OTTAWA, February 11, 2005 -- The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency today announced the establishment of a Participant Funding Program for the proposed Romaine hydroelectric complex. Up to $200,000 will be made available through this program to allow the public to take part in the public review of the proposed project. A Funding review committee, independent of the review panel, will consider all applications and recommend allocation of funds to applicants according to the eligibility criteria set out in the Guide to the Participant Funding Program. Funding will be available in two phases. Phase I: Up to $50,000 will be provided to help the public review and comment on the draft guidelines which will be used by the proponent to develop the environmental impact statement for the project. Applications for funding for phase 1 activities should be received at the Agency no later than March 11, 2005. Phase II: Up to $150,000 will be available for the review of the impact statement, along with preparing for and participating in the public hearings. Since the proponent is not planning to make public its impact statement before the fall of 2006, the deadline for application for phase II participant funding will be announced later. Hydro-Québec plans to build a 1500-megawatt complex on the Romaine River, in the lower north shore region, not far from the municipality of Havre-Saint-Pierre. This complex will include four generating stations and the creation of reservoirs covering a total area of approximately 275 km2. The project will also include the construction of an access road of approximately 160 km which will link highway 138 to the complex. The Participant Funding Program Guide [PDF - 1,362kb] and the application form are available on the Agency Web site. -30- The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development. Media Information: Robert Deslauriers Senior Communications Advisor Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency 160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3 Tel.: (613) 957-0396 Fax: (613) 957-0946 robert.deslauriers@ceaa-acee.gc.ca For information on the Participant Funding Program, or to submit an application, please contact: Peter Bedrossian Manager, Participant Funding Program Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency 160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3 Tel.: (613) 957-0254 Fax: (613) 957-0941 peter.bedrossian@ceaa-acee.gc.ca For information on the Panel Review Process, please contact: Marie-France Therrien Project Manager Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency 160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3 Tel.: (613) 957-0748 Fax: (613) 957-0941 marie-france.therrien@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
