Environmental Assessment (EA): Prince Edward Island Convention Centre/Queens Wharf Development, Charlottetown, Queens County, PEI Prepared for: Charlottetown Area Development Corporation 4 Pownal Street, PO Box 786 Charlottetown PE C1A 7L9 Prepared by: Stantec Consulting Ltd. 165 Maple Hills Road Charlottetown, PE C1C 1N9 Stantec Project No. 121810269 – File No. 91819 March 2, 2011 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA): Prince Edward Island Convention Centre/Queens Wharf Development, Charlottetown, Queens County, PEI Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Title, Project Proponent, and Author of the EA .......................................................... 1 1.2 Project Overview .................................................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Project Summary ........................................................................................................ 2 1.2.2 Project Location ......................................................................................................... 2 1.2.3 Project Purpose .......................................................................................................... 2 1.2.4 Project Schedule ........................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Regulatory Context ................................................................................................................ 3 1.3.1 Federal Environmental Assessment .......................................................................... 3 1.3.2 Provincial Environmental Assessment ....................................................................... 4 1.4 Terms of Reference ............................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Organization of this EA .......................................................................................................... 5 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Overview of Project ............................................................................................................. 6 2.2 Description of Project Components ................................................................................... 6 2.2.1 Marine Infilling ............................................................................................................ 6 2.2.3 Convention Centre ..................................................................................................... 6 2.2.4 Additional Parking Area .............................................................................................. 7 2.3 Construction Phases .............................................................................................................. 7 2.3.1 Site Preparation ......................................................................................................... 7 2.3.2 Seawall Extension ...................................................................................................... 8 2.3.3 Marine Infilling ............................................................................................................ 9 2.3.4 Pile Driving ................................................................................................................. 9 2.3.5 Additional Parking Area Construction ........................................................................ 9 2.3.6 Construction of Convention Centre .......................................................................... 10 2.3.7 Renovations to the Existing Convention Space in the Delta Prince Edward ............ 10 2.3.8 Boardwalk Construction ........................................................................................... 11 2.3.9 Landscaping ............................................................................................................. 11 2.3.10 Emissions and Wastes ............................................................................................. 11 2.4 Operation ............................................................................................................................. 12 2.4.1 Use of Facility ........................................................................................................... 12 2.4.2 Emissions and Wastes ............................................................................................. 12 2.5 Decommissioning and Abandonment .................................................................................. 13 3 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT METHODS, SCOPE OF ASSESSMENT, AND CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT ............................................................................. 14 3.1 Environmental Assessment Methods ................................................................................... 14 3.1.1 Overview of Approach .............................................................................................. 14 3.2 Scope of Assessment ........................................................................................................ 17 3.3 Consultation and Engagement ............................................................................................. 19 3.3.1 Regulatory Consultation ........................................................................................... 19 3.3.2 Public and Stakeholder Engagement ....................................................................... 19 3.3.3 First Nations Consultation ........................................................................................ 20 3.3.4 Other Project or Activities That Have Been or Will Be Carried Out .......................... 21 March 2, 2011 i ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA): Prince Edward Island Convention Centre/Queens Wharf Development, Charlottetown, Queens County, PEI 4 SUMMARY OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ............................................................... 23 4.1 Physical Environment .......................................................................................................... 23 4.1.1 Groundwater Resources .......................................................................................... 23 4.1.2 Hydrogeological Setting ........................................................................................... 24 4.1.3 Geological Conditions .............................................................................................. 25 4.1.4 Soil Conditions ......................................................................................................... 26 4.1.5 Atmospheric Environment ........................................................................................ 26 4.1.6 Contaminated Sites .................................................................................................. 32 4.2 Biological Environment ........................................................................................................ 32 4.2.1 Birds ......................................................................................................................... 32 4.2.2 Wildlife (excluding birds) .......................................................................................... 35 4.2.3 Vegetation ................................................................................................................ 35 4.2.4 Aquatic Environment ................................................................................................ 37 4.3 Human Environment ............................................................................................................ 42 4.3.1 Population ................................................................................................................ 42 4.3.2 Land Use .................................................................................................................. 42 4.3.3 Archaeological, Heritage, or Cultural Resources ..................................................... 43 4.3.4 Transportation .......................................................................................................... 43 5 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ASSESSMENT .................................................................. 45 5.1 Project Interactions with the Environment ............................................................................ 45 5.1.1 Project-Environment Interaction Matrix .................................................................... 45 5.1.2 VECs with No Interaction, or No Significant Interaction, with the Project ................ 46 5.1.3 VECs Which May Result in an Interaction with the Project that Requires Further Evaluation (Ranking of 2) ......................................................................................... 51 5.2 Atmospheric Environment .................................................................................................... 52 5.2.1 Scope of Assessment .............................................................................................. 52 5.2.2 Existing Conditions ................................................................................................... 61 5.2.3 Potential Project-VEC Interactions ........................................................................... 61 5.2.4 Assessment of Project-Related Environmental Effects ...........................................