Oil Tank Removal for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Retrofit at St. Andrews Biological Station

Fisheries and Oceans Canada intends to complete a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) retrofit in the Penhallow and Needler buildings at the St. Andrews Biological Station in St. Andrews, NB. The retrofit scope includes:

  • Implementation of a seawater heat pump system for primary heating and cooling;
  • Removal of the existing fuel oil boiler system and replacement with a propane boiler system for auxiliary heating;
  • Removal of the existing rooftop cooling unit (cooling will be provided solely by the heat pump system); and
  • Ventilation and fume hood control upgrades.

One 36,150 L above ground storage fuel oil tank will be removed, along with the boiler system it serves. A certified tank installer will decommission the tank and confirm whether any contamination is present. New propane tanks will be installed in the concrete pad of the existing fuel oil tank. Minor modifications to the pad will be completed to ensure it meets the most recent codes and regulations. Temporary propane piping and tanks will be installed for the duration of the oil-fired system removal. Both the temporary and permanent propane tanks and will be provided and managed by the propane supplier.

Aside from the fuel tanks and piping, construction work will be focused inside existing buildings. The marine environment will not be disrupted as the new heat pump system will leverage existing seawater infrastructure (e.g., seawater intake pipes) that is used on-site for marine research.

More

Latest update

August 22, 2025 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada issued its Notice of Determination and determined that the project Oil Tank Removal for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Retrofit at St. Andrews Biological Station is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Participate

Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
2 Notice of Determination - August 22, 2025
1 Notice of Intent to Make a Determination - Start of Public Comment Period - July 22, 2025

Contacts

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Kendra Campbell, Project Engineer
Bedford Institute of Oceanography
1 Challenger Drive
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2
Telephone: 782-640-6006
Email: kendra.campbell@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


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.

  • Location

    • St. Andrews (New Brunswick)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Building and Property Development

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2025-07-22

  • Proponent

    Fisheries and Oceans Canada

  • Authorities

    • Fisheries and Oceans Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89752

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
Report a problem on this page
Date modified: