Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
Hopkins Slipway Extension – Canadian Coast Guard Academy

May 25, 2026 — The authorities must decide whether the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this decision, the authorities are 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 June 13, 2026 to:
Director Environment and Sustainable Management, Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure & Environment)
Mailing Address:  National Defence Headquarters
60 Moodie Drive
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K2
E-mail:  mnd.environment-environnement.mdn@forces.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Canadian Coast Guard Academy (formerly Canadian Coast Guard College) intends to extend the existing slipway with five (5) pre‑cast concrete launching ramp slabs, footprint of 45 m2. Each slab is 200 mm thick with reinforcing steel (15M at 300 mm each way) and 75 mm concrete cover. Adjoining slabs use continuous keyways for alignment and load transfer. The slipway is 6.0 m wide in section and the panels include 100 × 200 mm access holes plus 38 mm × 1000 mm steel lifting bars to aid safe handling and placement.

The new slabs will be set on engineered stone layers comprising 200 mm of 50 mm clear stone (bedding) over 300 mm of NSTIR C2 (provincial standard crushed‑rock road base used as a structural sub‑base). Any unsuitable sediments will be excavated to the underlying sand layer as needed to create a uniform subgrade, taking care not to undermine the existing ramp. At the upper tie‑in, a continuous galvanized ledger angle (L76×76×6.4) fixed with 13 mm anchors at 1,000 mm spacing (total angle length 6.0 m) connects the new work to the existing slipway. Any removed material will be disposed of appropriately.

At the lower end, the toe of the new slab string is at elevation (EL) -2.06 m with a 1.0 m toe‑in. Adjacent slopes will be protected using two layers of 200–500 kg riprap (approximately 1,100 mm overall armour thickness) over filter fabric and core stone, generally placed at a slope of about 1.5H:1V. Excavation‑limit lines are indicated for localized subgrade preparation; beyond this preparation, no broader dredging is required for the slipway extension.

To facilitate installation, one existing pre‑cast ramp panel will be temporarily removed and then reinstated to its original condition.