Quatsino Lightstation – Fuel Tank Replacement

Notice of Determination

July 22, 2025 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada have decided that the proposed Fuel Tank replacement Project at Quatsino Lightstation is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. In making this determination, Fisheries and Oceans Canada considered the following factors and environmental aspects:

This determination was based on a consideration of the following factors:

•    any impacts that the project may have on the rights of Indigenous peoples;
•    Indigenous knowledge;
•    community knowledge;
•    comments received from the public; and
•    technically and economically feasible mitigation measures.

Mitigation measures were considered for this determination and are summarized below:  

•    When an aircraft is being operated at an altitude of less than 304.8 m (1,000 ft.) within a radius of one-half nautical mile from a marine        mammal,     no person shall perform a flight maneuver, including taking off, landing or altering the course or altitude of the aircraft, for        the purpose of     bringing the aircraft closer to the marine mammal or otherwise disturbing it.
•    Construction footprints should be limited to the area necessary to safely complete the works. 
•    To reduce the potential for spills, all areas should be kept in an orderly fashion with fuel and other hazardous stores being kept in a            designate     area, out of the way of construction activities.  Machinery and tools used in this project must be clean, free of noxious            seeds and in good     working order. Operationally, all persons on-site using the fuel delivery system should be trained regarding fuel        handling procedures, tank     maintenance, tank management, and spill response procedures.
•    Keep all equipment and machinery in proper working condition to limit excess noises. 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is satisfied that there is low potential for the project to cause adverse environmental effects on areas of federal jurisdiction. Environmental effects that are within provincial jurisdiction would be addressed through provincial regulations.
Therefore, Fisheries and Oceans Canada may perform any duty or function to enable the project to be carried out in whole or in part.