The environmental impact study of your Canada is now available in the environmental assessment register of the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. There are the main species of amphibians which are at risk of being affected.
As promised on June 19, when the main lines of the environmental impact study, the complete document can now be consulted in its entirety.
The study is divided into nearly 40 files and has a total of 12,948 pages, a brief version is also available. The Brief Document presents the project and the main measures to mix its environmental impact.
The company still provides that the economic benefits of the project will be $ 5.6 billion and 600 direct and indirect jobs will be created in the region.
Regarding the wind farm, the royalties for the owners are estimated at $ 447 million in 30 years.
Vulnerable species listed
In the fauna protection component, we learn more about the species that could be disturbed by construction work and the operation of the wind farm and the electrolyser.
The wood turtle, the northern dark salamander, the four toe salamander and the smooth green snake have all been identified as vulnerable or potentially designated as vulnerable species which could be affected by the work.
The wood turtle is classified as vulnerable in Quebec.
Photo: Radio-Cadada / Nelly Alberla
For the wood turtle, which is currently classified as vulnerable, your Canada has planned mitigation measures, in particular to protect females during nesting periods and individuals in hibernation in order to avoid disturbances.
Infrastructure is also provided that avoids sensitive areas and exclusions barriers to keep them away from the roads.
For the northern dark salamander, which is not a vulnerable species in Quebec, but which is likely to be, it is the effect of access paths on the rivers that form their habitat which is feared as an effect.
The dark northern salamander is not a vulnerable species in Quebec, but could become so.
Photo: Photo provided by Appalachian corridor
Your Canada notably provides for the implementation of infrastructure to prevent sediments from being found in the water and could even go so far as to move salamanders before the start of work.
Prohibited work during certain periods
To protect the Salamander to four toes, which could be affected by deforestation for infrastructure, your Canada provides manual deforestation to reduce disruption.
Salamander with four toes is not a vulnerable species in Quebec, but could become so.
Photo : Scott Gillingwater
In addition, the work will be suspended in the habitats of the species from April to November to reduce the impact on the species during sensitive periods.
To protect the smooth green snake, your Canada plans to prohibit work during the critical periods for the health of the species. The relocation of certain specimens is also in the boxes.
The smooth green snake is not threatened in Quebec, but could be classified as vulnerable one day.
Photo : Flickr / Martha Dol
The next steps to monitor: the return of the Ministry of the Environment and the period of consultation of the BAPE who could begin in early 2026. It is at this time that the ministry’s response to this study will be known.
