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Port of Algoma Redevelopment Planning Study
Project Overview for First Nations
February 2016
Port of Algoma Aboriginal Community Engagement
• The Port of Algoma understands the importance of the duty to consult and seeks to
engage with the North-Shore indigenous communities regarding information sharing and
consent relative to the Port Re-Development Study
• The duty to consult stems from the long standing relationships between Indigenous
communities and the crown including Aboriginal and Treaty rights
• As part of the engagement process we are also seeking input regarding:
o Potential benefits of the port re-development for Indigenous communities
o Potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures
• We recognize that the St. Mary’s River and fishery is a shared and highly valued
resource for Indigenous communities and that this has been true for millennia
• Respect for the environment and for Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, and the exchange of
information with local First Nations and Metis communities are key elements of this
redevelopment project
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Port of Algoma Redevelopment - Overview
• Modernization and redevelopment of the Port of Algoma into a nationally significant,
commercial common user port to support regional demand has been a long-standing
economic development priority for the City of Sault Ste. Marie
• The existing Port lands have ample space to expand and promote new industries to use
the Port facilities, as well a maximize the operational efficiency for the current main
tenant, Essar Steel Algoma Inc. (ESAI)
• Proposed Port redevelopment includes:
o Brownfield redevelopment in 4 key areas of existing port lands; not a new port
development
o Repair or replacement of existing docks which are comprised of 12 berths/slips; no
construction of docks at new locations
o Improvement to the internal road and rail infrastructure
o Dredging to provide the same navigation depth as what the Sault locks currently
provide for Great Lakes carriers; not a deep water port
• Conceptual layouts have been developed for each key area
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Environmental Technical Reports and Investigations
• Stage 1 Archaeology Reports:
o Terrestrial archaeology assessment of port lands
o Marine archaeology assessment of St. Mary’s River adjacent to port lands
• Fisheries Effects Determination Report:
o Spring fisheries assessment
o Fall fisheries assessment (including diving at dock faces and in areas of proposed dredging)
• Terrestrial Effects Determination Report:
o Spring and summer breeding bird survey
o Spring wildlife observations
o Spring and summer wetland observations
o Summer vegetation observations
• Each of these reports includes secondary source information, identifies potential impacts
as a result of Port redevelopment and, where appropriate, identifies conceptual mitigation
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Stage 1 Archaeology Assessments
• Stage 1 terrestrial and marine archaeological assessments were conducted to meet the
requirements of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport’s (MTCS’s) Standards
and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists (Ontario Government 2011)
• The Stage 1 terrestrial archaeological assessment found that the port lands no longer
retain the potential for the recovery of archaeological resources as a result of extensive
land alteration, artificial lake-fill operations, and man-made creek channels and banks
• The Stage 1 marine archaeological assessments found that the portion of the St. Mary’s
River extending form the Export Dock easterly has low potential for the recovery of
underwater archaeological resources due to extensive perturbation of the river bottom as
a result of dredging over the years
• Based on these findings, no further archaeological assessment is recommended
• The reports have been submitted to MTCS
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Fisheries Assessment – Diving Locations
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Fisheries Assessment - Areas of Significant Fish Habitat
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None of the areas of significant fish habitat shown in photos on the following slides
are located within areas of proposed dredging or at dock faces
Fisheries Assessment - Areas of Significant Fish Habitat
Salmonid Migration Route at Bennett – West
Davignon Diversion Channel
Suitable Smallmouth Bass spawning habitat in
Leigh’s Bay at Mouth of Bennett-West
Davignon Channel
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These areas are not impacted by proposed Port redevelopment
Fisheries Assessment Areas of Significant Fish Habitat
Significant Bed of Vegetation – near shoreline
between Export and Sawmill Bay Docks
Significant shoal that is suitable spawning
habitat for multiple species near shoreline
between Export and Sawmill Bay Docks
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These areas are not impacted by proposed Port redevelopment
Fisheries Assessment Areas of Significant Fish Habitat
Suitable Lake Trout spawning habitat along
east shoreline of Leigh’s Bay
Suitable nursery habitat for Lamprey Eel near
shoreline between Export and Sawmill Bay
Docks
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These areas are not impacted by proposed Port redevelopment
Terrestrial Assessment - Bank Swallows
• The only significant terrestrial resource
found on Port property is a large colony
of Bank Swallows in the westerly bank
face of the slag pile located on A.B.
McLean Road near the mouth of the
Bennett-West Davignon Diversion
Channel at Leigh’s Bay
• Bank Swallows are protected provincially
under the Endangered Species Act
• At this time, no construction is proposed
in or adjacent to the Bank Swallow colony
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Overview of Proposed Dredging
• Capital dredging (to improve navigation) to 8.5m/28ft is proposed at the following
locations:
• Westerly approach to Export Dock
• In the Secondary Navigation Channel at three locations:
o Southeast of the Export Dock;
o Along the channel southwest of the Sawmill Bay Dock (Vidal Shoals); and potentially
o At the shoal near the U.S border south of Sawmill Bay Dock
• Westerly approach to Sawmill Bay Dock and in front of the dock
• At the southwest point of the ore slip
• Maintenance dredging (to restore water depth) is proposed at the following locations:
• Within the Ore Slip
• At the southeast corner of the Ore Slip
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Areas of Proposed Dredging
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None of the areas of significant fish habitat are located within areas of
proposed dredging or at dock faces
Environmental Protection During Dredging
• There are several methodologies available and which ever is selected will utilize best
practices to ensure sediment control and minimize impact on marine life
• Dredging will be scheduled for a period that does not coincide with April 15 through
June 15 fish spawning and migration periods
• A floating silt / turbidity curtain will be utilized around all areas where dredging occurs
to contain suspended sediment until it settles to the riverbed
Page 14
Port of Algoma Redevelopment – Environmental Benefits
• Water quality and aquatic habitat in the St. Mary’s River will be improved by:
o Reducing sediment release associated with shoreline stabilization, structure upgrades and
stormwater management facilities
o Removing potentially contaminated sediment from the riverbed associated with dredging
• Air quality and climate change will benefit by:
o Reducing off-site particulate release associated with the opportunity for better on-site management
of bulk commodities
o Potential for reducing diesel fuel consumption and associated exhaust emissions that contribute to
climate change associated with diversion of cargo shipments from highways and rail ships
• River navigation and safety will be improved by:
o Dredging at port docks and the secondary navigation channel
o The potential for the port to become a centre for spill preparedness and boom deployment to
ensure quick and adequate response to spills caused by ships in the western Great Lakes
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Thank you!
The information in this slide deck reflects the Port redevelopment plan and study findings
as of December 2015
If you have questions, please contact Charlton Carscallen at AECOM:
Telephone: 905-780-5964 x222
Email: [email protected]
See our web site at http://www.algomaport.com/
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