Report - Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale

Fish habitat in a lotic environment 1
Impacts on the natural environment
The LNG terminal construction would require a 1620 m 2 backfill causing the loss of a
955-m long segment of the ruisseau Saint-Claude’s western branch. Fisheries and
Oceans Canada believes that this backfill would cause the loss of fish habitat as
described by the Fisheries Act. This loss has nevertheless been deemed acceptable
given the low vulnerability of this habitat and the development of a new route which
should enable to reach the zero net habitat loss objective. According to Fisheries and
Oceans Canada, plant stabilization of the berms and the addition of gravel and pebble
substrates would allow creation of a fish-friendly environment (PR3.3.1, p. 6.29;
DQ5.1, p. 1 to 3).
As regards pipeline construction, numerous stream crossings would be necessary,
involving generally the open trench method. Mitigation measures could reduce the
impacts on fish habitat during the work.
For the rivières Etchemin, Chaudière and Beaurivage, the geotechnical surveys
conducted until now point to favourable conditions for the directional drilling technique
to cross them. The proponent has also considered the scenario of a crossing by way
of an open trench in case of drilling failure. Despite the mitigation measures
suggested by the proponent, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the MRNF believe
that the risk for fish habitat remains equally high. For them, the open trench technique
should be considered only as a last resort option. Its use should be coupled with
special compensatory measures. It will be noted that in 2002 the Atlantic salmon was
reintroduced to the rivière Etchemin and many restoration efforts are currently being
deployed on the entire drainage basin. Fry rearing and spawning areas have also
been noted near the pipeline crossing sites for each of the three rivers concerned
(DQ34.1, p. 2; DQ35.2, p. 1 and 2).
Furthermore, in the Saint-Laurent pipeline project, which also involves crossing these
three rivers upstream of the proposed pipeline for the project, the technical studies
have demonstrated that directional drilling could not be used for the rivière Etchemin
crossing in the route alternatives analyzed so far. The proponent did not rule out
analyzing other route alternatives 2 . Cumulative impacts on fish habitat could occur
should both pipeline projects take place simultaneously – an issue which the
proponent did not address in his impact study (DQ54.1, p. 2; PR5.1, p. 2.105).
1. Used to describe freshwater ecosystems (streams, rivers, lakes, etc.) in which water circulates and is renewed
fairly quickly.
2. Ultramar ltée, Étude d’impact sur l’environnement, vol. 1, May 2006, p. 5 to 27; vol. 7, November 2006, p. 2 to 4.
Rabaska Project – Implementation of an LNG Terminal and Related Infrastructure 215