Couchiching First Nation Industrial Lands Remediation Project

The Proposed Project

Couchiching First Nation is located in Northwestern Ontario near Fort Frances. The community comprises 6,423 hectares of reserve land (Couchiching 16A), and is bordered by Rainy Lake, Haymarsh Bay and Stanjikoming Bay to the east. It is accessible year-round by road via Highway 11.

The Contaminated Site (FCSI # 5152001) is located in Couchiching First Nation, along the shore of Rainy Lake.  ISC leased out the site from 1904 until 2000 for various industrial uses including sawmill operations, wood treatment facilities, float plane bases and an asphalt plant.  These activities resulted in contamination of the site.  The project consists of the remediation of contaminated land and removal of debris upland, along the shoreline and in the water lot.  The project will be completed over a period of 5 to 6 years and includes:

  • Excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil and debris in most of the upland areas of the site (including building foundations) and wetland, as well as debris along some of the shoreline and shallow water in Rainy Lake followed by backfilling/restoration of the excavated areas.
  • Potential installation of a vegetative cap in areas where building development is unlikely due to future flood risk
  • Removal and off-site disposal of debris (piles, docks, deadheads and other large debris in the lake) within the water lot adjacent to the site along with excavation, off-site disposal of contaminated soil and debris, and rehabilitation for the portion of the shoreline south of Harry's Road and installing an asphalt hard cap in selected upland areas.

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Latest update

December 06, 2022 - The assessment decision statement has been issued to the proponent.

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Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
2 Notice of Determination - December 6, 2022
1 Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination - June 22, 2022

Contacts

Indigenous Services Canada
Kerri Hurley, Senior Environment Officer
100 Anemki Place Suite 101
Fort William First Nation, Ontario P7J 1A5
Telephone: 807-708-5270
Fax: 807-623-3536
Email: kerri.hurley@canada.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Couchiching First Nation (Ontario)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Remediation and conservation

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2022-06-22

  • Proponent

    Couchiching First Nation

  • Authorities

    • Indigenous Services Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    83733

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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