Ottawa/Québec, July 5, 2007 - At the request of the federal Minister of the Environment, the Honourable John Baird and of the ministre du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs, Mrs Line Beauchamp, the report on the investigation and public hearings for the Implementation of the Rabaska Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal and Related Infrastructure Project has been made public. This mandated investigation and public hearing took place from December 4, 2006 to May 30, 2007. The Joint Review Panel was chaired by Mr. Qussaï Samak, assisted by Mr. Jean Paré and Mr. Jean-Philippe Waaub. The Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) Panel was comprised of Mr. Samak and Mr. Paré. The Joint Review Panel and the BAPE carried out their work simultaneously and produced a joint report. This report contains the 20 notices and 34 recommendations. The joint Panel collected participants’ concerns and opinions during the hearing and considered the following:
The energy and economic context of the project;
The risks associated with the project;
The project’s social acceptability;
The impacts on the natural environment;
The impacts on the human environment;
Proposed environmental monitoring and follow-up of the project.
QUEBEC'S DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
In light of the Panels’ joint report and the environmental review prepared by his department, Quebec’s Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks will make his recommendations to Quebec’s Cabinet, which is responsible for the final decision concerning the project. This decision could be to authorize the project, with or without changes and under conditions which he determines, or to refuse it.
Since the project is subject to a cooperative environmental assessment, pursuant to the Canada-Quebec Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation, there may be coordinated decisions and announcements by Canada and Quebec.
THE CANADA-QUEBEC AGREEMENT ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COOPERATION
The Canada-Quebec Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation fosters cooperation and coordination between the parties concerning the environmental assessment of projects subject to an environmental assessment by Canada and Quebec in order to meet the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and of the Quebec Environment Quality Act. For participants in this session of public hearings, the means of participation were identical to a public hearing held solely by the BAPE, since the proceedings conformed to the BAPE’s Rules of Procedure relating to the conduct of public hearings.
VIEWING THE REPORT
The report is available for consultation at BAPE documentation centres, consultation centres in the area and on the BAPE Web site at www.bape.gouv.qc.ca. The report is also available directly by e-mail at communication@bape.gouv.qc.ca, or by telephone at 418-43-7447 or toll free at 1-800-463-4732. The report and appendices are also available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, reference number 04-07-3971.
During the first part of the public hearing, the panel held fourteen public meetings in Québec and Lévis. In the second part, in Saint-Henri and Saint-Pierre-de-l’Île-d’Orléans, twenty public meetings made it possible for the Panel to receive 699 submissions and 15 oral interventions from individuals, groups, organizations and municipalities interested in the project.
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Sources:
Jean-Sébastien Fillion
Communications Officer
Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement
Tel.: 418-643-7447 or 1-800-463-4732, extension 538
jean-sebastien.fillion@bape.gouv.qc.ca
For information about the federal process:
Nicholas Girard
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0958
nicholas.girard@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
