CONSORTIUM Ref. No. : 115726.007-610 1032, 3e avenue, Val d’Or, QC, J9P 1T6 5(3257 SOCIÉTÉ DE DÉVELOPPEMENT DE LA BAIE-JAMES Extension and operation of a quarry and a bituminous concrete plant located at km 550 of James Bay Road (Northern Quebec) Application for exemption from the environmental assessment procedure under section 154 of the Environment Quality Act Presented to the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques Version 0 December 2020 CONSORTIUM Ref. No. : 115726.007-610 1032, 3e avenue, Val d’Or, QC, J9P 1T6 5(3257 SOCIÉTÉ DE DÉVELOPPEMENT DE LA BAIE-JAMES Extension and operation of a quarry and a bituminous concrete plant located at km 550 of James Bay Road (Northern Quebec) Application for exemption from the environmental assessment procedure under section 154 of the Environment Quality Act Presented to the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques Norda Stelo / Stantec Version 0 1032, 3e Avenue Ouest Val-d’Or, Québec J9P 1T6 7«O«SKRQHɋ 819 825-1353 7«O«FRSLHXUɋ 819 825-1130 PRODUCTION TEAM Catherine Vallières, M. Sc. Biol. Writing and revision of the application Project Officer, Environment Sarah-Claude Lachance, M. Sc. Biol. Writing of the application Pierre-Étienne Poulin, Eng. Quarry Development Plan Antoine Proulx, Forest Eng. at Forchemex Interpretation of the ecoforestry map and of wood volumes William Introna, M. Sc. Biol. Revision of the translation Yves Racine, Cartographer Mapping Karine Pouliot, Administrative Assistant Editing of the application Signed by: Catherine Vallières, M. Sc. Biologist Project Officer, Environment The following sections present all the information required in the form Renseignements préliminaires pour la réalisation d’un projet en milieu nordique (Preliminary information for the realisation of a project in the northern region) relating to an application for attestation of exemption under section 154 of the Environment Quality Act (EQA). TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 APPLICANT'S IDENTIFICATION AND CONTACT INFORMATION ............................................... 1 1.1 Promoter’s identification ...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Identification of the Consultant Mandated by the Promoter ................................................ 2 1.2.1 Description of the Mandate ..................................................................................... 2 2 PROJECT LOCATION AND SCHEDULE ........................................................................................ 3 2.1 Identification of the Project and its Activities ....................................................................... 3 2.2 Description of the Site Covered by the Project ................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Biophysical Environment ........................................................................................ 7 2.2.2 Human Environment ............................................................................................. 13 2.3 Work Schedule .................................................................................................................. 14 2.4 Location Plan ..................................................................................................................... 15 3 GENERAL PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT ......................................................................... 16 3.1 Project Title ........................................................................................................................ 16 3.2 Subjection .......................................................................................................................... 16 3.3 Summary Description of the Project and the Performance Variants ................................. 16 3.3.1 Comparative Analysis of the Variants................................................................... 16 3.3.2 Summary Description of the Project ..................................................................... 17 3.4 Project Objectives and Justification................................................................................... 20 3.5 Related Activities ............................................................................................................... 20 4 PUBLIC INFORMATION AND CONSULTATION PROCESS ....................................................... 21 4.1 Information and Consultation Activities Performed ........................................................... 21 5 DESCRIPTION OF THE MAIN ISSUES AND APPREHENDED IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT ON THE RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT ....................................................................... 23 5.1 Description of the Main Issues of the Project .................................................................... 23 5.2 Description of the Apprehended Impacts of the Project on the Receiving Environment ...................................................................................................................... 23 5.2.1 Physical Environment ........................................................................................... 24 5.2.2 Biological Environment ......................................................................................... 25 Société de développement de la Baie-James Extension and operation of a quarry and a bituminous concrete plant located at km 550 of James Bay Road (Northern Quebec) Presented to the ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques - N/Réf.: 115726.007-610 - i - December 2020 – v0 5.2.3 Human Environment ............................................................................................. 27 6 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ................................................................................................ 28 6.1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions .............................................................................................. 28 7 OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION ............................................................................................ 29 8 DECLARATION AND SIGNATURE ............................................................................................... 30 8.1 Declaration and Signature ................................................................................................. 30 LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Previous Mining Titles and Former Authorizations Relating to the km 550 JBR Quarry ................................................................................................................................. 4 Table 2.2 Forestry plant communities present within the BEX 1769 boundary ................................ 11 Table 2.3 Protection Status of the Bird Species at Risk Potentially Present in the km 550 JBR Quarry Area ............................................................................................................... 13 Table 3.1 Summary of proposed quarry exploitation and deforestation areas ................................. 18 LIST OF MAPS Map 2.1 Regional location of the km 550 JBR quarry ....................................................................... 5 Map 2.2 General development plan of the km 550 JBR quarry ........................................................ 6 Map 2.3 Neighbouring natural environment of the km 550 JBR quarry ............................................ 8 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 2.1 Copy of the Exclusive Lease to Mine Surface Mineral Substances (BEX No. 1769; in French) Appendix 2.2 Responses of the MELCC and the MFFP to the Requests for Information Formulated to the CDPNQ (in French) Appendix 2.3 Ecoforest Stands According to the Northern Québec Vegetation Mapping Data (MFFP, 2017) and Photo-interpretation of the ESRI Image (in French) Appendix 4.1 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the EIJBRG of March 3, 2016 and SDBJ Presentation at the Regular Meeting of the EJBRG of May 30, 2019 Appendix 4.2 Letter of Invitation Addressed to the Chief of the Chisasibi Community and Document Summarizing the Activities to be Performed at the Quarry at km 550 of Route de la Baie- James Société de développement de la Baie-James Extension and operation of a quarry and a bituminous concrete plant located at km 550 of James Bay Road (Northern Quebec) Presented to the ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques - December 2020 – v0 - ii - N/Réf.: 115726.007-610 1 APPLICANT'S IDENTIFICATION AND CONTACT INFORMATION 1.1 Promoter’s identification Name: Société de développement de la Baie-James (SDBJ) Civic address: 110 Boulevard Matagami P.O. 970 Matagami, Québec J0Y 2A0 Postal address (if different): Phone: 819-739-4717 Fax: 819-739-4329 E-mail: [email protected] Émil Tagho, Eng., MBA Project Officer: Vice-President of Infrastructure, Société de développement de la Baie-James Mandatory: Québec Enterprise Number (NEQ) from Not applicable the Québec Enterprise Register Since the applicant is not a municipality, no resolution of the municipal council is attached to this application. Société de développement de la Baie-James Extension and operation of a quarry and a bituminous concrete plant located at km 550 of James Bay Road (Northern Quebec) Presented to the ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques - N/Réf.: 115726.007-610 - 1 - December 2020 – v0 1.2 Identification of the Consultant Mandated by the Promoter Name: Consortium Norda Stelo/Stantec Civic 1032, 3e Avenue Ouest address: Val-d’Or QC, Canada