Report - Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale

Opinions of participants
According to several participants 1 , the project in its current form was deemed to
contravene the agricultural zoning regulation of the Act respecting the preservation of
agricultural land and agricultural activities, as well as by-law 523 of the neighbouring
municipality, Beaumont, which forbids the storage of some hazardous substances up
to 1 km from municipality limits. In this respect, a participant believed that compliance
with by-law 523 required major changes to the project, such as moving it (Mr. Roger
Lambert, DT25, p. 6). Moreover, one participant informed the Panel that a petition had
been submitted to the Superior Court of Québec by 93 Lévis and Beaumont citizens
regarding the compliance of the Rabaska project with Lévis zoning regulation and with
by-law 523 (Mr. Martin Arsenault, DM629, p. 6).
Lastly, some participants who were favourable to the project claimed that this land area had
been slated for large-scale industrial facility development for many years, as well as portuary
activities along the shoreline. As such, for them, the industrial-portuary vocation of the river’s
shoreline in the Ville-Guay sector is a given, as it was entered into the development plan and
zoning regulations for years (Mr. Bertrand Crète, DM119, p. 6; Société de développement
économique de Lévis, DT15, p. 71; Mr. Pierre Garant, DT19, p. 31; Mr. Pierre Vézina,
DM180, p. 1; Ms. Danielle Roy Marinelli, Mayor of Lévis, DT16, p. 30).
Future developments in the implementation area
The possible and gradual expansion of Rabaska’s facilities was a concern which was
expressed many times during the hearings. To this effect, one participant pointed out:
“once there are two tanks, adding two more won’t bother anyone; and then, once there is
a jetty, why not have container ships berth here to take some pressure off the port of the
city of Québec?” (Mr. Érick Lambert, DT19, p. 5). A good many participants 2 believed that
the arrival of such an industry would foster the creation of new industries in the area. For
the Conseil des monuments et sites du Québec, “it is unlikely that the Rabaska facilities
will remain isolated over the long term. It is reasonable to think that their presence will
justify building other infrastructures” (DM394, p. 5). In this vein, the Conseil régional de
l’environnement Chaudière-Appalaches asked:
To what extent will the project create an opening in the area’s current vocation?
Will it not create a precedent which will pave the way to introducing related
industries and infrastructures, such as a port that will be specialized in
petrochemistry? Will we witness the creation of a new industrial focal point, to the
detriment of the agricultural, tourism, historical and residential areas?
(DM591, p. 12)
1. Ms. Sandrine Louchart, DM349, p. 5; Ms. Céline Létourneau, DM594, p. 3; Mr. Jean-Marie Tremblay, DM313,
p. 1; Municipality of Beaumont, DM619, p. 25 and 26; Mr. Jean-Marie Létourneau, DM37, p. 2.
2. Mr. Jean-Guy Allard, DM24, p. 2; Mr. Benoît Bouffard, DM31, p. 4; Ms. Madeleine P. Couture, DM111, p. 2;
Mr. Jacques Clermont, DM224, p. 2.
Rabaska Project – Implementation of an LNG Terminal and Related Infrastructure 31