Public Notice - South End Container Terminal Building Removal and Stacking Yard Area Increase Project - Public Comments Invited

June 1, 2022 - The Halifax Port Authority must determine whether the proposed South End Container Terminal Building Removal and Stacking Yard Area Increase Project, located in Halifax Nova Scotia is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, the Halifax Port Authority is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by July 1, 2022 to:

Lane Farguson – HPA Director Communications & Marketing

902-209-4504

lfarguson@portofhalifax.ca

The Proposed Project

The stacking area within the container terminal is where both import and export containers are stored awaiting transport, this buffer is necessary to allow a smooth transition between ship and shore transport. Recently, the grounded storage capacity at the terminal has been congested and has become increasingly difficult to operate the terminal in an efficient manner. As containers move through the facility, sufficient empty slots are needed to allow proper segregation by destination and to allow for specific containers to be efficiently retrieved for truck, rail and ship operations. To alleviate this situation additional terminal stacking area is required. HPA is proposing to remove existing surplus buildings and install a new working surface to create additional stacking area for terminal operations. The deconstruction of the South End Building includes the removal of Sheds 33 (5,800 m2) and 34 (4,000 m2), and the South End Container Terminal administration offices and consolidation shed (3,600 m2). The removal of these surplus buildings creates additional stacking area which will immediately reduce congestion and improve terminal efficiency.

The buildings will be dismantled and removed, and where required filled to grade. On Pier A-1 sheds 33 and 34 will be removed, the area regraded, new drainage, water, electrical, communication installed as well as engineered surface pavements to allow the stacking of containers and operation of terminal equipment on the site of the sheds. On Pier C, the administration building and warehouse will be removed, the lighting controls, backup generator and terminal servers relocation, area regrades, and new drainage, water, electrical, communication installed as well as engineered surface pavements to allow the stacking of containers and operation of terminal equipment on the site of the sheds. Waste from all activities will be segregated and disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Sheds 33 and 34 are planned to be removed and the terminal surface reconstructed by end of 2022. For the admin building and warehouse all preparatory site work would be completed in 2022 so that removal could begin 1st quarter in 2023 with terminal surface complete by September 2023.