Science Response 2016/045

Technical Review of Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Environmental Assessment: Section 9.5 – Coastal Geomorphology

Context

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, formerly Port Metro Vancouver (the Proponent), is proposing to construct and operate the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project (the Project), a new three-berth marine container terminal at Roberts Bank in Delta, British Columbia.

The Project is subject to an environmental assessment by a Review Panel pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. As a federal authority in the environmental assessment for the Project, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will be asked to provide information to the review panel and at public hearings in relation to its expertise on the effects of the Project on fish and fish habitat, including aquatic species at risk, and the adequacy of mitigation and offsetting measures and monitoring/ follow-up programs proposed by the Proponent.

In developing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the Proponent assessed future ecosystem productivity at Roberts Bank using the Ecopath with Ecosim and Ecospace (EwE) model (Port Metro Vancouver, 2015). These models are informed by a hydrodynamics and sediment transport model forecasting to 2050 the impacts of the placement of the terminal, expansion of the causeway, and the expansion of the tug basin on surrounding sediment due to changes in waves and ocean currents.  The outcomes of the EwE models are then incorporated into the analysis of the potential project-related effects on the ongoing productivity of commercial, recreational, and Aboriginal fisheries.

DFO’s Pacific Region Fisheries Protection Program (FPP) has requested that DFO Science Branch provide an evaluation of the Proponent’s characterization of project-related effects using the EwE ecosystem productivity model. To inform the review and evaluation of the Proponent’s use of EwE, an assessment of the hydrodynamics and coastal geomorphology modelling was required.  Because Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) possesses federal expertise in sediment transport and coastal geomorphology, this Science Response was conducted jointly with NRCan, who provided advice related to sediment transport and morphodynamic modelling. This Science Response provides advice regarding the adequacy and applicability of the hydrodynamics and coastal geomorphology assessment presented by the Proponent. The assessment and advice arising from this Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Science Response (SR) will be used to assist in the evaluation of the EwE model, and will contribute to the overall development of DFO’s submission to the Review Panel during their review of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project.

This Science Response will address the following objectives:

Review Section 9.5 of the EIS (Appendix 9.5-A and Appendix 9.5-B of the EIS), Coastal Geomorphology (Port Metro Vancouver, 2015) and:

1. Determine if the proposed models are appropriate for the purpose of projecting the impacts of the project development on currents, waves, and water quality in this environment, to inform the use of the Ecopath with Ecosim and Ecospace models.
2. Assess whether the parameters used by the hydrodynamics and geomorphology model are valid and defensible for this environment and this project.
3. Assess whether the limitations and uncertainties of the hydrodynamics and geomorphology models are identified and appropriately considered when determining the model’s representation of current and possible future conditions.
4. Provide advice regarding whether the model results related to the potential effects of the project on hydrodynamics and sediment are credible and defensible.

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of July 2016 on the Technical Review of Ecopath with Ecosim and Ecospace (EwE) Ecosystem Productivity Model application to the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Environmental Assessment. This is the first of two Science Responses developed to provide advice regarding the EwE model application.

Complete document (PDF, 181  KB)

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