Report - Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale

Impacts on the natural environment
♦ Recommendation 21 — Noting the fact that the proponent committed himself to
producing an inventory of the wells located within the influence perimeter where they
would be likely to undergo a drawdown exceeding 0.5 m, the Panel recommends that
wells be inventoried and groundwater characterized before construction work begins.
Characterizing the groundwater would enable to establish its current physicochemical
and microbiological quality to better assess the potential impacts of construction and
operation of the terminal.
The proponent also agreed to replace or deepen individual wells or to modify the
pumping equipment if it were shown that terminal activities would reduce access to
the groundwater. He is also ready to set up a water treatment system or to dig a new
well should the water become contaminated. Moreover, according to the agreement
reached with the City of Lévis, a water supply system would be implemented to supply
the residences along Highway 132 as of the first year of work. The proponent would
assume the costs up to $5 million.
♦ Opinion 19 — Although the project may have impacts on groundwater, the Panel
believes that it is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects on the
ability to meet the potable water supply needs of citizens living within the influence
perimeter. This takes into account the mitigation, compensation and follow-up
measures that would be implemented by the proponent.
Wetlands
Until a policy governing wetlands is adopted, the MDDEP has provided guidelines for
authorizing work on wetlands in Quebec. According to these guidelines, any area loss
must be minimized and compensated on a pro rata basis for the ecological value of the
environment affected. That applies to an ombrotrophic or minerotrophic peat bog 1 , to a
peat bog exceeding 10 ha and which possesses a hydraulic link with a stream or where
the presence of protection-status species is confirmed (DB74, p. 1 to 6; DA86.2, p. 108;
Comité pour la conservation des tourbières de Lévis, DM521, p. 55 to 61).
The peat bog and its surroundings
At the proposed site of the liquefied natural gas terminal, an ombrotrophic peat bog of
11.6 ha 2 is present between Expressway 20 and the power line, and a moist forest
1. Peat bog fed exclusively by direct water precipitation (G. Lamoureux, Plantes sauvages des lacs, rivières et
tourbières – Guide d’identification Fleurbec, Groupe Fleurbec, 1987, 400 p.).
2. In DA86.2, p. 118, the proponent mentions that the peat bog area covers 9 ha but, by adding the areas of
potential losses presented in DA55.3, it amounts rather to 11.2 ha, value which was retained by the Panel for its
analysis.
210 Rabaska Project – Implementation of an LNG Terminal and Related Infrastructure