Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination
Construction of a New Installation – Canadian Forces Base Bagotville

October 11, 2022 — The Department of National Defence must decide whether the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this decision, the Department of National Defence is inviting comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. All comments received will be considered public. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by October 11, 2022 to:
Michel Lajoie, Environment Officer
Mailing Address:  Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, PO Box 5000
Alouette, QC, Canada, G0V 1A0
E-mail:  michel.lajoie@forces.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Department of National Defence (DND) has proposed a project which involves the construction of a service building which will include six aircraft bays, offices, a kitchen, conference and relaxation rooms, dormitories, a gymnasium and washrooms.

The service building will cover an approximate 6000 square meter area and will be served by utility services (drinking water, electricity, telecommunications). New facilities will include several related infrastructures: a protective wall, an aircraft apron, a taxiway, a fence, a main gate (B613) and a bypass road.

However, given that the facilities location does not allow connection to the city sewer system, the wastewater will be routed to an independent septic system allowing the wastewater treatment by ground infiltration composed of septic tank with a leaching field.

In addition, the hangars industrial vocation requires that the water from floor washing is not brought into the wastewater treatment system, which is not adapted to the situation. Consequently, a watertight basin is therefore planned to directly collect this water which will have to be drained and managed according to the regulations. These same watertight tanks will also be used to recover foam and water from the building fire protection system. Actuator valves will divert these discharges to tanks instead of the septic tank.

Land adjacent to Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, located southeast of the new facilities could be acquired as part of the project (35 hectares approximate area).

Finally, deforestation, soil excavation including off-site disposal and backfill material import will be necessary for the building construction and the various related infrastructures attached to it.