Report - Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale

Opinions of participants
Impacts were also apprehended on other water bodies in the area, specifically the
ruisseau Saint-Claude, whose derivation has been planned as it crosses the site
chosen to build the LNG terminal’s land facilities. Some participants were worried
about the resulting degradation of water quality and the disruption of habitats, and
underscored the fact that the mouth of this waterway comprises spawning areas for
endangered fish species (Ms. Annie Lebel and Mr. Hubert Pelletier-Gilbert, DM160,
p. 4; Ms. Pierrette Bélanger, DM302, p. 56; Sierra Club of Canada, DM699, p. 12 and
13). Moreover, the Comité de restauration de la rivière Etchemin expressed its
concern regarding the planned pipeline crossing in this spot. It believed that the
proponent might not be able to use directional drilling to put it in place, as the
proponent of another pipeline project was unable to use this approach to cross the
same body of water at four kilometres from the chosen site: “the other types of
processes are more damaging for the body of water. Moreover, the risky use of
directional drilling could result in the leaking of noxious products in the river, which
would also be very harmful to the environment” (DM553).
The Amis de la vallée du Saint-Laurent believed that the impacts on the natural
environment, specifically on the river and its banks, should be compensated by
broader and stronger measures. In their view, “it would be better if initiatives […] were
proposed and implemented in close and relatively similar environments, specifically
with the help of regional specialists” (DM551, p. 25 and 26). The Comité ZIP de
Québec City et Chaudière-Appalaches added that the compensations for the loss of
fish habitats should target the Greater city of Québec region, and not just the south
shore (DM636, p. 11). The Groupe Océan inc. was of the opinion that building the
submerged structures should be seen as a gain which would become “an excellent
spawning area, where aquatic flora and micro organisms (krill, phytoplankton,
zooplankton, etc.) which fish feed upon would proliferate” (DM316, p. 8).
Several participants 1 were deeply concerned about the loss of wetlands which would be
brought about by the project’s completion, specifically the tourbière Pointe-Lévis, whose
ecological value was underestimated by the proponent, according to some.
The Comité pour la conservation des tourbières de Lévis underscored the importance
of preserving wetlands: wetlands represent extremely valuable ecosystems and
economic assets; goods and services which contribute to the well-being of humans
everyday” (DM521, p. 7). The Comité reported the presence of marshes both on the
site chosen for the LNG terminal’s land facilities and on the pipeline layout, and were
deeply concerned about the impacts the project could have on these environments. It
1. Ms. Céline Létourneau, DM594, p. 5; Ms. Sylvie Pharand, DM413, p. 1; Ms. Annie Lebel and Mr. Hubert
Pelletier-Gilbert, DM160, p. 4; Mr. Gilles Labrecque and Ms. Monique Guay, DM190, p. 2; Sierra Club of
Canada, DM699, p. 10.
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