EXTENSION OF HIGHWAY 5 PROJECT BETWEEN FARM POINT AND THE CONNECTION TO ROAD 366 SCREENING REPORT FINAL VERSION BY TRANSPORT CANADA FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION DECEMBER 2010 NOTE This report has been written in French. In the event of discrepancy between the English version and the French version, the latter shall take precedence. Screening Report December 2010 - i - Highway 5 Extension – Chelsea - Wakefield TABLE OF CONTENT 1. Introduction............................................................................................................................9 1.1 Overview of the project....................................................................................................9 1.2 Legal framework of the environmental assessment ............................................................9 1.2.1 Regulatory Context................................................................................................9 1.2.2 Scope of the environmental assessment ...............................................................10 2. Public participation ................................................................................................................11 3. environmental assessment Methodology .................................................................................12 3.1 Description of the study area..........................................................................................12 3.2 Method use to assess environmental effects ....................................................................12 3.2.1 Determination of interactions ...............................................................................12 3.2.2 Determining the significance of environmental effects ...........................................13 4. Project description.................................................................................................................14 4.1 Project Overview and Main Components..........................................................................14 4.2 Timetable......................................................................................................................15 4.3 Maintenance and Operational Procedures ........................................................................15 4.3.1 Use of de-icing agents .........................................................................................15 4.3.2 Vegetation Control ..............................................................................................15 4.3.3 Maintenance of bridges, overpasses and roadways................................................16 4.4 Mitigation Measures Integrated in the Project..................................................................16 5. description AND EVALUATION of ENVIRONMENTAL effects......................................................16 PART A: General description.......................................................................................................16 5.1 Pysical Environment .......................................................................................................16 5.1.1 Soil Quality .........................................................................................................16 5.1.2 Surface water quality...........................................................................................17 5.1.3 Groundwater quality............................................................................................17 5.1.4 Air Quality...........................................................................................................18 5.1.5 Hydrography.......................................................................................................18 5.2 Biological environment ...................................................................................................19 5.2.1 Plant species.......................................................................................................19 5.2.2 Wildlife and habitat .............................................................................................22 5.3 Socio-economic environment ..........................................................................................28 5.3.1 Aboriginal use of lands and resources for traditional purposes................................28 5.3.2 Navigation ..........................................................................................................28 5.3.3 Archaeological potential.......................................................................................28 5.3.4 Agricultural land..................................................................................................29 5.3.5 Noise environment ..............................................................................................29 PART B: effects, mitigation measures and significance of residual effects of Biophysical Environment .........................................................................................................................29 5.4 Air quality – Effects, Mitigation Measures and Significance of residual effects ....................29 5.5 Surface water - Effects, Mitigation Measures and Significance of Residual Impact .............30 Screening Report December 2010 - iii - Highway 5 Extension – Chelsea - Wakefield TABLE DES MATIÈRES 5.5.1 Construction-related effects .................................................................................30 5.5.2 Effects related to the presence and use of the highway .........................................30 5.6 Soil and sediments - Effects, Mitigation Measures and Significance of Residual Impact .......30 5.7 Vegetation (including protected species) – Effects, Mitigation Measures and Significance of Residual Impact .........................................................................................................31 5.7.1 Clearing ..............................................................................................................31 5.7.2 Loss or impairment of rare plant species or habitats ..............................................31 5.7.3 Loss of riparian vegetation ...................................................................................32 5.7.4 Changes in roadside plant communities ................................................................32 5.8 Wetlands– Effects, Mitigation measures and Significance of Residual Effect .......................33 5.8.1 Construction-related effects, mitigation measures and significance of residual effects ................................................................................................................33 5.8.2 Operation-related effects, mitigation measures and significance of residual effects ................................................................................................................33 5.9 Herpetofauna (including rare species with special status) .................................................35 5.10 Ichtyian wildlife (including special status species) – Effects, Mitigation Measures and Significance of Residual Effect ........................................................................................36 5.10.1 Suspension of fine particulate in fish habitat .........................................................36 5.10.2 Losses and Modifications of Fish Habitat ...............................................................37 5.10.3 Exposure of aquatic life to chlorides or other maintenance products .......................39 5.10.4 Conclusion of analysis in relation to the Fisheries Act .............................................40 5.11 Avian Wildlife (including special-status species) – Effects, Mitigation Measures and Significance of Residual Effect ........................................................................................40 5.11.1 Construction-related effects .................................................................................40 5.11.2 Effects related to operation and presence of the highway ......................................40 5.12 Mammals– Effects, Mitigation Measures and Significance of Residual Effect .......................41 5.12.1 Loss or degradation of habitats suited to mammals ...............................................41 5.12.2 Limitation of wildlife movement and habitat fragmentation ....................................41 PART C: indirects Effects on socio-économic Components ............................................................42 5.13 Historical, archeological, paleontological or architectural heritage......................................42 5.14 Navigation .....................................................................................................................42 5.15 Current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by aboriginal persons .............42 5.16 Human Health ...............................................................................................................43 5.16.1 Effects on health resulting from the direct effects on groundwater quantity and quality ................................................................................................................43 5.16.2 Effects on health resulting from direct effects on air quality (noise) ........................45 5.17 Other Consideration : Agricultural land ............................................................................46 PART D: CUMULATIVE EffeCts ....................................................................................................46