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Document reference number: 2

Notice of Determination

[Toronto, ON] – [January 27, 2025] – The authorities have determined that the proposed project, "Runway End Safety Area – Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport", is 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 as follows:

Vegetation:

• Clearly delineate vegetation clearing zones (i.e., using silt or tree protection fencing) on both construction drawings and in the field prior to clearing and grading.
• Where appropriate, construction fencing and/or silt fencing should be installed and maintained to clearly define the construction footprint and prevent accidental damage or intrusion to adjacent vegetation communities.
• An Erosion and Sediment Control Plan should be developed to ensure no sedimentation enters adjacent vegetation communities.
• Temporarily disturbed areas should be re-vegetated using non-invasive, preferably native plantings and/or seed mix appropriate to the site conditions and adjacent vegetation communities.
• All machinery, construction equipment and vehicles arriving on site should be in clean condition (e.g., free of fluid leaks, soils containing seeds of plant material from invasive species) and be inspected and washed in accordance with the Clean Equipment Protocol for Industry (Halloran et al., 2013) prior to arriving and leaving the construction site in order to prevent the spread of invasive species to other locations.

Wildlife:

• Develop and implement a Wildlife and Species at Risk Encounter Protocol. If wildlife is encountered, measures should be implemented to avoid destruction, injury, or interference with the species, and/or its habitat. For example, construction activities should be ceased or reduced, and wildlife should be encouraged to move off-site and away from the construction area on its own. A qualified Biologist should be contacted if the wildlife does not leave on its own.
• Train construction personnel to prevent a wildlife encounter from occurring, including the following: no personnel shall approach, feed or harass wildlife; food waste will be properly stored and disposed of; and vehicles will yield to wildlife.

Migratory Breeding Birds and Nests:

• All works must comply with the Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA), including removing trees and vegetation outside of the bird nesting period (April 1 to August 31).
• If activities are proposed to occur during the general nesting period, a breeding bird and nest survey should be undertaken prior to required activities. Nest searches by an experienced searcher are required and should be completed by a qualified biologist no more than 48 hours prior to vegetation removal. An appropriate-sized buffer where no construction activities are to occur should be established around an active MBCA protected nest until the young have fledged and the nest is deemed no longer active by a qualified biologist.
• If a nest of a migratory bird is found outside of this nesting period (including a ground nest) it still receives protection.
• All stockpiled materials of soil, overburden or similar materials are to be maintained at 70 degrees or less by sloping off stockpiles to create a slot angle that will not support nesting breeding birds during the breeding bird season (April 1 to August 31).

Soil, Sediment and Water Quality:

• A Spill Prevention and Response Plan should be developed and adhered to.
• Spills should be immediately contained and cleaned up in accordance with provincial regulatory requirements and the contingency plan.
• Refuelling and equipment maintenance/cleaning stations should be located within a centralized location on-site, and be at least 30 m away from wetlands, watercourses, waterbodies or other site drainage features.
• All chemical transfer, fuelling, and vehicle maintenance should be conducted within the refuelling station areas.
• An emergency response kit should be made available at each re-fuelling station in case of a spill. All construction vehicles and equipment should also be equipped with a spill kit suitable for the vehicle or equipment.
• All machinery, construction equipment and vehicles arriving on site should be in clean condition (e.g., free of fluid leaks, or attached soil potentially containing seeds of plant material from invasive species) and be inspected and washed in accordance with the Clean Equipment Protocol for Industry (Halloran et al., 2013) prior to arriving and leaving the construction site.
• All on-site crew members operating construction vehicles should be appropriately trained in handling a potential spill and have Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System training.
• An Erosion and Sediment Control Plan should be developed to ensure no sedimentation enters Lake Ontario.

Air Quality

Construction Phase:

• Install screening and/or barriers at practical locations within the air quality study area to decrease wind driven emissions of particulates.
• Prior to commencement of construction, a detailed Construction Air Quality Management Plan should be prepared.
• Develop a Communications Protocol and a Complaints Protocol to address any air-quality related concerns raised during the construction.
• Make use of dust suppressors such as water sprays.

Operation Phase:

• Implement idling reduction programs to limit vehicle emissions, particularly for trucks, tugs, and other vehicles operating at BBTCA and along the airside perimeter road.

Noise:

• Maintain equipment in an operating condition that prevents unnecessary noise, including but not limited to, effective muffler systems, properly secured components, and lubrication of moving parts.
• Restrict idling of equipment to the minimum necessary to perform the specific work.
• Ensure vehicles employed continuously on site for an extended period of time (two days or more) are fitted with broad-band sound back-up alarms, rather than tonal alarms.
• Avoid unnecessary revving of engines and switch off equipment when not required (do not idle).
• Minimize drop heights of materials.
• Use construction equipment compliant with noise level specifications in MECP publications NPC-115 and NPC-118.

The authorities 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.