Appendix J Agency Comments
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Appendix J Agency Comments Summary of Agency Comments Stakeholder List Transmittals to Stakeholders Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Attorney General Conservation Halton (CH) Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Halton Region Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Transport Canada Table 1 Summary of Agency Comments Summary of Comments Response EA Report Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada E-mail A. Berman dated July 24, 2013 I have received your request for Aboriginal consultation information from Aboriginal Affairs and Noted. Northern Development Canada. In the past, the Consultation Information Service (CIS) has provided responses with a 100 km buffer around the specific site of activity. Our updated Aboriginal and Treaty Rights Information System (ATRIS) now triggers a wider range of First Nation communities via self-government agreements and treaty affiliation. Therefore, a 100 km buffer may provide you with a great deal more information that you would normally require. As you are best placed to determine what the overall "footprint" of the project is, and how that should be represented geographically, I request that you send me the size of buffer you would like around the site of activity. Once I have this information from you, I can begin a consultation information response. Letter A. Berman dated August 1, 2013 Information for the following First Nations is provided in alphabetical order: Mississaugas of the Noted. Credit, Six Nations of the Grand River. Other Considerations – Aboriginal Rights Assertions: the Métis (AANDC provided information regarding key features of the project area, aboriginal community information, treaties, claims, legal proceedings, self-government agreements and other considerations. Please see letter for details.) Ministry of the Attorney General Letter C. Chan dated September 18, 2014 Inquiries and communications such as yours are handled by Aboriginal and Ministry Relationships Noted. Branch of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. Your letter has been forwarded to that Branch…direct further questions to that office. Summary of Comments Response EA Report Conservation Halton Letter September 9, 2014 1. Natural Environment Assessment See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Items While staff appreciate that the study area has been historically culturally impacted, staff expected 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 that the terrestrial habitat assessment would have included a discussion of the role that the vegetation here play for the bird species. This location has been identified as an important Bird Area Section 3.5 Terrestrial Habitat and Section (IBA) by BirdLife International, which is supported by Bird Studies Canada and Nature Canada. This 3.6 Aquatic Habitat have been revised specific location contains the “West End of Lake Ontario ON022”, which is defined by the annual congregation of waterfowl, primarily in late winter and early spring. Given the known importance of Lake Ontario shoreline for waterfowl and migratory birds and butterflies, it is concerning that no discussion regarding on this aspect is included in the report, rather Section 3.5 provides a discussion regarding the fish habitat present. Please revise this section to reflect the significance the current habitat plays for the wildlife in the area both during migration and for breeding. Further, based on the discussion during the April 24, 2014 meeting with the town, their Consultants and Conservation Halton, it appears that the majority of the vegetation located along the shoreline will be removed. A tree inventory of the larger trees in this area has been completed, however a vegetation inventory of all levels of species is warranted to ensure that no rare species are present and so that a comprehensive understanding of the existing species. As per the discussions with the Towns Consultant at the April 24th meeting, the study should include a discussion of the vegetation communities present as per the Ecological Impact Study Guidelines, pleas provide all field data Sheets for the project. 2. Section 5: Summary of Alternative Design Options See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Item 3.4 Staff do not agree that removing 2-4 m of vegetation along the shoreline should be considered a small impact, given the limited amount of vegetation present currently and as a thorough assessment Section 3.5 Terrestrial Habitat was revised. of these species present has not occurred to date. We recommend that this impact be looked at in terms of the overall vegetation in the study area, any rare species present and the habitat that it provides. Please revise. 3. Draft ESR See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Item 3.5 Table 6.1 Alternatives for Reaches 1 and 2 Staff do not agree that creating additional manicured green space, i.e., grass should be considered a benefit to the terrestrial habitat as specified in the Table 6.1 includes both naturally vegetated proposed alternatives. Rather we would counter that creating habitat for Canada geese, which would and passive green space. Section 6.1.7 not be a benefit to the area. We recommend that consideration be given to creating less grassed and includes a mitigation measures under manicured areas, and that more naturalized areas be made. potential impacts to water quality to reduce lawn area to be less attractive to Canada geese. 4. Meeting Minutes See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Item 3.6 Item 3.2 indicates that Lesley Matich report that she recently saw a turtle swimming in 16 Mile Creek…” This should be revised to state a “northern map turtle, which is a Species at Special Section 3.7 Species At Risk notes the Concern in Ontario, swimming in 16 Mile Creek. observed northern map turtle. Summary of Comments Response EA Report 5. Summary See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Item 3.7 As staff do not have complete background data with respect to the natural environment on the site, we are unable to provide full comments on the alternatives presented. Once this information is Staff is provided a final draft of the ESR provided , staff will be in a much better position to assess the proposed alternatives report for review. 6. Section 1.0 Introduction See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Item 3.8 At our last meeting in April 2014, staff raised a concern regarding the status of the Master Plan. Staff was not involved in the review of the master plan. Teresa Labuda (CH staff) attend a site meeting Noted. once and was informed of the Master Plane was completed earlier inn 2008, and at that time Teresa advised that the town of Oakville submit the Master Plan to the Conservation Halton and DFO for review, however the document was never submitted. 7. Section 1.3 Class Environmental Assessment See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Item 3.9 It would be helpful reference for the reviewers to have Class EA Schedule “C” (MEA, 2011. Appendix I page 1-19) attached to this Environmental Study Report Appendix B includes Schedule “C” 8. Figure 1.2 See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Item 3.10 Site Plan is referred to as well as a bathymetry map. Conservation Halton requests digital copy of bathymetry survey Town will provide CH with digital bathymetry when the project is completed. 9. 2. Problem Statement See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Item 3.11 Staff feel that this is a very general statement lacking specifics e.g. what exactly is meant by “an overall enhancement of the environmental condition”. Is this listed in any specific order, for example of importance? 10. Section 3.4.4 Recession Rates See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Item 3.12 Referred to CSC 2002 is not accurate as that study area was very general and designed for a different purpose other than to establish the erosion rates. Furthermore, the Purpose of the Section 3.4.4 has been revised. Undertaking as indicated on Page 9 is to “stabilize and rehabilitate Tannery and Waterworks Parks shorelines to mitigate flooding during storm events at high lake levels and erosion of the land adjacent to Lake Ontario.” The statements shoe lake of consistency. Please clarify. 11. Section 4.0 Evaluation Criteria See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Item 3.13 The evaluation criteria are general and do not have a weighting or scoring system. The evaluation process is not well defined; Some impacts of the proposed alternatives are missing e.g. impact of See section 3.4.3. and Section 6.1.7. During wave refraction/diffraction and reflection on entrance to the harbour and within the harbour. The design, wave reflection will be considered. rationale relating to a preference appears to be subjective and does not justify how the preferred alternatives were chosen. CH staff would be available to discuss further the evaluation criteria. CH evaluated the alternatives and provided a follow-up letter on November 21, 2014. Summary of Comments Response EA Report Letter dated October 17, 2014. 1. Terrestrial and Aquatic Habitat See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Item 2.1 Contrary to Section 3.5 (Terrestrial and Aquatic Habitat) pg.42, river mouth habitats are not generally well-understood and little research to date has specifically focused on Great Lakes river mouth ecosystems (Larson et al, 2013). Tarandus and Associates are correct in their estimation that data for this specific location do not exist, however data within Sixteen Mile Creek and for sites adjacent to this location are abundant. In addition, lack of fauna should not be inferred from lack of data. While staff can only speak for the sampling (or lack of) completed by our staff, it is the opinion of staff that this location has not been adequately sampled to accurately summarize that "no spawning habitat or other significant habitat for such fish exists at this location". 2. CH Staff are in favour of the goal of the Master Plan to provide a naturalized shoreline and agree See meeting minutes (Appendix J) Item 2.2 that the options of concrete walls and steel sheet pile walls will not help achieve this goal.