Notice of determination

Surrey, B.C. – April 14, 2025 – The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (the Port Authority) and Environment and Climate Change Canada have determined that the proposed Maintenance dredging – Teal-Jones waterlot located at 17897 Trigg Road, Surrey, BC is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

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

• Impacts on rights of Indigenous peoples
• Indigenous knowledge
• Community knowledge
• Comments received from the public
• Technically and economically feasible mitigation measures

Best efforts were made to consult with the following Indigenous groups:

• Katzie First Nation
• Kwantlen First Nation
• Kwikwetlem First Nation
• Musqueam Indian Band
• S'ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance
• Semiahmoo First Nation
• Cowichan Tribes
• Halalt First Nation
• Lyackson First Nation
• Penelakut Tribe
• Stz'uminus First Nation
• Ts'uubaa-asatx

The Port Authority received comments during Indigenous consultation relating to sturgeon and the chance find management plan. The conditions in the permit, including a requirement to adhere to the Archaeological Chance Find Procedure, have addressed the comments.

The project was posted to the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry on January 27, 2025 for public comment. One comment was received. The comment was not directly related to the proposed project and was instead related to general concerns about activities on trees and terrestrial wildlife.

The City of Surrey, Telus Communications, and the BC Transportation Financing Authority were notified. The City of Surrey responded noting they had no comments and the BC Transportation Financing Authority requested whether the Project would have any operational impacts on the Barnston Island Ferry. The Applicant confirmed that it would not.

Mitigation measures and/or permit conditions taken into account in making the determination include:

• There will be no in-water works during the fisheries sensitive period from March 1 to June 15, inclusive
• A ‘soft start' procedure will be implemented where the bucket is raised and lowered gradually over a 10-mintue period before commencing in-water activities
• The physical activities will be conducted to avoid increasing sedimentation of foreshore and nearshore areas and induced turbidity of local waters
• The barge and other support vessels will be prevented from grounding on the foreshore, seabed or otherwise disturb the foreshore or seabed
• All material intended for disposal at sea will be disposed of under a valid Disposal at Sea Permit pursuant to the provisions of Part 7, Division 3 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Environment and Climate Change Canada are satisfied that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

For questions regarding the proposed project, please contact the Project and Environmental Review team at PER@portvancouver.com.