Attachment 4: Environmental Impact Assessment - Cascadia Biological Services

Environmental Impact Assessment BC0553 – Munns Road Town of View Royal

Purpose

At the request of the Town of View Royal, a site visit was completed on November 30th 2011 by Cascadia Biological Services to identify potential riparian/wildlife setbacks for a proposed telecommunication tower located in the Town of View Royal. The Environmental Assessment is required as telecommunication towers and the associated infrastructure require setbacks from waterbodies and/or rare elements (if located). The setbacks are variable depending on the waterbody/attribute in question whether it is a ditch, a seasonal creek, wetland, lake, wildlife tree, rare species of plant/wildlife etc. Please refer to Attachment I identifying the proposed tower location along Highlands Road as well as Attachment II – IV showing the site location with different perspectives. Typical photographs of the lot and biophysical conditions present at time of survey are presented in Attachment V.

Background

Telus Inc. (BC) retained Cascadia Biological Services to determine what watercourses and/or environmentally significant features were present on-site as well as to prescribe what setbacks (if any) that the proposed telecommunication tower installation should adhere to. Standard Land Company (Chad Marlatt) on behalf of Telus is coordinating the assigned task with Cascadia Biological Services. Mr. Roy was then to provide Telus Inc. with an overview environmental report of the proposed disturbed areas. The site was visited on November 30th 2011.

The telecommunication industry assumes a 30m riparian buffer is required from all towers and associated structures from a waterbody unless a RAR report is submitted to the province outlining specific Streamside Protection an Enhancement Area (SPEA) setbacks as per the Riparian Areas Regulations (RAR). The Town of View Royal has adopted the RAR legislation. The RAR establishes standard 30m setbacks (maybe greater if in a ravine) from waterbodies.

Environmental Assessment Findings

1. Subject Property – The property has no waterbodies meeting the definition of a stream/lake/wetland under the Riparian Areas Regulations (RAR) legislation within 50m of the proposed access road and compound footprint. A RAR report is therefore not required for the project and associated tower installation;
2. Vascular plants and rare ecosystems were assessed for provincial listed status with the British Columbia Conservation Data Centre (Conservation Data Centre: Rare Vascular Plant/Vegetative Communities Tracking List – South Island Forest District - 2011). The vegetation assessment of the property resulted in no red/blue listed species within the boundaries of the study area except for the odd and isolated (<6 specimens) Garry oaks. That being said, the area outside of the required footprint as shown in Attachment IV is still considered ecologically significant as it retains some functional attributes of a Garry Oak ecosystem albeit limited. The subject property therefore is conducive to the tower as long as rare elements are protected on-site during the construction period and/or mitigation measures are adhered to as detailed in the recommendations below;
3. Cascadia Biological Services also completed an overview wildlife assessment of the area proposed for both the access road and compound footprint. From our assessment, no stick nests and/or other environmentally significant attributes as determined by the BC Conservation Data Centre (BC CDC) were noted on or with 50m of the proposed tower. Trees maybe removed for the tower placement as well as driveway access depending on the final construction layout. Cascadia Biological recommends that a designated QEP be on-site during site disturbances to help ensure impacts to the environment are minimized.

Recommendations

1. QEP to be on-site during disturbances associated with the tower construction and site laydown;
2. Garry oak trees removal is to be limited to no more than 6 trees. If removal of these trees are required, then revegetation within 100m of the site is required at a ratio of no less than 3:1;
3. Three nesting boxes are required as compensation to mitigate the loss of trees in the area required for the tower and site laydown area. QEP to determine size and location;
4. All disturbed areas (post construction) are to be replanted with native plants under the supervision of the QEP.

If you have any questions regarding this assessment, please do not hesitate to contact me by means below.

Regards,

Thomas Roy, R.P. Bio., Cascadia Biological Services www.cascadiabiological.com

Attachment I – Overview of property

Attachment II – Site Location

Attachment III – Site location with elevation data