NOTICE OF DETERMINATION

September 6^th 2022 – Parks Canada and Transport Canada have determined that the proposed works on the Angrignon Bridge are not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

This 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; and
• technically and economically feasible mitigation measures.

Mitigation measures taken into account for this determination are:

Use of equipment

• To access mobilization and storage areas, use existing roads or trails, previously disturbed plots and other areas approved by designated Parks Canada staff.

• Where possible, use low pressure machinery to minimize soil disturbance and compaction.

• Before arriving on site, ensure that equipment is properly adjusted, clean and free of contaminants, in good working order, free of leaks (e.g. fuel, oil or grease) and fitted with spark arrestors and standard emission control devices.

• Use noise attenuation devices supplied with certain equipment or tools (for example, the side panels of compressors).

• Shut down motorized equipment if not in use for a prolonged period.

• Store, maintain and refuel machinery on a flat surface, outside the periphery of tree foliage and at least 30 m from bodies of water.

• Refuel on an impermeable fuel tarp with a berm or inside a container. Clean up leaks and spills from refueling and dispose of contaminated materials appropriately. Never deposit or disperse fuel in the environment or in any body of water.

• Clean tools and equipment off the Parks Canada site.

Wildlife

• Immediately report any incidental sightings of wildlife present on the worksite to designated Parks Canada personnel.

• If active nests, burrows or roosts are discovered, stop work and contact designated Parks Canada personnel immediately for direction.

• Never approach or harass wild animals (e.g. feeding, baiting or luring them). If wild animals are observed in or near the site, give them the opportunity to leave the premises.

Vegetation

• Take all necessary precautions to limit damage to surrounding vegetation as much as possible.

• No felling of trees or removal of vegetation is permitted without authorization from Parks Canada.

• Establish and delineate a protective area around the trees in the mobilization area and traffic areas (e.g. fences, tapes, barriers, etc.) so as not to damage them or affect the root network. If a protection area cannot be established, install a trunk and root system protection system (wooden planks, non-compacting material with geotextile, etc.). Under no circumstances may a tree be used as a support.

• In the event that trees are damaged during the work, provide a report from a forest engineer including an assessment of the survival potential of the affected trees. If the survival of the trees is affected by the damage, they must be replaced as directed by Parks Canada.

• If the vegetation on the site is damaged, use a mixture of native plants, soil and seeds approved by designated Parks Canada personnel.

Invasive exotic species

• All construction equipment from off-site should be washed off the protected heritage site prior to arrival to minimize the risk of introducing invasive species. Proof that this mitigation measure has been applied may be requested before the equipment is allowed to enter the protected heritage site.

• Minimize the area of disturbed soil and stabilize disturbed areas and re-vegetate them as quickly as possible.

Protection of the aquatic environment

• If fine or granular materials are used near the canal, implement erosion and sedimentation control measures to protect the water body.

• Any temporary pile of unconsolidated materials located less than 30 m from an aquatic environment and left in place for a period of more than 24 hours must be protected with a sediment barrier or covered with a geotextile to avoid the transport of sediments in the body of water.

• Plan measures to confine and recover the debris, materials, particles and dust that could be generated by the work above the waterway.

• Immediately remove any debris accidentally introduced into the aquatic environment.

• Prevent the entry of harmful substances directly or indirectly into the water. For example:

• Establish and maintain an effective separation between the works and the body of water.
• Attach canvases or tarps (supported by straps or nets if necessary) to prevent materials from entering the water, and inspect them regularly for any signs of failure.
• Stop work if harmful substances are leaking (or obviously will leak).

Spill Response Plans

• Develop a spill response plan before work begins.

• Ensure that there is spill containment equipment on site. A spill emergency response kit, including absorbent materials and berms capable of containing 110% of the largest spill that could occur, must be available at each location where the spill is likely (places where equipment is running and refueling, lubrication and repair points).

• Contain and clean up all spills as soon as it is safe to do so. In the event of a major spill, cease all other work until the spill has been properly contained and cleaned up.

• In the event of a spill, immediately report the situation to the appropriate responders and to the Environment Canada emergency service (1-866-283-2323) for a land spill. Notify the Coast Guard of any spills in water (1-800-363-4735).

Cultural resources

• Vehicle access routes and mobilization areas will be limited to existing streets, parking lots, exposed bedrock areas and heavily disturbed areas. If this is not possible, the use of a protective coating such as drop mats, geotextile fabrics with wood chips or granular gravel "A" is required in order to protect the archaeological resources that may be present in the area.

• In the event of fortuitous discoveries of cultural resources made in the absence of an archaeologist, the project manager/contractor must imperatively suspend work in the immediate area of the discovery and notify the Parks Canada project manager who, with the archaeologist from the Terrestrial Archeology team and the cultural resource management advisor from Parks Canada will then take the necessary measures to protect and conserve the said resource(s).

• If changes are made to the project, all sources of additional information, construction plans and mobilization will be submitted to Parks Canada's Terrestrial Archeology and Cultural Resource Management teams for review. Should excavations be included in the scope of work, the Parks Canada Terrestrial Archeology team wishes to participate in preliminary work as a means of locating known and potential archaeological resources.

Visitor Experience and Public Safety

• Restrict the site to authorized persons when the work is in progress and use appropriate signs to delimit it and to signal the dangers.

• Ensure that visitor access roads and trails away from the site are free of construction materials, waste, machinery or equipment.

• For any temporary work that may restrict or limit navigation in the canal, approval from Transport Canada is required through the Navigation Protection Program.

• Comply with the requirements and implement all of the mitigation measures provided by Transport Canada.

Site cleaning and waste management

• Secure all waste (e.g. construction waste and materials, spoil, vegetation) away from the channel to prevent it from entering the aquatic environment.

• Contain waste and transport it to an approved landfill site outside the Parks Canada site.

• Remove all construction materials from site upon completion of project.

 

Parks Canada and Transport Canada are satisfied that that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Therefore, the authorities may carry out the project, exercise any power, perform any duty or function, or provide financial assistance to enable the project to be carried out in whole or in part.