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Comprehensive Study Report Canadian Environmental Agence canadienne Assessment Agency d’évaluation environnementale Comprehensive Study Report Extension of Route 167 North to the Otish Mountains Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency March 2012 Photos are credited to Jean-Michel Lagueux-Tremblay © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada (2012). This publication may be reproduced for personal use without permission, provided the source is fully acknowledged. However, multiple copy reproduction of this publication in whole or in part for purposes of distribution requires the prior written permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. To request permission, contact [email protected]. Catalogue No.: En106-107/2012E-PDF ISBN: 978-1-100-20155-9 This document has been issued in French under the title Rapport d'étude approfondie : Prolongement de la route 167 nord vers les monts Otish Alternative formats may be requested by contacting [email protected] Executive Summary The Quebec Department of Transportation (the project’s effects according to the following proponent) is proposing to extend Route 167 valued ecosystem components: plant species of towards the Otish mountains, over a distance of interest; fish and fish habitat; terrestrial wildlife 250 kilometres. This road construction project and its habitat; birds and their habitat; current is part of Plan Nord and is intended to provide use of land and resources for traditional and permanent access to the region and facilitate the tourism purposes; and structure, site, or thing development of mining, forestry, energy, and that has archaeological, heritage, or historical recreational tourism projects. The extension of significance. Route 167 northward is also intended to meet the needs of Cree and Jamesian residents for access The Federal Environmental Assessment to the area. Committee assessed the effects of the project using the information provided by the The project is located entirely within the James proponent in its impact assessment report and Bay territory, which is subject to the James Bay in complementary documents, opinions from and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA). The federal and provincial experts, and comments first 140 kilometres northeast of Mistissini will be received from the Cree Nation of Mistissini and built in the same corridor as the existing winter the public during the consultation phase. road leading to Camp Matoush, and the remaining 100 kilometres will be built in a new corridor. During the consultation on the proponent’s environmental impact statement, the Cree Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport and the public expressed concerns about the Canada will have to issue authorizations following: and approvals under the Fisheries Act and the Navigable Waters Protection Act for the • uncertainty regarding limited knowledge of development of stream crossings. Under the the area and of the resources affected by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, a project, comprehensive study of the project is required • the risks associated with the spread of before these authorizations and approvals can be contaminants, issued. The project also underwent a provincial • the maintenance of the woodland caribou environmental and social impact assessment population, under section 22 of the JBNQA. • the ecological integrity of the future Albanel- Témiscamie-Otish Park, and The Canadian Environmental Assessment • the opening up of the area and increased Agency conducted the comprehensive study in pressure on wildlife resources. collaboration with the Federal Environmental Assessment Committee, which consists of The proponent agreed to implement mitigation representatives of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, measures to reduce the effects that the project Transport Canada, Environment Canada, and could have on the environment. For example, the the Cree Regional Authority. Natural Resources proponent will include stream crossing design Canada also provided advice related to its fields criteria and construction practices that reduce of expertise. the disturbance of fish habitat; apply better management practices to control erosion and In the comprehensive study report, the Agency maintain natural hydrological conditions; limit grouped the results of the analysis of the work periods; and install wildlife crossings in CEAA—Comprehensive Study Report: Route 167 North ii strategic locations. The proponent also plans to establish one or more monitoring committees to facilitate communication with land users; these committees will include regional stakeholders in the forestry, recreation, tourism, and mining sectors, land use managers, and representatives of the Council of the Cree Nation of Mistissini. In addition, the proponent plans to implement an environmental emergency program to respond to accidents and spills. A follow-up program is required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act to verify the accuracy of the environmental assessment and to determine the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation measures. The follow- up program will focus on the revegetation of disturbed areas; the maintenance of the false mountain willow and the woodland caribou, two species at risk; the free movement of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife; and the performance of the fish habitat compensation program. Given the implementation of the proposed mitigation measures and follow-up program, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency concludes that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. iii CEAA—Comprehensive Study Report: Route 167 North Table of Contents Executive Summary...........................................................................................ii 1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Overview .........................................................................................................................1 1.2 Environmental Assessment Process ...............................................................................1 1.3 Purpose of the Comprehensive Study Report ................................................................1 2. Scope of Project ......................................................................................... 2 2.1 Components ....................................................................................................................3 2.2 Activities ..........................................................................................................................3 2.3 Schedule .........................................................................................................................3 3. Scope of Environmental Assessment ......................................................... 4 3.1 Factors to be Considered ................................................................................................4 3.2 Scope of the Factors Considered and the Spatial Boundaries .......................................4 3.3 Determination of Valued Ecosystem Components (VECs) .............................................4 3.4 Purpose and Need ..........................................................................................................5 4. Alternatives ................................................................................................. 7 4.1 Alternatives to the Project ...............................................................................................7 4.2 Alternative Means of Carrying out the Project .................................................................7 4.2.1 Description of alternative means ...........................................................................7 4.2.2 Comparative analysis of alternative means ...........................................................9 4.3 Optimization of the Alternative Means Selected .............................................................9 4.4 Agency’s Assessment ...................................................................................................10 5. Consultations ............................................................................................ 10 5.1 Public Consultations .....................................................................................................10 5.1.1 Agency consultations ...........................................................................................10 5.1.2 Consultation activities conducted by the proponent ............................................11 5.2 Aboriginal Consultation .................................................................................................11 5.2.1 Consultations conducted by the federal government...........................................11 5.2.2 Consultation activities conducted by the proponent ............................................12 5.3 Issues Raised ...............................................................................................................12 CEAA—Comprehensive Study Report: Route 167 North iv 6. Profile of the Environment ........................................................................ 12 6.1 Biophysical Context .................................................................................................... 12 6.2 Human Context ........................................................................................................... 14 7. Environmental Effects Assessment .........................................................
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