couvert_performance 98-qrk 02/11/1998 13:49 Page 4 Environmental Performance Report 1997 perform. envir. ang 3.0 02/11/1998 14:43 Page c2 1996 Environment Policy Main Policy Statement Hydro-Québec wants to be recognized as a utility in the forefront of the environmental and sustainable development field. To achieve this goal, it assumes full responsibility for environmental issues inherent in all of its activities, and exercises strict environmental management to this end. Principle 1 - Principle 3 - Principle 5 - Sustainable Development Environmental Research Information, Consultation and Dialogue For the benefit of present and future Hydro-Québec conducts or supports Hydro-Québec ensures that the individuals, generations, Hydro-Québec gives priority research on the environmental effects groups and organizations concerned to energy efficiency and renewable of its activities. are involved in the planning, design energy sources as means of meeting its and implementation of its activities. customers’ needs. It plans, designs and Principle 4 - carries out its activities so as to contribute Enhancement of Activities Principle 6 - to maintaining quality of life, resources and Facilities Environmental Responsibility and environments. Hydro-Québec enhances its activities of Hydro-Québec Personnel, and facilities so that they play a part in Subsidiaries and Business Partners Principle 2 - community development and in promo- Hydro-Québec provides its personnel Strict, Responsible Environmental ting the quality of the environment. with the means to fully assume their Management responsibilities, requires that its subsi- Hydro-Québec incorporates the environ- diaries take on their environmental ment into the utility’s day-to-day responsibilities, and makes its business management, in order to continually partners and customers aware of sound improve its environmental performance. environmental practices. Environmental Commitment and Responsibility (ECR) Program of the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) Declaration of Principles We, the electric utility members of the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA), endorse the concept of sustainable development, and recognize that a strong economy cannot be sustained without a healthy environment.We are committed to achieving environmental regulatory compliance and, further, to continual improvement by implementing the following principles: 1. To be more efficient in our use 2. To reduce the adverse 4. To ensure that our employees of resources. environmental impact of understand the environmental We will seek opportunities to be more our business. implications of their actions and efficient in our use of resources by: We will conduct our business in a have the knowledge and skills to · reducing the amount of natural manner that protects the environment make the right decisions. resources consumed during the and ecological relationships. Environmen- We will provide our employees with generation, transmission and tal impact avoidance will be considered the skills and knowledge necessary to distribution of electricity; as the first option; where impacts are conduct their work in an environmentally · working with consumers of electricity unavoidable, they will be mitigated or responsible manner in all circumstances. to promote its efficient use; and compensated. Opportunities to enhance · promoting research, development the environment affected by our activities and application of renewable energy will be pursued where feasible. technologies and new energy efficient technologies. 3. To be accountable to our constituents. We will conduct our activities with increased transparency, and will consider and respond to inquiries from constituents. 980563 Question.Anglais 1.0 02/11/1998 13:53 Page 2 k … ac ur feedb o Please return to: Hydro-Québec e need y Denis Sirois Environmental Performance Advisor W 75, boul. René-Lévesque ouest 19e étage Montréal (Québec) Canada H2Z 1A4 980563 Question.Anglais 1.0 02/11/1998 13:53 Page 1 Evaluation questionnaire To better meet your expectations and improve the quality 6. Please rate the quantity of information of our annual Environmental Performance Report, we in the following sections: need your feedback. Please help us by completing this Too Enough Not much enough brief questionnaire and returning it to us as soon as pos- Some Indicators of Hydro-Québec’s sible.Your comments will be read with great interest. Environmental Performance Introduction Environmental Management System Specific Issues Related to Contaminants 1. Is the report clear and easy Electricity Generation to understand? Energy Transmission Very Electricity Distribution Fairly Acquisition and Management of Not very Goods and Services Not at all Community Relations Conclusion 2. Do you find the information in the report relevant? Glossary Very 7. Do you find that the report contains Fairly too much, enough or not enough of Not very the following types of information: Not at all Text Tables 3. Have you read the following Charts sections of the report? Yes No 8. Please indicate your place of residence: Some Indicators of Hydro-Québec’s Québec Environmental Performance Other province of Canada Introduction United States Environmental Management System Europe Specific Issues Related to Contaminants Asia Electricity Generation Other Energy Transmission Electricity Distribution 9. Please indicate your area of activity: Acquisition and Management Finance of Goods and Services Government Community Relations Economic or community interest group Conclusion Association Index of Acronyms Energy Glossary Private company in other sector 4. Do you use this report in your work? Student or teacher Environmental advocacy group 5. Were you able to find the information you needed in the report? 10. How would you rate the report over all? What other information would you have Excellent liked the report to provide? Very good Average Poor 11. Comments or suggestions Thank you for your cooperation. perform. envir. ang 3.0 02/11/1998 14:43 Page I Table of Contents A Word from the President and Chief Executive Electricity Distribution . .28 Officer and from the Chairman of the Board . .3 Management of Distribution-Related Environmental Impacts . .28 Introduction . .5 Internal Environmental Assessments . .28 Integration of the System . .29 Environmental Management System . .6 Recovery of Poles . .30 Environment and Corporate Citizenship Committee . .6 Vegetation . .30 Participation in the ECR program of the CEA . .6 Ecosystem Management . .31 Update of the Environment Policy . .6 Research . .31 EMS Implementation as at December 31, 1997 . .6 Measures to Protect Ecosystems . .31 Environmental Audits . .7 Complaint Management . .8 Acquisition and Management Infraction Notices . .8 of Goods and Services . .32 Environmental Training and Awareness . .9 Management of Environmental Contribution of advisory committees, Aspects Related to Goods and Services . .32 partners and research . .10 The 3 REs: Recovery, Reuse, Advisory Committee on the Environment Recycling and Energy Recovery . .32 and Community Affairs and Its Subcommittees . .10 Management of Hazardous Waste . .34 Environmental Research Partners . .10 PCBs: From Management to Elimination . .35 Environmental Research . .11 Ecosystem Management . .35 Research . .35 Specific Issues Related to Contaminants . .12 Reduction and Elimination of Toxic Products . .12 Community Relations . .36 Soil Decontamination . .12 Aboriginal Communities . .36 Spills . .13 Land-use Planning . .36 Regional Development . .36 Electricity Generation . .14 Environmental Enhancement . .38 Hydroelectricity: After Kyoto . .14 Hydroelectricity, a Renewable Energy Source . .14 Conclusion . .39 Environmental and Social Acceptability of Projects . .14 Versatility of Hydroelectric Installations . .15 Index of Acronyms . .40 Greenhouse Gases . .15 Electricity Exports and Atmospheric Pollutants . .16 Glossary . .41 Energy Conversion Efficiency . .16 Thermal Generation . .16 Optimizing Our Generating Facilities . .16 Existing Generating Facilities . .16 Generating Station Refurbishing Projects . .17 New Projects . .18 International Projects . .19 Ecosystem Management . .20 Environmental Monitoring . .20 Units of mesure Research . .22 $M: millions of dollars Measures in the Natural and Human Environment . .23 FBM: foot board measure Environmental Enhancement . .23 ppm: parts per million mSv: millisievert Energy Transmission . .24 µT: microtesla Managing the Environmental Impacts of Transmission . .24 kV: kilovolt Electric and Magnetic Fields . .24 TJ: terajoule Integrated Vegetation Control . .24 kW: kilowatt Noise Management . .26 MW: megawatt (one million watts) Ecosystem Management . .27 GW: gigawatt (one million kilowatts) Research . .27 GWh: gigawatthour (one million kilowatthours) Measures in Natural Environments . .27 TWh: terawatthour (one billion kilowatthours) perform. envir. ang 3.0 02/11/1998 14:43 Page II Some Indicators of Hydro-Québec’s Environmental Estimated Atmospheric Emissions from Hydro-Québec’s Thermal Generating Plants NOx Emissions (see page 17) CO2 Emissions (see page 17) SO2 Emissions (see page 17) 4 500 9 000 4 000 8 8 000 3 500 0,035 7 7 000 0,07 3 000 0,03 1 200 000 6 6 000 0,06 2 500 0,025 1 000 000 5 5 000 0,05 2 000 0,02 800 000 4 4 000 0,04 1 500 0,015 600 000 3 3 000 0,03 1 000 0,01 400 000 2 2 000 0,02 500 0,005 200 000 1 1 000 0,01 Tonnes emitted Tonnes / GWh Tonnes emitted Tonnes / GWh Tonnes emitted 0 0 Tonnes / GWh 0 0 0 0 92 93 94 95 96 97 92 93 94 95 96 97 92 93 94 95