Montreal, February 22, 2011
TRANSMISSION BY EMAIL
Mr. Pierre Arcand, Minister
Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks
Marie-Guyart Building, 30th floor
675 René-Lévesque Boulevard East
Quebec (Quebec) G1R 5V7
Subject: Hydroelectric power station project on the Jacques-Cartier River in Shannon – Subject to public hearings
Minister,
The municipality of Shannon is currently carrying out various engineering studies to build a 3.3 megawatt power station on the Jacques-Cartier River. As the project is below the 5 megawatt threshold at which public hearings should be held, the Environmental Assessment Branch was not asked to comment on the project in question.
However, we noted, on a plan produced by the firm BPR in December 2010 (“Topographic and bathymetric curves” plan attached), that the “projected flooded zone” will extend to rue Dugas, i.e. close to 'a kilometer upstream. The entire surface area of the body of water will thus exceed 50,000 square meters, another threshold for being subject to public hearings.
We have informed the Regional Directorate of Capitale-Nationale but the file will only be examined upon receipt of a request for a certificate of authorization for construction and including detailed plans and specifications. We consider this procedure ineffective since it risks costing citizens dearly with significant expenses in a project that could be refused or modified.
Consequently, we ask you to mandate the Environmental Assessment Department to take the file before the loan by-law is adopted on March 7 and the detailed plans produced. Other issues should also be evaluated: the salmon resource, the practice of canoeing and kayaking activities, the preservation of culture and landscapes as well as the presence of contaminated soils.
Please accept, Mr. Minister, the expression of our best feelings.
Maryse Pallascio, vice-president
CC. Professional association of engineers of the government of Quebec
Photo: Radio-Canada/Coralie Mensa
