Water levels
in the Great Lakes have been below seasonal norms since
1999 and the federal government instituted a dredging
assistance program for marina operators. The program
entitles marina operators to a refund of one third of
their costs of dredging. The program requires that the
application for subsidy be accompanied by an environmental
screening report prepared by a qualified engineer or
environmental consultant.
Through its arrangement with the OMOA, Riggs Engineering
Ltd. provided engineering services to over 50 applicants.
These projects incorporated a tremendous variety of
small scale dredging projects including hydraulic dredging,
containment berms, mechanical dredging, Class “A”
dredging with drilling and blasting, dewatering of entire
basins including a 1000 craft facility in Midland, DFO
Authorizations under Section 35(2) of the Fisheries
Act, MOE Permits to Take Water and numerous Public Lands
Act issues.
Through its extensive involvement with this program
Riggs Engineering further enhanced its working relationships
with regulatory agencies across the province. We assisted
in the negotiated resolutions to disputes and charges
under the above referenced acts related to unauthorized
infilling, improper upland disposal and timeframe violations
at several locations. |
