Public comment period on intent to make a determination

Demolition of Portneuf Wharf and Sediment Remediation – Public Comments Invited

2022/11/29 – Transports Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada must determine whether the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada are 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 December 29th 2022 to:

Irene Koutsimanis
700 Leigh-Capreol
Dorval, (Québec)
H4Y 1G7

or by email at aea-eaa@tc.gc.ca

The Project

The Portneuf port infrastructure was built between 1956 and 1962. It consists of a long pier of approximately 950 linear meters and a wharf head mainly mostly made of a creosote wood structure. These wooden boxes are surmounted by concrete weight walls and it's main facade is made of steel sheet piles. The wharf's backfill and the surrounding seabed are contaminated mainly by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and mercury.

The present project is a remediation project which requires the demolition of the wharf, which is the source of the PAH contamination, and the remediation of the seabed.  Also, the wharf structure is currently in a state of advanced degradation and is prohibited from public access. Therefore the demolition of this structure will eliminate the safety risks associated with its presence.

The activities to be carried out within the project are:

- mobilization and other preparatory work;

- installation and removal of a protective enclosure (downstream part of the structure);

- the complete demolition of the head of the wharf;

- the dredging of contaminated sediments (16,125 m3);

- installation of an embankment for stability/environmental covering on certain areas of the seabed;

- transshipment, dewatering, sorting of cuttings and/or materials taken out of the water and sound management of leachate water;

- the transhipment and transport of demolition debris and contaminated sediment to an authorized treatment site;

- the construction of a 50 m long breakwater at the end of the demolished infrastructures, as well as a 20 m long riprap on the west side;

- refueling and maintenance of machinery;

- management of residual materials and contaminants.

The work will take place between June 2023 and December 2026.

Document Reference Number: 1

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