Environment Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has determined that the proposed Fraser River Navigation Channel Maintenance Dredging Project located in the lower 36 km of the Fraser River, from Sand Heads to New Westminster (kilometre marker -1 to kilometre marker 35) is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.
 
The 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:

• Activities will be carried out in accordance with the environmental management plan
• The works will not deposit a deleterious substance in water inhabited by fish, or affect fish or fish habitat in a manner contrary to the Fisheries Act
• A spill prevention, containment and clean-up plan will be developed for the project, be available in the immediate working area, and project personnel will be trained on spill prevention, containment, and clean-up
• The barge and other support vessels will be prevented from grounding on the foreshore, riverbed or otherwise disturbing the foreshore or riverbed
• All material intended for disposal at sea will be disposed of under a valid Disposal at Sea Permit pursuant to the provisions of Part 7, Division 3 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

ECCC is satisfied that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. Therefore, ECCC 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.
 
For questions regarding the proposed project, please contact the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's Project and Environmental Review team at PER@portvancouver.com.