Marine Terminal Project on the North Shore of the Saguenay

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Document reference number: 41

Roles and expertise of Government of Canada and Government of Quebec departments participating in the working group

For the Marine Terminal Project on the North Shore of the Saguenay, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) set up a working group made up of representatives from federal departments and Quebec's Department of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change (MDDELCC), which will be responsible for contributing expert information and knowledge to complete the environmental assessment for the project. Below is a brief summary of the expertise related to the project of each member of the working group.

Role of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

The Agency manages the federal environmental assessment process under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012).

The Agency must:

• Carry out the environmental assessment
• Coordinate participation by the general public and Aboriginal groups
• Coordinate the working groups
• Write an environmental assessment report presenting its analysis of the potential environmental effects of the project and identify the key mitigation measures and the requirements of the follow-up program that will be recommended to Environment and Climate Change Canada

Role of Quebec's Department of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change

The Agency reached agreement with the Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les Changements (MDDELCC) on a collaborative approach for the environmental assessment of this project. A representative of MDDELCC is participating in the working group and contributing to the environmental assessment of the project under CEAA 2012.

MDDELCC called upon the expertise of the following Quebec government departments:Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l'Électrification des transports; Santé et des Services sociaux; Forêts, Faune et des Parcs; Affaires municipales et de l'occupation du territoire; Culture et des Communications; Sécurité publique; et le Secrétariat aux Affaires autochtones.

Expertise of Government of Canada Departments and Agencies

Laurentian Pilotage Authority

Areas of expertise:

• Vessel traffic
• Pilotage services on the St. Lawrence River and the Saguenay River

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Areas of expertise	Key elements
Wildlife	Migratory birds listed under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and associated regulations Non-aquatic species at risk listed in Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act Conservation of wetlands
Water quality	Deposit of deleterious substances in waters frequented by fish
Atmospheric environment	Effects of emissions of air contaminants on air quality Greenhouse gas emissions Weather and climatic conditions
Accidents and malfunctions	Environmental effects of potential accidents and malfunctions

Parks Canada (Parks Canada, in collaboration with the Quebec government, is responsible for managing the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park.)

Areas of expertise:

• Marine fauna in the marine park
• Interactions between marine fauna and recreational/tourism activities (belugas and vessel traffic)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Areas of expertise:

• Fish and fish habitat, including aquatic species at risk
• Regulatory decisions made under the Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act

Natural Resources Canada

Areas of expertise	Key elements
Geotechnology	Geology and terrain (for example, slope stability)
Geohazards	Seismic movements

Health Canada

Areas of expertise:

• Air quality, particularly potential contaminants in ambient air
• Quality of drinking water and water used for recreation
• Noise

Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard: Canada's Marine Safety System

Areas of expertise:

• Navigation protection
• Ballast water management
• Marine incident prevention
• Response readiness in the event of a marine incident (environmental emergency)

Expertise of Quebec's Department of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change

Areas of expertise	Key elements
Physical environment	Air quality and noise Surface water and groundwater quality Sediment quality Soil quality Hydrogeology and hydrodynamics Sedimentology
Biological environment	Vegetation and wetlands Wildlife and wildlife habitat Birds and bird habitat Mammals Special-status species Exotic invasive species
Human environment	Land and resource use Public health (noise, air quality, odours) Archaeological heritage on land and underwater Built heritage resources and cultural heritage landscapes
Technological risks and emergency measures	Management of health, safety and the environment Management of technological risks and emergency measures