Parks Canada is proposing to go ahead with the decommissioning the closed airstrips in Jasper and Banff national parks. Separate environmental assessments will be undertaken for each facility at the comprehensive study level, as set out in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Draft terms of reference for the conduct of both environmental studies and the preparation of separate comprehensive study reports have been developed for public review. COPA has submitted its response in detail. The following summarizes the submission.
“The draft Terms of Reference for the two Comprehensive Study Review projects can best be described as an attempt by the Parks Canada Agency to limit the scope of assessment to its intended purpose, the closure of the two airstrips. The draft terms of reference fail to provide sufficient scope or process for an objective assessment of alternatives to the proposed project relating to health and safety issues in the VFR corridors.”
Following review of the terms of reference, both documents will be finalized by Parks Canada. Once completed, work will commence on the preparation of separate comprehensive study reports for each facility. The comprehensive study reports will be subject to full public review as set out in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
Documents regarding the two parks are available on the Internet: www.parkscanada.gc.ca/jasper
for Jasper National Park, and: www.parkscanada.gc.ca/banff
for Banff National Park.
COPA continues to solicit responses to the federal government from its members regarding the closure of Banff and Jasper airstrips. See the “Feedback to Feds” section on the left side of the COPA Web site:
www.copanational.org.