Andrea Pastori…

   Andrea Pastori

 Cabinet Liaison and Strategic Policy Coordinator

 Ministry of Energy

 Strategic Network and Agency Policy Division, Strategic Policy Branch

 880 Bay Street, 2nd floor

 Toronto Ontario

 M7A 2C1

 Phone: (416) 327-7276

  Dear. Ms. Pastori,

  Parks Canada, Rouge National Urban Park Field Unit, has reviewed the "Planning Basis Review and Recommendations" paper that is the subject of this EBR posting. We understand that this paper is not a draft plan, but recommends topics and directions that should be incorporated in an updated plan.

  To provide some context for our comments, Rouge National Urban Park (RNUP) is being established on the foundation of the former regional Rouge Park to the west and northwest of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station (NGS). At 79.1 square kilometres, RNUP will be double the size of the former Rouge Park; today, approximately 4,000 hectares of land in north Markham, north Pickering, and the Township of Uxbridge is currently managed by Parks Canada. Lands comprising the former regional park are planned for transfer to Parks Canada from Ontario, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and the cities of Pickering and Toronto later this year. See a map of the park limits at:  https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/rouge/info/zone

  The park has been and will continue to be a major visitor destination. Survey counts undertaken in 2013 and 2014 suggest that upwards of 300,000 people visit Rouge Beach during the summer months alone. Trails in the south end of the park are well used and Parks Canada plans to extend the trail network to all areas of the park. As such, visitor access will be extended throughout much of the entire park.

  Several hundred tenants also live and work in the park, as farmers, residential tenants, and as operators of commercial businesses. Several thousand people also volunteer throughout the year in park activities that range from guided hikes to tree planting and citizen science.

  The people side of the park is complemented by a vast array of natural heritage (more than 1,700 species), cultural resources, and high quality agricultural soils. All are protected under the Rouge National Urban Park Act, as amended 2017.

  We recognize the focus of the upcoming revision to the PNERP is primarily related to human health concerns, so there will be implications for park staff, visitors, tenants, volunteers, and researchers. However the health of the park's natural, cultural, and agricultural resources will also be of concern to Parks Canada.

  We do not have specific comments on the technical elements of the Planning Basis Review and Recommendation document at this time. However, given the presence of a large, new park in the vicinity of the Pickering NGS (compare the park limits map at https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/rouge/info/zone with Fig. 1 from the PBRAR) we have focused our comments on how Parks Canada is consulted in the upcoming preparation of the updated plan, and in the plan’s post-completion monitoring, maintenance, and execution. We have two related comments in this regard:

  COMMENT 1:  Section 4. Methodology (page 13):

 On this page a “Nuclear Emergency Management Coordinating Committee (NEMCC)” is mentioned as a provincial committee "whose aim is to achieve, maintain and enhance an adequate level of preparedness and coordination between provincial ministries, federal departments, nuclear facilities, designated municipalities and other agencies to effectively respond to nuclear and radiological emergencies."

  Parks Canada requests that a representative of the Rouge National Urban Park Field Unit be included on this committee.

  COMMENT 2:  Section 9. Non-Planning Basis Recommendations, Recommendation # 4: Protective Actions and Operational Response Strategies (page 54):

 The recommendation states:

  "Targeted stakeholder consultation will be the preferred method of determining any necessary adjustments, changes or additions regarding operational response strategies and responsibilities such as Iodine Thyroid Blocking, Public Alerting and Emergency Public Information."

 Parks Canada requests that the Rouge National Urban Park Field Unit be included in this "targeted stakeholder consultation" during development of the updated plan.

  My thanks for the opportunity to comment on this important initiative.  Please contact Cassandra Stabler, Resource Management Officer, at Cassandra.stabler@pc.gc.ca or 416-904-9847 in future communications.

  Sincerely,

  John L. Thomson,

 Acting Field Unit Superintendent,

 Rouge National Urban Park

 Parks Canada

[Original Comment ID: 210070]