NEW PARLIAMENTARY PETITION TO PROTECT HARTLEN POINT IS ACTIVE. CLICK HERE TO SIGN

 

 

 

 

 

NEW PARLIAMENTARY PETITION TO PROTECT HARTLEN POINT IS ACTIVE. CLICK HERE TO SIGN

 

In January 2021, The Department of National Defence (DND) sought public input to help inform whether a Warship Systems Testing Facility at Hartlen Point, Eastern Passage, was likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. As it was only announced on the Government of Canada website and the naval Trident newspaper, this public consultation attracted zero participants and zero comments. The advertised session was not adequately delivered nor was a fair chance for input given. News of this shocked thousands, including nearby residential community members, the Nova Scotia Bird Society, local hikers, surfers, and others who demand responsible coastal development in Nova Scotia. We have since learned that the location was decided before the "public consultation", which means it was performative. 

Just a 20 minute drive from Halifax, 15 minutes from Dartmouth, Hartlen Point is a glorious place to experience the rich ecosystems and coastal beauty that Nova Scotia has to offer. In Harbour East Halifax, Hartlen Point is the only land-accessible wilderness remaining and the only location where the horizon sunrise can be viewed sea-to-sky. Dog walkers and hikers frequent the area’s shoreline trails, surfers regularly coast the waves, and a vibrant lobster fishery sits 100 metres offshore. Hartlen Point is the #1 (accessible) location for birds in Nova Scotia and #10 in all of Canada, attracting enthusiasts from prominent international locations. It is the ONLY top 49 birding location IN CANADA that is NOT PROTECTED.

As the top spot for birds, Hartlen Point is incredibly important for local and migratory wildlife, hosting hundreds of thousands of birds each year of more than three-hundred species. It is a critical stopover for migrating birds to feed, drink, rest, and use as a point of reference when flying over. The development will not only disrupt this crucial habitat, but will increase bird mortality by attracting them to the light of the building.

 

 

 

 

The headland is home to other wildlife including bobcat, coyote, rabbit, deer, and the star-nosed mole, to name just a few. In terms of marine life, from the hermit crabs in the tidal estuary to the harbour seal colony near shore, it is a thriving marine ecosystem.

As clearly stated by DND, the $129 million, 11,000m2 warship systems testing facility will emit high-powered radio frequencies that pose significant risk to humans, birds, and wildlife that are within the broad range of emissions. This includes the provincial crown land intertidal shoreline area of Hartlen Point and the nearshore waters of Hartlen Point. For this very reason, other site locations were scrapped, such as Magazine Hill in Bedford and Ferguson’s Cove. The lack of transparency from DND, the lack of community impact assessment, and lack of environmental assessment are all greatly worrying to those who value this area.

 

 

 

 

No comparable international Land-Based Testing Facilities in allied countries were built in a place like Hartlen Point. Spain’s brand new LBTF is on a Naval Base, Australia is currently building one in an industrial area next to an electrical sub-station, & the UK’s is in an older military facility where WW2 ordinance was stored. The US has two: one at a naval facility next to a NASA rocket launch test site and the other, in a manufacturing area beside a major highway. Nova Scotia has ample coastline. If DND doesn’t own a suitable industrial location close to the ocean, then likely Halifax Regional Municipality or the province does.

Along with the serious health and safety risks, loss of coastal & nearshore access, and the imminent destruction of Nova Scotia’s number one birding location, there are other serious concerns. These include a significant acceleration of coastal erosion due to the deforestation of the headland; pedestrian, vehicular, and cyclist safety posed by heavy machinery and approximately 130+ cars per day on a residential road; a detrimental effect to the growing local tourism community; and an increase in mental stress to the rapidly growing local residential community who now have a weapons testing facility within the immediate bounds of their homes.  

LFA 33 (offshore waters at Hartlen Point) & LFA 34 are the most lucrative lobster fishing grounds in the world, with annual revenue of over $6 MILLION to local fishermen & fisherwomen. There are roughly 1700 fishing boats with permits in this area. The fresh water flowing in from Cole Harbour creates a prime lobster spawning area. The fisherfolk have their own set of concerns:

-Will high-frequency emissions from the weapons systems testing facility affect the health and safety of the fisherwomen & fishermen who hold permits to fish in LFA 33?

-Will activities from the facility or warships reduce or impede on the regular, safe, and purchased (therefore permissible) access to their regular grounds, which land within LFA 33?

-Will headland run-off, which may be significantly accelerated from this project, affect the marine habitat in the area?

 

 

 

 

The community was assured they would have information and involvement, yet requests for such have repeatedly gone unanswered. We have been given sections of an Infrastructure Report done by IRVING, who are biased (as the contractors for the ships). From what we have received, this report does not appear to take wildlife or habitat into consideration whatsoever.

Our main concerns with this report include: 

     1) 7.1.3 Options Analysis Section 105 (pg. 79) d. states that the potential location “must be located outside of a densely populated urban environment and capable to be licensed for up to full radiate capabilities of the incorporated emitters by Innovation Economic Development and Science Canada (IEDSC)” Hartlen Point is nestled in the ever-growing community of Eastern Passage, with roughly 10,000 residents and many new builds in progress;       

     2) Table 9 - Remote LBTS Options Analysis Matrix falsely states: (pg. 88) 5. that Hartlen Point is outside of an urban environment, and (pg. 89) 10. that it is accessible via well-maintained roads;

     3) Table 9 (pg. 88) 7. shows that the deciding factor in choosing Hartlen Point may be that it is the only potential location that “does not impact external operations”. It is unclear what these external operations are or who is the operator, but it seems that it is referring to IRVING itself, which would again indicate bias;

     4) 7.1.3.5 S 115 (pg. 84) states that Hartlen Point is a “vacant site” which is a blatant disregard of the wildlife that relies and even depends on this land for survival during migration.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act stipulates that new initiatives affecting the environment, including proposed defence projects and activities, must have an assessment carried out before they can be implemented. The Federal Government has decreed that assessment of policy changes is also required. As public access to the ocean in Nova Scotia rapidly diminishes, we do not want to lose such a beautiful place within our growing city.

 

 

 

 

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act obliges the Government to take preventative and remedial measures in protecting the environment. This implies that the Department of National Defence has a responsibility to the environment and to environmental protection. We, as the public, have to ensure that they pay more than lip service to their responsibility.

In the 1867 Constitution, Section 117 refers to the rights of provinces to retain all of their public property except when Canada requires them for the fortifications or the defence of the country. An exercise and testing complex does not meet this requirement.

There were other proposed sites for the build that are less invasive to both humans and wildlife, one of which is already developed. We are demanding that the government listens and involves the folks who have chosen to call this area home, as well as the experts who are acting as a voice for the creatures who don’t have one.

What we want:

     1. A proper environmental impact assessment, which includes: community, wildlife and nature, and traffic, to be completed by unbiased, uninvolved third parties. These assessments must be considered as a crucial part of the location decision;

     2. Proper consideration of another site, like those that are already partially developed and equipped, and are further from the community; If this is absolutely not possible:

     3. Protect the rest of the land and commit to zero future development on Hartlen Point

     4. Honest and transparent communication, with outreach to every household in the community to ensure the people of Eastern Passage understand exactly what is being built and how it will affect them;

     5. Access to the full reports that have been done on the area;

     6. Total cooperation with experts to maintain the crucial ecosystem. 

Please sign and share to add a valuable contribution to our efforts to protect a vital piece of land, before it's too late.

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