Summary of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Modifications to the Petitcodiac River Causeway October 2005 Prepared by the New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government EIA Summary - Modifications to the Petitcodiac River Causeway October 2005 Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................1 2.0 BACKGROUND....................................................................................................................................................1 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT METHODS ............................................................................................2 4.0 PUBLIC, STAKEHOLDER, ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND REGULATORY CONSULTATION.......................................................................................................................................................2 5.0 DESCRIPTION OF PAST AND EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................3 5.1 CAUSEWAY AND CONTROL STRUCTURE ..............................................................................................................3 5.2 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PETITCODIAC RIVER ESTUARY..................................................................3 General .................................................................................................................................................................3 Tidal Bore .............................................................................................................................................................3 Sources and Fate of Sediment in the River ...........................................................................................................4 Seasonal Changes and Sediment Transport..........................................................................................................4 5.3 ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................................................5 5.4 FISH AND FISH HABITAT ......................................................................................................................................5 Water Quality........................................................................................................................................................5 Sediment Quality...................................................................................................................................................6 Commercial Fisheries...........................................................................................................................................6 5.5 TERRESTRIAL AND WETLAND ENVIRONMENTS....................................................................................................6 Wetlands ...............................................................................................................................................................6 Wildlife and Vegetation.........................................................................................................................................6 Migratory Birds ....................................................................................................................................................6 Mudflat Productivity .............................................................................................................................................7 5.6 MUNICIPAL SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE .....................................................................................................7 Dykes, Aboiteaux, and Wharves............................................................................................................................7 Other Infrastructure..............................................................................................................................................8 5.7 ROAD TRANSPORTATION NETWORK ....................................................................................................................8 5.8 VESSEL TRAFFIC AND NAVIGATION .....................................................................................................................9 5.9 LAND USE AND VALUE ........................................................................................................................................9 Land Use...............................................................................................................................................................9 Land Value..........................................................................................................................................................10 5.10 PAST AND PRESENT USE OF LAND AND RESOURCES FOR TRADITIONAL PURPOSES BY ABORIGINAL PERSONS 10 5.11 TOURISM..........................................................................................................................................................10 5.12 RECREATION ....................................................................................................................................................11 5.13 LABOUR AND ECONOMY ..................................................................................................................................11 5.14 HERITAGE AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES ..............................................................................................11 5.15 PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ..........................................................................................................................12 Vehicular Accidents ............................................................................................................................................12 Non-vehicular Accidents.....................................................................................................................................12 Groundwater.......................................................................................................................................................12 Surface Water Resources ....................................................................................................................................12 Human Disease Vectors......................................................................................................................................12 Flooding and Flood Risk ....................................................................................................................................13 Human Food Resources......................................................................................................................................13 6.0 EVALUATION OF THE STATUS QUO AND PROJECT OPTIONS IN ACHIEVING THE FISH PASSAGE PROJECT OBJECTIVE .......................................................................................................................13 EIA Summary - Modifications to the Petitcodiac River Causeway October 2005 7.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION ...............................................................................14 7.1 PROJECT OPTION 3.............................................................................................................................................15 7.2 PROJECT OPTIONS 4 ...........................................................................................................................................16 Project Option 4A ...............................................................................................................................................16 Project Option 4B ...............................................................................................................................................16 Project Option 4C...............................................................................................................................................16 7.3 STATUS QUO ......................................................................................................................................................16 7.4 ACCIDENTS AND MALFUNCTIONS ......................................................................................................................17 7.5 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ......................................................................................................................17 8.0 FUTURE ANTICIPATED CHANGES TO THE RIVER ...............................................................................17 9.0 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ANALYSIS...................................................................................................18 9.1 ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT ...........................................................................................................................18 Evaluation of Potential Environmental Effects...................................................................................................19 Climate............................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Air Quality ....................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Odour ..............................................................................................................................................................................