CANADIAN TRANSIT COMPANY Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project

276 Pages·2013·7.84 MB·English

by  Meadows, Marybeth

CANADIAN TRANSIT COMPANY
Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

AMBASSADOR BRIDGE ENHANCEMENT PROJECT
Replacement Span and Plaza Expansion

Submitted by:
Avalon Consulting Professionals of Ontario, LLC
35 Jarvis Street, Suite 202
Fort Erie, Ontario
L2A 2S3

Submitted to:
TRANSPORT CANADA
Place de Ville, Tower C
330 Sparks
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N5

Submitted in December 2007, updated on April 11, 2011, and revised in May 2012
CANADIAN TRANSIT COMPANY
Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project

Table of Contents
1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................. 1
1.1 Project Description ................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Project Justification-Need / Alternatives to the Project ............................................ 3
1.2.1 Project Justification ...................................................................................... 3
1.2.2 Alternatives to the Project ............................................................................ 6
1.2.3 Alternative Means of Carrying out the Project .............................................. 8
2.0 CEAA TRIGGER ........................................................................................................... 12
3.0 SCOPE OF PROJECT AND SCOPE OF ASSESSMENT.............................................. 13
3.1 Scope of Project ................................................................................................... 13
3.2 Scope of Assessment ........................................................................................... 13
3.3 Construction ......................................................................................................... 17
3.3.1 Cable-Stayed Bridge Construction ............................................................. 17
3.3.2 Stages of Construction ............................................................................... 18
3.4 Operations ........................................................................................................... 24
3.5 Traffic ................................................................................................................... 27
3.6 Environmental Management ................................................................................. 30
3.7 Canada Border Services Agency.......................................................................... 31
4.0 DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................... 35
4.1 Air Quality and Climate ......................................................................................... 37
4.2 Surface Water ...................................................................................................... 40
4.3 Groundwater ........................................................................................................ 41
4.4 Surface and Subsurface Geology and Soils ......................................................... 41
4.5 Vegetation and Vegetation Communities .............................................................. 42
4.6 Fish and Fish Habitat ........................................................................................... 42
4.7 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat .................................................................................. 43
May 2012
CANADIAN TRANSIT COMPANY
Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project

4.8 Species at Risk .................................................................................................... 44
4.9 Noise and Vibration .............................................................................................. 44
4.10 Socioeconomic ..................................................................................................... 52
4.11 Structures and Sites of Significance ..................................................................... 53
4.12 Human Health ...................................................................................................... 54
4.13 Contaminated Sites and Waste Management....................................................... 54
4.14 Navigation ............................................................................................................ 54
4.15 Current Use Of Lands And Resources For Traditional Purposes By Aboriginal
Peoples ................................................................................................................ 54
5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS AND MITIGATION......................................................... 55
5.1 Air Quality and Climate ......................................................................................... 56
5.1.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 56
5.1.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 59
5.2 Surface Water ...................................................................................................... 60
5.2.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 60
5.2.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 61
5.3 Groundwater ........................................................................................................ 61
5.3.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 61
5.3.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 62
5.4 Surface and Subsurface Geology and Soils ......................................................... 63
5.4.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 63
5.4.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 63
5.5 Vegetation and Vegetation Communities .............................................................. 64
5.5.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 64
5.5.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 65
5.6 Fish and Fish Habitat ........................................................................................... 65
May 2012
CANADIAN TRANSIT COMPANY
Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project

5.6.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 65
5.6.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 65
5.7 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat .................................................................................. 66
5.7.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 66
5.7.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 67
5.8 Species at Risk .................................................................................................... 67
5.8.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 67
5.8.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 68
5.9 Noise and Vibration .............................................................................................. 69
5.9.1 Noise ......................................................................................................... 69
5.9.1.1 Construction ............................................................................... 69
5.9.1.2 Operation .................................................................................... 70
5.9.2 Vibration .................................................................................................... 74
5.9.2.1 Construction ............................................................................... 74
5.9.2.2 Operation .................................................................................... 75
5.10 Socioeconomic ..................................................................................................... 75
5.10.1 Land Use ................................................................................................... 75
5.10.1.1 Construction ............................................................................... 75
5.10.1.2 Operation .................................................................................... 77
5.10.2 Social and Economic ................................................................................. 78
5.10.2.1 Construction ............................................................................... 78
5.10.2.2 Operation .................................................................................... 78
5.10.3 Aesthetics .................................................................................................. 79
5.10.3.1 Construction ............................................................................... 79
5.10.3.2 Operation .................................................................................... 79
5.11 Structures and Sites of Significance ..................................................................... 80
May 2012
CANADIAN TRANSIT COMPANY
Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project

5.11.1 Heritage Sites ............................................................................................ 80
5.11.1.1 Construction ............................................................................... 80
5.11.1.2 Operation .................................................................................... 81
5.12 Archaeology ......................................................................................................... 81
5.12.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 81
5.12.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 82
5.13 Human Health ...................................................................................................... 82
5.13.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 82
5.13.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 82
5.14 Contaminated Sites and Waste Management....................................................... 83
5.14.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 83
5.14.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 83
5.15 Navigation ............................................................................................................ 84
5.15.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 84
5.15.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 84
5.16 Current Use of Lands and Resources for Traditional Purposes by Aboriginal
Peoples ................................................................................................................ 84
5.16.1 Construction .............................................................................................. 84
5.16.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 85
5.17 Transboundary Impacts ........................................................................................ 86
5.17.1 Air Quality .................................................................................................. 86
5.17.2 Noise ......................................................................................................... 88
5.18 Summary of Residual Effects ............................................................................... 89
5.19 Summary of Mitigation and Commitments ............................................................ 95
6.0 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ............................................................................................ 104
6.1 Cumulative Effects – Foreseeable Future Projects ............................................. 104
May 2012
CANADIAN TRANSIT COMPANY
Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project

6.2 Cumulative Effects – Past and Current Projects ................................................. 105
6.2.1 Natural Environment ................................................................................ 106
6.2.2 Physical Environment .............................................................................. 107
6.2.3 Cultural Environment ............................................................................... 108
6.2.4 Land Use ................................................................................................. 108
6.3 Cumulative Effects - Scenarios .......................................................................... 110
6.3.1 Air Quality Cumulative Effects Assessment ............................................. 111
6.3.2 Noise and Vibration Cumulative Effects Assessment ............................... 112
6.3.3 Water Quality Cumulative Effects Assessment ........................................ 113
7.0 DETAILED TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS ...................................................................... 115
7.1 Air Quality and Climate ....................................................................................... 115
7.2 Surface Water .................................................................................................... 120
7.2.1 Study Area and Timeframes .................................................................... 120
7.2.2 Surface Water Quality and Quantity ......................................................... 121
7.2.3 Sediment Quality ..................................................................................... 126
7.2.4 Fish Communities and Habitat ................................................................. 131
7.2.5 Aquatic Plant Communities ...................................................................... 137
7.2.6 Species at Risk ........................................................................................ 138
7.2.7 Ecological Risk Assessment .................................................................... 139
7.2.8 Valued Ecosystem Components .............................................................. 140
7.2.9 Likely Effects on Surface Water Quality ................................................... 143
7.2.10 Likely Effects on Floodplains .................................................................... 145
7.2.11 Likely Effects on Fish Communities and Habitat ...................................... 146
7.2.12 Likely Effects on Aquatic Plants ............................................................... 148
7.2.13 Supplemental Administrative Considerations ........................................... 149
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CANADIAN TRANSIT COMPANY
Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project

7.2.14 Summary of Adverse Residual Effects ..................................................... 150
7.3 Surface and Subsurface Geology and Soils ....................................................... 150
7.3.1 Geology and Groundwater Environment .................................................. 150
7.3.1.1 Study Area and Timeframes ..................................................... 150
7.3.1.2 Physical Setting ........................................................................ 151
7.3.1.3 Soil Quality ............................................................................... 154
7.3.1.4 Groundwater Flow .................................................................... 155
7.3.1.5 Groundwater Quality ................................................................. 155
7.3.1.6 Drainage Water Quality ............................................................. 156
7.3.1.7 Contaminated Sites and Waste Management ........................... 156
7.3.1.8 Valued Ecosystem Components (VECS) .................................. 158
7.3.1.9 Screening for Potential Project-Environmental Effects .............. 164
7.3.1.10 Evaluation for Likely Environmental Change ............................. 164
7.3.1.11 Likely Effects on Soil and Bedrock Quality ................................ 165
7.3.1.12 Likely Effects on Groundwater Flow .......................................... 168
7.3.1.13 Likely Effects on Groundwater Quality ...................................... 170
7.3.1.14 Likely Effects on Drainage Water Quality .................................. 170
7.3.1.15 Likely Effects on Contaminated Sites and Waste Management 171
7.3.1.16 Summary of Residual Adverse Effects on VECs ....................... 172
7.4 Terrestrial Environment ...................................................................................... 175
7.4.1 Study Area ............................................................................................... 175
7.4.2 Vegetation Communities .......................................................................... 176
7.4.3 Wildlife Communities ............................................................................... 181
7.4.4 Wildlife Habitat ......................................................................................... 190
7.4.5 Species at Risk ........................................................................................ 191
7.4.6 Valued Ecosystem Components .............................................................. 193
May 2012
CANADIAN TRANSIT COMPANY
Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project

7.4.6.1 Assessment of Likely Environmental Effects ............................. 197
7.4.6.2 Vegetative Communities ........................................................... 197
7.4.6.3 Wildlife Habitats ........................................................................ 199
7.4.6.4 Wildlife Communities ................................................................ 199
7.4.6.5 Species at Risk ......................................................................... 203
7.4.6.6 Summary of Residual Adverse Effects on VECs ....................... 203
7.5 Noise and Vibration ............................................................................................ 206
7.6 Socioeconomic Conditions ................................................................................. 208
7.6.1 Environmental Assessment Boundaries ................................................... 209
7.6.2 Residual Environmental Effects Rating Criteria ........................................ 210
7.6.3 Existing Conditions .................................................................................. 210
7.6.4 Environmental Effects Analysis ................................................................ 215
7.6.5 Project-VEC Interactions .......................................................................... 215
7.6.6 Summary of Residual Effects ................................................................... 229
7.6.7 Likely Effects............................................................................................ 231
7.7 Archaeological .................................................................................................... 246
7.8 Navigation .......................................................................................................... 249
7.8.1 Study Area and Timeframes .................................................................... 250
7.8.2 Administrative Considerations .................................................................. 250
7.8.3 Valued Ecosystem Components .............................................................. 252
7.9 Mitigation Compliance Monitoring and Follow-up Programs ............................... 256
7.9.1 Air Quality ................................................................................................ 256
7.9.2 Peregrine Falcons .................................................................................... 256
7.10 Public Consultation ............................................................................................ 259
May 2012
CANADIAN TRANSIT COMPANY
Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project

List of Figures
Figure 1: Ranking of Alternative Alignments .............................................................................11
Figure 2: Project Footprint ........................................................................................................15
Figure 3: Study Area Boundaries .............................................................................................16
Figure 4: Pier Table Construction .............................................................................................20
Figure 5: Cantilever Erection ....................................................................................................21
Figure 6: Placing Deck Panels .................................................................................................21
Figure 7: Stay Cable Anchor at Deck Level ..............................................................................22
Figure 8: Back Span Continuity ................................................................................................22
Figure 9: Completed Bridge .....................................................................................................22
Figure 10: Projected Regional Traffic in 2030 ..........................................................................28
Figure 11: Projected Regional Traffic in 2030 with Six Additional Lanes ..................................29
Figure 12: Representative of Noise Sensitive Receptors ..........................................................45
Figure 13: Location of Heritage Sites .......................................................................................53
Figure 14: Natural Heritage Areas and Creeks in the Regional Study Area ............................ 122
Figure 15: Overburden Thickness ..........................................................................................1 59
Figure 16: Bedrock Geology ...................................................................................................1 60
Figure 17: Seismic Hazard Map of Canada – Geologic Survey of Canada (2005) .................. 161
Figure 18: 1985-2007 - Seismic data within 100 km radius of the City of Windsor .................. 162
Figure 19: Location of Windsor’s Water Intake and STP Ouflows in the Detroit River ............ 163
Figure 20: Mining Sites ..........................................................................................................1 67
Figure 21: Canadian Migratory Flyways .................................................................................1 83
Figure 22: US Migratory Flyways ...........................................................................................1 84
Figure 23: 2009 Migratory Waterfowl Banding Summary .......................................................1 87
Figure 24: 2010 Migratory Waterfowl Banding Summary .......................................................1 88
Figure 25: Tree Preservation Plan..........................................................................................1 95
May 2012
CANADIAN TRANSIT COMPANY
Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project

Figure 26: Simulation of the Proposed Project .......................................................................2 37
Figure 27: Photo Key Map .....................................................................................................2 40
Figure 28: Simulation of Visual Effect from Assumption Park ................................................. 241
Figure 29: Simulation of Visual Effect from McKee Park ........................................................2 42
Figure 30: Simulation of Visual Effect from Assumption Church ............................................. 243
Figure 31: Simulation of Visual Impact on Mackenzie Hall ..................................................... 244
Figure 32: Simulation of Visual Effect from Mason-Girardot Manor ........................................ 245
Figure 33: Simulation of Visual Effect from Huron Church Road ............................................ 246

May 2012