Ottawa, September 5, 2008 – Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, and the President of the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE), Mr. Pierre Renaud, appointed today the members of the joint review panel established to review the proposed Romaine Hydroelectric Complex Project.
Mr. Michel Germain chairs the BAPE Panel, joined by Mr. Louis Deriger. Mr. Jean-Guy Beaudoin, the federal member joins them to form the joint review panel, which will commence its activities on October 27, 2008.
Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, and the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Ms. Line Beauchamp, approved the appointment of the joint review panel members further to the Canada-Québec Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation.
The project is a proposal by Hydro-Québec to build a 1500 megawatts hydroelectric complex on the Romaine River, north of the municipality of Havre-Saint-Pierre. The complex would include four power stations along the river and the creation of new reservoirs covering an expanse of approximately 275 km². There are also plans to build an access road of roughly 160 km to link Route 138 to the site.
To view documents related to this projects, the public may refer to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca , reference number 04-07-2613. The public may also access the BAPE documentation in the centres open in the area, or by visiting the BAPE Website at: www.bape.gouv.qc.ca.
The 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.
The mission of the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement is to inform and consult the public on questions related to the quality of the environment assigned to it by the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks. In so doing, it helps guide government decision-making in a sustainable development perspective, a perspective comprising the biophysical, social and economic aspects.
- 30 -
Media may contact:
Nicholas Girard
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0958
