Minister's response to notice of objection: Save Halkett Bay Marine Park Society

Mr. Martin Peters
Barrister
602 Hastings Street West Suite 502
Vancouver BC  V6B 1P2


Dear Mr. Peters:

I am responding to the notice of objection and request that I establish a board of review as set out in your letters of October 9 and December 9, 2014, written on behalf of your client, the Save Halkett Bay Marine Park Society. I regret the delay in responding.

The letters object to the issuance of the Disposal at Sea Permit No. 4543-2-03607, published on the CEPA Environmental Registry on October 7, 2014. This permit authorizes and sets conditions under which the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia may dispose of the former HMCS Annapolis.

Your correspondence expresses concerns about the sufficiency of sampling and clean-up, transparency, contaminants, and the meeting of legal requirements. In addition, I note, in the October 9, 2014 letter, your offer to have hazardous materials experts undertake another inspection of the vessel.

Please be assured that the interventions of the Save Halkett Bay Marine Park Society, prior to and during the permit assessment review, have been taken seriously by Environment Canada and informed the scope of the assessment that was carried out. The department has also reviewed and carefully considered the issues raised in your correspondence, including the laboratory test results enclosed with the December 9, 2014 letter.

I am satisfied with the extent to which Environment Canada has engaged your client, and that the concerns you raised have been taken into account. I believe that the former HMCS Annapolis can be disposed in a manner that does not pose a significant risk to the marine environment or human health.

Given the above, I decline the Save Halkett Bay Marine Park Society’s request that I establish a board of review under subsection 333(5) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

Please accept my best wishes.

Sincerely,

 

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, P.C., M.P.
Minister of the Environment

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