Notice of determination

December 13, 2022 - Quebec Port Authority (QPA) and Transport Canada have determined that the project Terminal spaces optimization (wharfs 104-105) is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects by applying the mitigation measures planned for the project.

This determination is based on the following factors:

  • The project was posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry on August 1, 2022 (reference number: 83948) and no comments from the public, communities or indigenous communities were received.
  • Standard mitigation measures for this type of work will be implemented during the project.

The general mitigation measures applied, when required, depending on the work being done on the port's territory, are as follows:

General measures

  1. The Contractor shall, at all times, comply with the QPA Mitigation Registry;
  2. The Contractor shall ensure that all employees, as well as all suppliers, have been trained and informed of the various measures listed in the QPA Mitigation Registry;
  3. The Contractor shall make a version of the QPA Mitigation Registry available and accessible at the work site;
  4. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable standards, laws, guidelines, and regulations relating to environmental protection during the course of the work;
  5. The Contractor shall implement all reasonable measures to prevent the occurrence of significant environmental hazards;
  6. The Contractor shall immediately report any non-compliance with these specifications or environmental impact to the Administration Manager, as well as to the Harbour Master's Office (418 648-3556) and to the competent authorities, if applicable;
  7. The Contractor shall immediately take the necessary measures required to correct and/or control the situation, if a non-compliance with these specifications or an environmental impact is observed or anticipated;
  8. The Contractor shall ensure that a person on the site is designated to make decisions regarding environmental protection and that he/she is responsible for doing so.

Air Quality

  1. Inform employees on site of the importance of minimizing dust emissions, e.g., provide adequate work areas, drapes, curtains, or other control measures such as water cannons, dust suppression, etc;
  2. Adopt all necessary work measures to prevent the emission of dust, fine particles, etc;
  3. Clean up the work site at the end of the day and cover the waste and piles to prevent the wind from kicking up the dust or carrying away the debris;
  4. Clean up and recover debris at the end of each day to prevent windblown debris;
  5. Stabilize or reclaim the work area promptly to prevent wind erosion;
  6. Prevent blasting materials and other foreign materials from contaminating the air and waterways beyond the application area;
  7. Suppress dust on temporary roads, if necessary. Use of water as a dust suppressant is permitted if water withdrawal, recovery, and proper waste management are provided and approved by the Authority.

Traffic and Greenhouse Gases

  1. Observe established speed limits at all times;
  2. Idling is prohibited on port territory. The Contractor shall inform its employees and subcontractors of this;
  3. Promote the use of recent transportation equipment in good condition;
  4. Ensure that transportation equipment is in good condition at all times;
  5. Avoid unnecessary use of Champlain Boulevard and avoid travelling east to west (towards the bridges) with heavy machinery in order to avoid any disturbance to the local population;
  6. Water dry materials and suppress dust on unpaved roads and similar surfaces. Only the use of water and dust suppressants conforming to "BNQ 2410-300" is permitted. Submit product specifications to the Authority for authorization. Only products included in the BNQ list will be authorized.

Management of drinking water, raw water, wastewater, oily water and washing areas

  1. Request approval from the Authority before installing any drinking water treatment or withdrawal device;
  2. Request approval from the Authority prior to installing any sanitary water management facilities;
  3. Request approval from the Authority prior to the installation of any oil/water separator or oily water treatment device;
  4. Request approval from the Authority prior to the installation of any wash area.

Washwater Management for Concrete Mixers

  1. The Contractor shall be free to install his concrete mixer washing areas within the construction area, at a location previously agreed upon with the Authority;
  2. Only wash water from the exterior of the concrete mixer and handling tools will be allowed to remain on site (the concrete chute can be washed, but not the tank);
  3. The wash water for the tank shall be returned to the concrete mixer at the concrete batch plant;
  4. The wash water shall be collected in a watertight basin and disposed of off-site in accordance with applicable laws and regulations unless otherwise agreed upon with the Authority;
  5. The Contractor shall ensure that the washing areas do not overflow and that they are covered before a heavy rainfall event.

Management of excavation water and runoff

  1. Design and submit a water management plan, including erosion and sediment transport prevention measures, indicating the measures that will be implemented, including monitoring and reporting, to verify compliance with federal, state and municipal laws and regulations;
  2. Provide for temporary drainage and pumping as required to keep the excavation and work site dry;
  3. Pumping of water to a watercourse is prohibited;
  4. Any discharge or dumping of contaminants into the river or any other water body is strictly prohibited;
  5. Ensure that water pumped to a sewer system or drainage system does not contain suspended solids;
  6. Ensure the disposal or removal of water containing suspended solids or deleterious substances in accordance with local authority requirements;
  7. Stabilize or reclaim the work area promptly to prevent runoff. If necessary, improve profiling and drainage;
  8. Store cuttings and fill at least thirty (30) metres from the river or any other water body. If this distance cannot be met, contact the Authority;
  9. If there is any doubt about the quality of the water collected in an observation pit or excavation pit (color, odour, etc.), such water shall be intercepted for sampling or appropriate treatment and shall not be discharged until authorized;
  10. Cover the trench when left unattended or when work is temporarily stopped;
  11. Prevent surface water from becoming contaminated or coming into contact with excavated water;
  12. Conducting deep excavations in accordance with the time of year, weather and tidal conditions to minimize the management of excavated water;
  13. Block surface drains located in hazardous material fueling areas, vehicle refueling, maintenance and repair areas, and machinery areas that do not have appropriate water collection and treatment systems, if there is a risk of spills in the vicinity;
  14. Where applicable, use membranes, socks, straw bales, geotextiles or other devices in manholes to filter suspended solids (SS) from runoff and ensure that they are cleaned and changed regularly.

Surface Water Management

  1. Regularly monitor coastal waters and the site(s) to detect and immediately remediate any leaks;
  2. Any activity with significant environmental risks is prohibited within the Authority's jurisdiction. If an authorized activity involves the potential for accidental spills, other than ship refueling, loading and unloading of bulk liquids, the activity must be conducted more than thirty (30) metres from the river or watercourse.
  3. The Contractor shall put in place the necessary means to prevent debris or dust from his work from falling into the river or any other water body. These means shall be detailed in his environmental protection plan.

Waste Snow Management

  1. The dumping of snow into the river or any other watercourse is strictly prohibited at all times;
  2. Use abrasives and de-icing agents in minimal quantities, but sufficient to ensure a safe work site;
  3. Dispose of used snow more than thirty (30) metres from the river or a watercourse and have the storage site authorized in advance by the Authority;
  4. Clean the storage site at snow melt to ensure that the site is free of debris.

Management of Excavated Soil

  1. If contaminated soils in excess of regulatory limits are excavated, they shall be managed as directed by the Authority;
  2. Sample and segregate soils with potential for contamination or signs of contamination (visual or odor);
  3. Collect excavated soils at the end of each day and direct them to temporary storage areas designated by the Authority;
  4. Store excavated soils on a paved surface or on a waterproof tarp and cover them with the same tarp;
  5. Clearly identify piles of material so that their origin and nature can be easily traced, using the identification sheet provided by the Authority;
  6. In the event of an archaeological discovery, immediately stop the work and inform the Authority without delay.

Accidental spillage of contaminants

  1. The Contractor shall provide for the establishment and implementation of a contingency plan for the event of a contaminant spill. The Contractor shall clearly identify the responsible persons and authorities, as well as the procedure to follow in case of an environmental emergency. In the event of a contaminant spill, the Contractor shall immediately implement the applicable response plan, which shall include prompt containment, recovery and disposal of the spilled material, as well as site restoration;
  2. Regularly inspect and maintain any equipment that may leak (tanks, generators, compressors, pumps, etc.) and maintain an inspection log;
  3. Place drip pans under mobile tanks or equipment that may leak hydrocarbons and other hazardous materials;
  4. Use, when possible, non-toxic or biodegradable lubricants (biolubricants 70% in twenty-eight (28) days) in hydraulic equipment. Provide the safety information sheet to the Authority;
  5. Do not move non-moving tanks if they still contain product;
  6. Have appropriate oil response equipment (sheets, pellets, and absorbent pads) on site at all times and in sufficient quantity to respond to small spills (depending on the activity);
  7. Ensure that employees present are familiar with spill response equipment and methods and understand the procedures.

Wildlife Management

  1. If a nest is detected in the work area, notify the Authority immediately;
  2. If applicable, respect the nesting and migration period of birds present on the site;
  3. Unless a permit has been issued, no person shall:
  • Destroy, move or take any nest or eggs of migratory birds;
  • take or possess a migratory bird, unless the person holds a permit issued for that purpose

Management and Reduction of Vibration and Noise Levels During Construction

  1. Inform employees on site of the importance of reducing noise pollution;
  2. The Contractor shall plan and execute his work in such a way as to minimize inconvenience to the public caused by noise emanating from the work site. The Contractor shall use equipment equipped with noise reducing devices where possible;
  3. Respect the working hours stipulated by the Authority. Unless otherwise specified by the Authority, the working hours for construction sites and projects shall be from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. On weekends and holidays, all activity is prohibited and, if necessary, contact the Authority for specific authorization;
  4. If the Contractor decides to work outside of working hours for construction sites and projects, without having obtained prior authorization from the Authority, all costs incurred, including supervision costs, will be the responsibility of the Contractor;
  5. Adopt practices that minimize noise disturbance (e.g., wide-band back-up signals (white noise type), traffic patterns that avoid reversing, installation of screen walls, avoidance of truck body panels, positioning of generators, etc.);
  6. Use, where possible, vehicles or equipment equipped with quieter horns, mufflers or other noise attenuation devices, without compromising safety;
  7. In the Anse au Foulon harbour area, all equipment and machinery owned by the Contractor or present on the site for an extended period of time shall be equipped with a white noise back-up alarm.

Visual Impact and Light Pollution

  1. Pay particular attention to the location and orientation of light towers when evening and night work is required;
  2. Maintain sufficient lighting at all times to ensure worker and site safety and environmental management of operations, but limit lighting to necessary areas (directional lighting, dimming as needed);
  3. Turn off lighting towers when the work site is not in operation according to minimum lighting standards.

Management of hazardous materials, waste materials and residual hazardous materials

  1. Manage all types of residual materials produced on the site in accordance with the principles of the 3RV-E (reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery and elimination) and in compliance with the regulations in force;
  2. Ensure the cleanliness of the site at all times;
  3. Empty garbage cans and recycling garbage cans before they are full to avoid overflowing;
  4. Properly dispose of residual materials and hazardous waste according to the regulations in effect;
  5. Provide the work site with sufficient sanitary and recycling equipment to prevent the dispersion of residual materials in the environment (toilets, garbage cans, recycling bins, etc.) as well as ensure adequate maintenance;
  6. Collect and contain waste and debris (e.g. sandblasting) that has fallen to the ground (e.g. cover piles or use closed containers);
  7. Minimize the amount of solvents and other hazardous products used on site;
  8. Handle with care containers of petroleum products, solvents and hazardous products in a place where it will be possible to recover accidental spills (e.g. on a paved, flat and non-porous surface);
  9. Keep containers closed at all times when not in use;
  10. Store hazardous materials in a closed area, on an impervious surface, protected from the weather and properly identified;
  11. Do not load or unload incompatible dangerous goods at the same time;
  12. Do not store incompatible dangerous goods in close proximity.
  13. Notify the Authority if a temporary oil tank is to be used on the job site. Specify the location, volume and have sufficient recovery equipment.

 

Document Reference Number: 1

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