*NEW (Sept 10/08)- DCLC Lighting Summary attached below in a pdf*

Deltaport Third Berth Project Community Liaison Committee
Topic: Light Pollution

Background:
A port lighting strategy must satisfy legislative requirements that address three different objectives:

• Environment
• Health and safety
• Security

The increased need for port security and the need to ensure a safe working environment may dictate a lighting strategy that conflicts with the desire to minimize light pollution. A balance must be achieved that satisfies the safety and security concerns while at the same time, reducing as many impacts as possible on neighbouring communities and the environment.

How this fits in the DCLC mandate:
The purpose of the committee is to work with Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) during the construction and first year operation of the third berth at Deltaport to identify community concerns, develop potential solutions to address those concerns and assist in communicating information among the community, VFPA and other port stakeholders.

Questions and concerns from committee and community:


1. What are the compliance requirements for DP3 relative to increases in the amount of lighting?
2. Will there be additional light needed during construction (e.g. during dredging) and how will this be dealt with?
3. Has the impact of light on birds and wildlife been considered? How so?

Port response:

1. What are the compliance requirements for DP3 relative to increases in the amount of lighting?

As part of the approval certificate for DP3, the Port is committed “to ensuring that all contractors and the terminal operator construct and operate DP3 with minimal adverse visual and lighting effects.”

There are also several requirements that must be complied with, in regards to lighting, including:

• The Port must ensure the dredge lighting system shields light from spilling outside the basic working footprint of the dredge.

• The Port will ensure that the terminal operator undertakes the following:

 Ensure lighting equipment is pointed north and west, where possible, to reduce impacts to residents who are typically located east and south of the Roberts Bank port facility.
 Implement shielding on construction lighting.
 Use downlight-style, cut-off luminaries for illumination of wharf and container yard areas.
 Use less intrusive lighting sources such as metal halide luminaries exclusively for illumination of new wharf and container yard areas.
 Reduce the amount of light during periods of low activity using lighting control systems.
 Incorporate an automatic light shut-down system when the booms of the new ship-to-shore gantry cranes are raised and inactive for longer than 15 minutes.

• The Port will evaluate the use of innovative mounting systems for lighting on ship-to-shore gantry cranes to minimize light throw during raising and lowering of the equipment. The Port will examine options for mounting luminaries on the arms of ship-to-shore gantry cranes to prevent them from rotating when the arms are raised and lowered.

• The Port will consider change of gantry crane colour and, where practical, options for a landscape buffer strip to be established along the outer edge of the Roberts Bank causeway.

2. Will there be additional light needed during construction (e.g. during dredging) and how will this be dealt with?
The impact of additional light needed during construction was assessed as part of the DP3 Environmental Assessment. It was determined that lighing during construction would likely have minor impacts on neighbouring communities. The following mitigation measures have been adopted to minimize impacts during the construction:
• Ensure lighting equipment is pointed north and west as much as possible (to reduce impacts to residents who are typically located east and south of the Roberts Bank port facility)
• Implement shielding on construction lighting
• Information line for people to call in they have concerns (604-665-9337).

3. Has the impact of light on birds and wildlife been considered? How so?
The impact of lights on birds and wildlife were considered as part of the DP3 Environmental Assessment. It was determined that lighting would have a minimal impact on the surronding environment, mainly due to their relatively low intensity and height. In addition, areas illuminated at night are likely to attract birds as they provide a secure roosting environment (increased lighting improves visual awareness of predator approach) and attract insects, which birds feed on.

Current Status:
The terminal Operator, TSI, is conducting a lighting study, which is tentatively scheduled for completion at the end of August. This will be forwarded to the BC Environmental Assessment Office to ensure it complies with the regulatory requirements.

The DCLC is aware that lighting from the existing coal and container terminal operations is the subject of complaints from local residents. The DCLC mandate, however, relates to DP3 only and we are unable to address lighting retrofit issues relating to current port operations.

Lighting Links

http://www.portvancouver.com/the_port/docs/deltaport/Chapter%2016.pdf

http://www.portvancouver.com/the_port/project_reporting.html

Federal Comprehensive Study Report - Lighting Assessment (chapter 11 - page 143)
http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/documents/16090/16090E.pdf