Montreal – July 25, 2024 – Transport Canada has determined that the proposed project Reconstruction of Runway 09-27 and rehabilitation of Taxiway A, B, C, D and apron at Sept-Îles airport, Quebec is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

 

This determination was based on a consideration of the following factors:

• impacts on rights of Indigenous peoples;
• Indigenous knowledge;
• community knowledge;
• comments received from the public; and
• technically and economically feasible mitigation measures.

Mitigation measures taken into account for this determination are:

Accidents and failures

• An effective emergency plan in the event of an environmental incident, spill (sediment or harmful substances) or fire relating to the characteristics and constraints of the site and its environment must be developed by the contractor and sent to all persons concerned. The environmental emergency plan will have to contain the names of the people and authorities to be contacted as well as the measures to be implemented in the event of a spill.

This contingency plan must be submitted to Transport Canada at least 5 business days prior to the start of the work.

• All personnel at the work site must be fully trained in emergency spill response procedures, methods and the use of relevant equipment and materials.
• Respect a minimum distance of 30 metres from any aquatic environment or a wetland when refueling, parking machinery and storing petroleum products. If this distance cannot be respected, the contractor will be required to install an adequate secondary containment system for potential spill.         
• Maintain complete emergency response kits (absorbent products, dry bags, blowout ators, gloves, etc.) in the vicinity of the work area at all times to contain any spills. Secondary emergency kits may be required at certain locations on the site.
• Immediately report any accidental spill to the person responsible for the project's emergency plan, who will ensure that the authorities concerned are contacted without delay, that the affected area is identified, that the clean-up is carried out and that contaminated soils as well as residual soils, petroleum residues and other hazardous residual materials are managed in accordance with the laws and regulations in force,  if applicable.
• In the event of an accidental spill of hazardous material into the environment, the spill must be reported immediately to the departmental representative and to the following authorities:

-Environment Canada, Environmental Emergencies Centre. Tel.: 866-283-2333.

-MELCCFP : 1-866-694-5454.

These emergency numbers must be displayed very clearly and at all times in the site office.

Soil quality and excavated material management

• All backfill material imported to the site must be clean, i.e., less than criterion A of the MELCCFP's Intervention Guide, Soil Protection and Rehabilitation of Contaminated Land (Guide).
• In the event of excavation of soil or materials showing signs of contamination, they must be placed on a membrane or a waterproof container, analyzed and managed in accordance with the standards in force based on the results of soil tests. These soils or materials must not be reused on the site.
• For the off-site transportation of contaminated soil, i.e., above criterion "A" of the MELCCFP's Intervention Guide: Soil Protection and Rehabilitation of Contaminated Land, the Contractor must comply with the Regulation respecting the traceability of excavated contaminated soil. Before the start of the transportation of the contaminated soil, the Contractor must create the project and enter all the required information into the government's traceability computer system Traces Québec.

 

Groundwater

• Locate observation wells in the area of the work where excavation is required and block them in accordance with section 20 of the Regulation respecting the withdrawal of water and its protection.

 

Machinery and Equipment

• Keep the machinery and equipment used during the work in good working order, clean and free of leaks of oil, gasoline or any other liquid that may pollute the environment and shut down engines when not in use.
• Maintain and refuel vehicles and equipment on a watertight surface.

 

Hazardous Materials Management                 

• Identify (or develop) an area for the temporary storage of hydrocarbons or other hazardous materials, refuelling and general maintenance of machinery at a minimum distance from an aquatic environment, drainage ditches, wetlands and watercourses. The toxic substances used, such as oil and gasoline, must be handled with care, according to the laws and regulations in force.

• Have a hazardous materials management plan (storage, transportation, disposal, recovery, control and decontamination measures).           
• It is prohibited to dispose of waste materials, debris, volatiles or any type of contaminant by dumping them into storm or sanitary sewers, in an aquatic environment or in a wetland environment.
• Implement a waste management system that takes into account their nature and provides for containers appropriate to their nature.  

• Comply with all applicable regulations regarding the transportation, storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials and hazardous waste.

Air quality

• Limit trucking and turn off machinery and equipment engines when not in use.
• Cover dry materials and waste to prevent wind from kicking up dust or carrying debris.
• Handle materials in a manner that avoids the emission of dust.
• Ensure that the vehicles and equipment used are kept in perfect working order (e.g., exhaust system).       
• Optimize maneuvers to minimize the duration of operations.

 

Soundscape

• Use machinery and equipment in good working order to minimize noise.
• Limit trucking and turn off machinery and equipment engines when not in use.

 

Concreting

• Avoid paving during periods of heavy rain.
• Adopt construction, renovation and demolition waste management practices that are consistent with the Greening Government Strategy, including prioritizing the recovery and reclamation of concrete waste (aggregate residue).
• Ensure that water that has been in contact with uncured or partially cured concrete or cement (such as water from cleaning concrete mixers and other equipment) is not discharged into the natural environment.
• Trap material that drips or drips from cast-in-place concrete and concrete mixers through interception ditches, settling ponds, reservoirs or other facilities. The sediment must be able to settle and reach a neutral pH before the clarified water is released into the drainage system or can flow into the soil.

    

Waste management and disposal

• Pick up debris as it occurs and place it in appropriate containers to prevent it from being dispersed into the environment.
• Sort materials at source to minimize the risk of contamination and maximize their recovery.
• Establish a construction waste management plan by promoting reuse and/or recycling. If they must be disposed of, dispose of them at an authorized site.
• Track waste diversion from landfills. The follow-up report will be required to specify the % by weight of all construction and demolition waste from landfills.
• Remove unused materials, garbage, debris of all kinds or other residual materials from the site throughout the work and dispose of them in an authorized site, in accordance with applicable regulations.          

 

Bird protection

• Clearing is prohibited during the bird nesting period, from late April to mid-August.
• The Contractor must take all necessary measures to comply with the laws and regulations relating to the presence of migratory birds, including, but not limited to, the Species at Risk Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and the Migratory Birds Regulations. Some measures to minimize impacts on birds include:
  • • Limit encroachment into the natural environment as much as possible.
    • Particular care should be taken to avoid disturbing or destroying any migratory bird nest.
    • Avoid approaching or disturbing any bird or bird's nest if they are observed during work.
• If a nest containing migratory bird eggs or nestlings is discovered near or within the work zone, stop all noisy activities in the vicinity of the nesting site, protect the nest(s) with a protection zone. Immediately contact the departmental representative who will contact ECCC's Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) to ensure that the correct actions are taken.
• If activities are likely to release contaminated water that may have accumulated in retention ponds (structures that may be frequented by birds), notify the ministry representative to conduct a risk assessment of the use of the ponds by avian wildlife and determine if additional mitigation measures are required.

 

Protection of species at risk

• On grassed areas surrounding runway 09-27, taxiways A, B, C, D and the apron, limit circulation to the pre-established work zones.
• Use existing roads and paved areas to limit encroachment on surrounding natural environments.
• Install a protective barrier at the southern edge of Taxiway B to prevent encroachment on the Moonwort populations identified at this location.

 

Limiting the spread of invasive species

• Machinery on work site must be clean and free of invasive alien species. It should also be washed before leaving the site.

 

Security

• Implement a safety program specifying the signage that will be put in place and the restrictions on traffic in the work area.
• Ensure the safety of workers and the public by marking the work area and using protective barriers and appropriate signage.