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High Frequency Surface Wave Radar (HFSWR)
Estevan Point; Topknot Point (BC)
February 20, 2004 --
National Defence will conduct a screening commencing on February 9, 2004 of the project:
High Frequency Surface Wave Radar (HFSWR).
The Department of National Defence proposes to construct six High Frequency Surface Wave Radar (HFSWR) installations to provide surveillance of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The proposed project will assist in meeting the Government's mandates in the areas of sovereignty, resource management, revenue and taxation, immigration control, marine safety, search and rescue, territorial defence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement. The installations will augment the existing surveillance systems (fixed sensors, marine vessels, and aircraft patrols) that do not fully achieve the Government's mandate. When installed, the systems will provide medium to long-range surveillance coverage for coastal approaches at both locations.
The basic theory of an HFSWR system is that pulses of HF energy can propagate along the surface of the ocean due to their long wavelengths and the properties of seawater. The operation more closely resembles a communications facility. Compared to a radio station, the HF energy this system generates is not large and the non-ionizing radiation hazard is negligible except when personnel are in very close proximity to the transmit antennas. The transmit array, therefore, will be fully enclosed with fencing.
For the Strait of Juan de Fuca, to achieve surveillance coverage and performance requirements, two preferred locations on which to construct the HFSWR have been identified. Those sites, located on Vancouver Island include:
1. Estevan Point, within Hesquiat Peninsula Park, west coast, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
2. Topknot Point, provincial crown land under logging licence on the northwest coast, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Each site will occupy a 40-hectare (100-acre) parcel of land, and require two separate arrays: 32 receive arrays (RX) and 7 transmission arrays (TX). The RX array, composed of 10m high antennas, occupies the majority of the site due to the large numbers of antennas and the distance between them. The TX antennas range in height with the tallest being just over 30 metres. Both antenna arrays are mounted on concrete pedestals with guy wires for vertical support.
In addition, there will be a small building to house the transmitter and processing equipment and, possibly, one building for temporary accommodation and workspace. The site will not be manned when in operation therefore no fresh water or sewage facilities are required. Crews will import all supplies required for the duration of their maintenance visits. The transmission array will be fenced and the entire site will have an appropriate security barrier.
A typical facilities layout is presented at the end of the description.
Site locations for optimum performance were determined based achieving the following criteria.
· Elevation - not less than 20 metres above sea level
· Proximity to shoreline - within 400 metres of the high water mark
· Terrain - reasonably level over the 40-hectare parcel with a firm soil/sub-soil composition avoiding forest and wetland conditions if possible.
· Access/Utilities - located within 500 metres of road, power and telephone.
Components associated with the installation of the HFSWR installations include the following:
Access: Site location dictates access requirements. Topnot Point will require an access an 800m access to connect to an active logging road of Western Forestry Limited. Estevan Point has no road service, and access to the site will be by helicopter. All construction equipment and materials will be air lifted to the site.
Clearing, grubbing and grading: Both locations are covered fully with old growth conifers and thick shrub/under brush. Tree and vegetation clearing will be required for a large portion of the 40-hectare site. Grubbing and subsequent grading may be necessary to achieve a reasonable level site.
Construction: Construction at each location will be similar. Concrete footings to below frost line will be installed for each tower, and for the TX antenna guy wires, and for fencing around the TX site. RX antenna require only ground buried anchors. Foundations will be provided for the equipment building and the temporary accommodation/workspace building and the towers, buildings and fencing installed. A turn-around lane and a small parking area will be constructed near the equipment building. Cabling and wire installations will be surface laid to the extent practical and buried or placed in conduit in high traffic areas and proximate to the equipment building. No water or sewage systems are required. Generators and fuel tankage may be installed for emergency power or where electrical access is not immediately available.
Operation: The two sites are designed for remote operation and will be unmanned except for technical, maintenance and repair work. Vegetation management will be ongoing, as a minimum vegetation height cannot exceed 50 centimetres for optimum antenna operation.
Modifications: No changes are anticipated with respect to the technology being used or the antenna arrangement at this time. Should modifications be required in the future, further assessment will be conducted in accordance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and/or regulatory requirements in effect at that time.
Decommissioning: It is anticipated that the proposed facilities will be in service for an extended period of time. However, when decommissioning is required, the Department's decommissioning policies will be followed. Footings will be removed to at least one metre below ground level. Towers and appurtenances, wiring, fencing, and buildings will be removed. It is expected that the property would revert to the province under terms and conditions negotiated at the time of purchase and/or subject to Treasury Board policy for the dispositions of lands in effect at the time of disposition.
Under section 5 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, an EA is required for this project because National Defence is the proponent for the project.
For further information on this environmental assessment, please contact:
Graham Smith
Environment Officer
CFB Esquimalt
P.O. Box 17000 Station Forces
Building 199
CFB Esquimalt
Victoria BC V9A 7N2
Telephone: (250) 363-5063
Fax: (250) 363-2567
Email: smith.gb@forces.gc.ca
and refer to CEAR reference number 04-01-1284
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