Canadian Coast Guard Telegraph Cove Radar and Communications Site

The Canadian Coast Guard in consultation with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is undertaking a project to construct a new Radar and Communications Site, this areas navigational abilities will be enhanced by the addition of VHF and Microwave antenna as well as a High Gain X-Band Radar. The site is located, 3km South-East from Telegraph Cove and 22km South-East from Port McNeill, BC at a high elevation to enhance range to radar signals. The purpose of developing this new radar site includes but not limited to:

  • Enhance marine situational awareness for the Coast Guard and other federal partners such as National Defence and Port Authorities;
  • Address immediate gaps in radar coverage on Canada's Westcoast in support of marine safety activities;
  • Enhance the Coast Guard's ability to identify vessels and to improve the common operating picture in the area;
  • Provide support to Transport Canada in enforcing the moratorium on tanker traffic on British Columbia's north coast; and
  • Provide a back-up solution for MCTS centers in the event of the loss of digital signals from vessels navigating in Canadian waters.

 

 

In general, project works that have not already been completed are proposed to start in March 2022 and end in June 2022. Clearing and blasting activities, building foundation, tower and helipad installation as well as communications building fabrication and installation for the radar site have all been completed in 2018 through 2022. Within the next four months, two months of systems installation and commissioning are anticipated. Starting in June 2022, radar equipment is to be installed as well as activation of the High Gain X-Band Radar, VHF and Microwave antenna once attached to the steel tower. Project dates and duration will be dependent on the selected contractor's methodology.

The scope of the project is to build an approximately 120 ft (37m) radar tower, 16ftx33ft (5mx10m) prefabricated aluminum building, and a helicopter landing pad. The proposed implementation of the site development is as follows:

  • Summer 2018 – Preliminary Site Investigations:
    • Clearing a temporary 80ftx80ft (24mx24m) helicopter landing area
    • Site survey
    • Site layout drawing
    • Environmental Assessment
  • Summer 2019 – Design Development:
    • Site clearing
    • Detailed survey
    • Design drawings for building, tower, and helipad.
  • Summer 2020 – Construction Activities
  • Tower, and helipad installation
  • Communications building fabrication
  • Winter 2022
  • Communication building installation
  • Systems installation and commissioning
  • Spring 2022
  • Radar Installation
  • Radar SAT enabled

Environmental Assessments were completed in the project areas in 2018 before the Impact Assessment Act was implemented in August of 2019. With the additional plans to install multiple VHF and Microwave antenna as well as a High Gain X-Band Radar and licencing requirement after August of 2019 this triggered the Impact Assessment Act no longer allowing the project to be grandfathered in to the 2012 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

 

Latest update

April 16 2022– The public comment period on the project and its potential for causing adverse effects is closed. The Canadian Coast Guard and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada are considering comments received to inform its determination on whether the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

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Contacts

Canadian Coast Guard
Brian Teng, Project Engineer, Marine Civil Infrastructure
25 Huron St
Victoria, British Columbia V8V 4V9
Telephone: 250-661-9308
Email: brian.teng@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


  • Location

    • Mount Collinson, 3 kilometers South-East from Telegraph Cove and 22km South-East from Port McNeill, British Columbia. (British Columbia)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Building and Property Development

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2022-06-01

  • Proponent

    Canadian Coast Guard

  • Authorities

    • Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    • Innovation, Science and Economic Development

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    83490

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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