heating plant, containing 3 electric boilers and 3 back-up fuel-oil boilers, and a new consolidated sub-station. This project consists of construction of a new Central Heating Plant (CHP) complex with interior boiler hall and administrative/support areas, along with exterior spaces such as parking, access, new consolidated sub-station and diesel fuel storage.

The total estimated project area is approximately 7,500 m², consisting of:

• ~900 m² CHP internal spaces complex consisting of a boiler hall (~650m²) and administrative/support areas (~250m²).
• ~6,600 m² exterior consisting of access and parking, new consolidated sub-station, new above ground diesel fuel storage tanks, sub-surface work for excavation and removal of redundant infrastructure/tie-in to the new building, and final landscaping.

The proposed Project is scheduled to be begin during the summer field season of 2026 with the new CHP operational by spring 2028.