Terms of reference for

environmental!

Six services of the Department of
the Environment are collaborating in
the environmental inipact study of the
proposed Vancouver airport expan-
sion.

The services study different but
inter-related aspects of the environ-
ment. A sicering committee meets
monthly at the D.O.E. Pacific Re-
gional Office in Vancouver to co-or-
dinate the study and assess its
progress.

While most of the investigations
pertain to the Fraser River Esiuary,
the complete terms of reference relate
to other areas that might be affected
by airport development.

LANDS DIRECTORATE

This service is examining land use at
alternate sites for expanded air service
in the Lower Mainland, including Sea
Island, Boundary Bay, Abdboitsford,
and others.

Investigations focus on the pliysical
characteristics and capabilities of land
and how it is currently beiny used.

They are also looking at ways land
could be used in the future — urban
and industrial development, recre-
ation, agriculture — and how airport
development would alter these uses.

FISHERIES SERVICE

This service is assessing the fisheries
resources of the Fraser River and the
role of the estuary, particularly Stur-
geon Tank, in the maintenance of

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They are studying patterns of fish
rearing and migration, and the signifi-
cance of estuarine food chains to the
fish that utilize Sturgeon Bank.

Also under study are the possible
effects to fisheries from waste disposal
and other changes in the physical
environment caused by airport de-
velopment.

CANADIAN WILDLIFE SERVICE

The responsibility of the Wildlife
Service is to study how wildlife, parti-
culary waterfowl, use the areas of Sea
Island, Lona Island, and Sturgeon Bank
that might be changed by airport
expansion.

They are conducting waterfowl
censuses and are investigating the rela-
tionship of specific marsh plants to the
food chains which attract birds and
other wildlife.

They are also assessing which areas
in the delta are the most important to
preserve for wildlife habitat.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Besides studying the effects of air-
port construction, Envirenmental Pro-
tection is investigating how increased
air traffic after construction would
generate additional air and water pol-
luticn, such as surface water rup-off of
airjlane wastes from tle new runway.

Another problem is the possible
effect airport expansion might have on
the sewage outfall channel at Iona

studies

Island, just north of the proposed
runway. Other developments now
under consideration for the island,
including a ferry terminal, make this a
particularly important issue.

The Environmental Protection Ser-
vice is also working with the Ministry
of Transport and the GVRD to evalu-
ate existing and potential aircraft noise
and its effects on people in various
parts of the Lower Mainland.

ATMOSPHERIC SERVICE

This service is providing meteoro-
logical information on the Lower
Fraser region to the other D.O.E.
services.

This information is required for
studies of, among other things, the
movement of air pollutants, surface
storm run-off from airstrips, and
meteorological effects on air traffic.

MARINE SCIENCES

It is essential to the Environmental
Protection and Fisheries studies of
potential water pollution to under-
stand how water circulation at Stur-
geon Bank influences the sewage out-
fail channel from Jona Island.

Marine Sciences is investigating this
question, as well as other water charac-
teristics which airport construction
anid operation might affect, such as
temperature and salinity.

They are also studying the water’s
capacity to absorb or disperse wastes.

 

FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF
THIS BULLETIN
PHONE INFORMATION,
FISHERIES SERVICE,
666-1384

 

 

THE HONOURABLE JACK DAVIS
MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT
EDITOR:

GARETH SIROTNIK
PACIFIC REGIONAL OFFICE
1090 WEST PENDER STREET.

VANCOUVER 1, B.C. —