Report - Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale

Assessing the risks related to the project
probability of an accident which can result in a specific number of deaths (MDDEP,
2002, p. 28 1 ).
According to the project’s analyses, three ranges of risk correspond to three
acceptability levels for societal risks: the area corresponding to a negligible or
acceptable risk; the area corresponding to a risk which must be monitored and where
a duty to maintain the risk as low as possible; and an area corresponding to an
unacceptable risk level. The HSE also uses these three levels to manage industrial
risk, by taking into account the principle that the costs of the additional mitigation
effort be commensurable with the gravity of the risk apprehended and the societal
advantages of the activity concerned (HSE, 1992 2 ).
The methodology used
The proponent is of the opinion that the risk assessment of the project is in
compliance with the requirements of both levels of government, both for the project’s
terminal and related land facilities as well as for the LNG tankers. This assessment
was also deemed in compliance with the requirements of the European standard BS
EN 1473, which regulates activities and facilities that are similar to those of the
project. The Panel also notes that the proponent’s approach is the same as the
methodology used for other land-based LNG terminal projects in North America
(Mr. Glenn Kelly, DT1, p. 56; PR3.3.1, C7, p. 7.3).
According to the proponent, the part of the study corresponding to the project’s
maritime component was also deemed to follow an approach that is both recognized
and well within the guidelines of the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal
Operators (SIGTTO). In the course of the public hearing, many participants expressed
concerns that the project wouldn’t comply with some SIGTTO recommendations. In
this respect, the proponent sent a letter to the SIGTTO’s General Manager who, after
having analyzed the project, confirmed that it meets SIGTTO’s requirements in its
approach as regards the assessment and mitigating of risks related to the project’s
maritime activities, as well as its other facilities. Moreover, the proponent stated that
the study had taken into account the local characteristics of the St. Lawrence River,
and that it had been based on existing maritime traffic, while taking into account the
possible use of larger Qflex LNG tankers (DQ27.29; DA86.1, p. 7 to 9; DQ27.31;
PR5.1, p. 1.8-1.10).
1. Op. cit.
2. Op. cit.
122 Rabaska Project – Implementation of an LNG Terminal and Related Infrastructure