PUBLIC NOTICE

Rehabilitation of the Riprap at the Cap-aux-Meules terminal, Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec

PUBLIC COMMENTS INVITED

January 10^th, 2023– Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada must determine whether the proposed project, located in Cap-aux-Meules likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

Written comments must be submitted by Febuary 9^th, 2023 to:

aea-eaa@tc.gc.ca

The 20 years old protective riprap of the ferry terminal at the Port of Cap-aux-Meules, at Iles-de-la-Madeleine in the province of Québec, has been recently evaluated and its ability to withstand wave action during severe storm events was judged insufficient.

During several inspection conducted, it was noted that there are many fissures in the riprap stones, it was also noted that some stones were randomly dispatched in the area along the terminal. This degradation implies a reduction in the degree of protection against certain weather conditions.

The rehabilitation of the riprap aims to protect and maintain the integrity of the terminal facilities from all weather conditions for the next 50 years. The new installation intends to assure the safety and security of the surroundings such as the port, boats and ferry while meeting the current environmental requirements. The structural integrity will be preserved by being adequately protected from wave action, and the existing containment cells will be protected.

The implementation of this project will significantly reduce wave damage as the design will anticipate the possible impacts of climate change, which may result in an augmentation of force and frequency of storm events, higher water levels and sea ice thinning.

The project therefore consists of replacing the existing stone with a good quality stone and building a berm (in two stages) at the foot of the breakwater, with an elevation of +2 m from Chart Datum at the ridge and a width of about 6 m over the entire study area. This berm will protect the breakwater from storm surge.