Scott Hamilton

Environmental Officer

Defence Construction Canada Ltd.

122 Kent Street, 17^th Floor

Ottawa, ON  K1A 0K3

Phone: 613-998-4583

Fax: 613-998-1061

 

 

        RE: NWB5QIK0207 / NIRB 03DA035 - Amendment to DEW Line Clean-up Fox-5,     Qikiqtarjuaq

       

Dear Mr. Hamilton:

 

This letter is to advise that The Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Fish Habitat Management (DFO-FHM) received your amendment water licence application, filed on behalf of Defence Construction Canada for the clean up of the Fox-5 DEW Line site on Broughton Island. DFO-FHM's assessment takes into consideration primarily fish and fish habitat related concerns.  I have reviewed the plans for the proposed work.

 

As I understand it from your application, the first amendment eliminates the construction of an on-site landfill for the disposal of PCB amended painted materials.  The materials will be stored on site in a temporary PCB storage area and sent to a licensed southern disposal facility for destruction.  The second amendment proposes to create two hydrocarbon landfarms, one near the heated vehicle storage and another at the station area. The third amendment proposes to change the location of the Tier II disposal facility.

 

DFO-FHM has no additional concerns associated with the amendments to your project proposal. The following mitigation measures, along with mitigation measures indicated in the project proposal, are intended to prevent any potentially harmful impacts to fish and fish habitat.

 

·         All disturbed areas should be stabilized and re-vegetated, as required, upon completion of work to prevent sedimentation.

 

·         If the water withdrawal is of sufficient volume that the source water body may be drawn down please submit details (volume required, size of water body, fish species etc.) to DFO-FHM for review. DFO-FHM does not recommend the use of streams as a water source.

 

·         All water intakes should be properly screened to prevent the entrainment of fish. Refer to the Freshwater Intake End-of-Pipe Fish Screen Guideline (DFO 1995), available on request.

 

·         All plans for proposed stream crossings or work conducted below the high water mark adjacent to the banks of streams and lakes require prior approval by DFO-HM.

 

 

Depositing deleterious substances into fish bearing waters is prohibited as stated under Subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act. The following are additional measures to mitigate habitat disturbance or loss as well as the deposition of deleterious substances.

 

·         Sediment and erosion control measures should be implemented prior to, and maintained during the work to prevent sediment entry into the water during a spring thaw.

 

·         An appropriate distance should be maintained between the normal high water mark of any water body and gravel pit/deposit, to ensure sediment does not enter any water body.

 

·         All wastes, sewage containments and fuel caches must be located at an appropriate distance above the normal high water mark of any water body, and be sufficiently bermed or otherwise contained to ensure that these substances do not enter any water body.  Impermeable spill mats or plastic sheets as well as efficient containment berms should be incorporated into these caches to ensure that contaminants do not enter water bodies.

 

·         All activities, including maintenance procedures and vehicular refuelling, should be controlled to prevent the entry of petroleum products, sediment, debris, rubble, or other deleterious substances into the water.  Impermeable spill mats, drip pans or other measures to prevent ground or ice contamination should also be used when refuelling equipment on site.  Ensure that refuelling activities are conducted at an appropriate distance from the normal high water mark of any water body.

 

·         All spills of oil, fuel, or other deleterious material should be reported immediately to the 24-Hour Spill Line at (867) 920-8130.

 

 

If the proposed work is carried out as described in the plans provided to DFO-FHM and if the additional mitigation measures specified above are implemented, the proposed work will not be considered as contravening Subsection 35(1) of the Fisheries Act which reads:

 

"No person shall carry on any work or undertaking that results in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat."

 

Therefore, an authorization under Subsection 35(2) of the Fisheries Act will not be necessary. If a harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat and/or the deposition of deleterious substances into fish bearing waters occurs as a result of a change in the plans for the proposed works or failure to implement the additional mitigation measures specified above, prosecution under Subsection 35(1) and/or Subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act may be initiated.

Please note that this letter of advice will apply for the period of the proposed lease.  If you have any questions concerning the mitigation measures or should there be any changes to the proposed work, please contact me at (867) 979-8007 or by fax at (867) 979-8039.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Stephanie Critch

Area Habitat Biologist

Fish Habitat Management

Department of Fisheries and Oceans

 

c.c.    Phyllis Beaulieu - A/Licensing Administrator, NWB

         Gladys Joudrey - Environmental Assessment Officer, NIRB  

          Eva Schulz - Environmental Scientist, UMA Engineering Ltd.

          Ipeelee Itorcheak - Field Supervisor, DFO