Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project and A-Jetty Extension Project, Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt

August 8, 2024 — The Department of National Defence must decide whether the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this decision, the Department of National Defence is inviting comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. All comments received will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by August 27, 2024 to:
Becky MacInnis, Environment Officer / MARPAC Formation Safety and Environment
Mailing Address:  Formation Safety and Environment, Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, PO Box 17000 Stn Forces
Victoria, BC, Canada, V9A 7N2
E-mail:  Rebecca.MacInnis@forces.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Department of National Defence (DND) is proposing a project. The A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project supports Canada's National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and will replace the existing ship berthing facilities known as A Jetty and B Jetty, which are over 80 years old and past their intended service life. The new jetties will be larger, modern and more versatile to accommodate the Royal Canadian Navy's current and future ships. In coordination with these jetty upgrades, DND is remediating contaminated seabed areas beneath each jetty through the Esquimalt Harbour Remediation Project. The A Jetty portion of the project will include demolition of the existing A Jetty structure, sediment dredging, blasting of bedrock, infilling, and construction of a new A Jetty structure.

DND is in the process of updating project documents and regulatory approvals to incorporate lessons learned and design changes, and to bring the Project into compliance with current legislation including the Impact Assessment Act, the Fisheries Act and the Canadian Navigable Waters Act. DND has submitted a Request for Amendment to an Authorization to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and a Request for Approval to Transport Canada. These regulatory updates also include the addition of the A Jetty Extension consisting of a concrete dolphin mounted onto steel piles with an access bridge connecting the dolphin to the main A Jetty structure. The extension is required in order to accommodate the new Canadian Surface Combatant ships, known as the River-class Destroyers.