Military issues warning ahead of explosives training on B.C. island
CTV
The Department of National Defence is warning boaters to avoid a small island southwest of Victoria this week as the military conducts routine, but potentially dangerous, demolition training.
The Department of National Defence is warning boaters to avoid a small island southwest of Victoria this week as the military conducts routine, but potentially dangerous, demolition training.
The department says its land-based demolition range on Bentinck Island, near the Canadian Armed Forces ammunition depot at Rocky Point in Metchosin, will be in use daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 1 to Oct. 4.
"Local residents will likely be unaware of the activities except on days when atmospheric conditions affect how far sound may travel," National Defence said in a statement Monday.
The department says the training is critical to ensure Canadian Armed Forces members can gain critical skills and maintain operational readiness.
The military says mitigation measures will be in place to limit the acoustic impact of the testing on marine mammals in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
A third-party marine mammal observer will be on hand to advise military staff when the range is clear of whales and other mammals prior to demolitions, the department said.
"Events are delayed if whales are observed in or transiting towards the range, and activities do not re-commence until the marine mammal observer provides the all-clear," according to the statement.
