Draft Environmental Assessment Report Released
The Toronto Port Authority today released a draft report prepared by independent environmental and engineering consultants, Dillon Consulting Limited, which concluded that the construction and operation of the proposed pedestrian tunnel would result in no permanent significant environmental effects.
The proposed tunnel is intended to improve access to and from the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. It will also support improvements in communications and security infrastructure.
The 95-page draft screening report, is available for review and comment at www.torontoport.com/corporate_TunnelEA.asp.
The next public meeting, on November 30, 2010 (6-8:30pm) at the Radisson Admiral Hotel, 249 Queen’s Quay West, will provide people with an additional opportunity to obtain information about the proposed project and the assessment. The meeting will include presentations and a question and answer period, during which people may also provide comments. A follow-up meeting will take place on January 12, 2011. The cut off date for comments will be January 28, 2011.
The draft report indicates that the proposed project (which also includes an airport perimeter road for increased security) would cause some impacts during construction, which are described as minimal. There would be no permanent significant environmental effects.
The environmental assessment includes consideration of 16 different components (including air quality, noise and socio-economic conditions), as well as recommendations to mitigate potential effects during the estimated 18-month construction period.
In receiving the draft report, Port Authority President and CEO Geoffrey Wilson said that he was pleased with the EA, and with the additional information about air quality and noise impacts in the area. These aspects went beyond the legal requirements for the benefit of the local residents, Wilson said. He also committed to a detailed public response after the TPA receives and considers the final report and all other necessary matters.
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For more information or to download a copy of the report: www.torontoport.com/corporate_TunnelEA.asp Media Contact: Suzanna Birchwood, Director of Public Affairs, 416 863 2036/416 317 6405 (mobile) Send comments to sbirchwood@torontoport.com