TRANS QUÉBEC & MARITIMES PIPELINE INC. (TQM) TQM REINFORCEMENT AND ASSET PURCHASE PROJECT Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment August 2019 TQM Pipeline Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment TQM REINFORCEMENT AND ASSET PURCHASE PROJECT TRANS QUÉBEC & MARITIMES PIPELINE INC. (TQM) TQM REINFORCEMENT AND ASSET PURCHASE PROJECT Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Prepared by: _____________________________________ Mélanie Brisson Léveillé B.Sc. _____________________________________ Diane Langlois, Geographer, M. Env. Reviewed by: _____________________________________ Annabelle Landry B.Sc., M. Env. Project number: 19-32500-800 August 22, 2019 Groupe Conseil UDA inc. Consulting services in agriculture, forestry and environment since 1978 TQM Pipeline Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment TQM REINFORCEMENT AND ASSET PURCHASE PROJECT Table of Content List of Appendices ............................................................................................................................................................. iii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................................................... iv List of Acronyms and Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................. vi 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 1-1 Trans Québec & Maritimes Pipeline Inc. ...................................................................................................... 1-1 The TQM Reinforcement and Asset Purchase Project................................................................................. 1-1 Regulatory Context ....................................................................................................................................... 1-2 Federal ............................................................................................................................................. 1-2 Provincial & Municipal ...................................................................................................................... 1-2 Assessment Scope ....................................................................................................................................... 1-3 Project Team ................................................................................................................................................ 1-3 Concordance with the NEB Filing Manual .................................................................................................... 1-3 ESA Report Structure ................................................................................................................................... 1-6 2 CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT .............................................................................................................. 2-1 Public consultation ....................................................................................................................................... 2-1 Bromont CS ..................................................................................................................................... 2-1 Sabrevois Asset Purchase ............................................................................................................... 2-2 Saint-Basile Interconnect ................................................................................................................. 2-3 Regulatory Consultation ............................................................................................................................... 2-3 Aboriginal Engagement ................................................................................................................................ 2-4 Ongoing Engagement .................................................................................................................................. 2-4 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................................... 3-1 Need for the Project ..................................................................................................................................... 3-1 Alternatives to the Project ............................................................................................................................ 3-1 Overview of Project Components and Key Technical Features ................................................................... 3-1 Bromont CS ..................................................................................................................................... 3-2 Sabrevois Asset Purchase ............................................................................................................... 3-5 Saint-Basile Interconnect ................................................................................................................. 3-5 Temporary Workspace Area ........................................................................................................................ 3-6 Construction ................................................................................................................................................. 3-6 Bromont CS ..................................................................................................................................... 3-6 Sabrevois Asset Purchase ............................................................................................................... 3-8 Saint-Basile Interconnect ................................................................................................................. 3-8 Operations .................................................................................................................................................... 3-9 Decommissioning and Abandonment ........................................................................................................... 3-9 4 OVERVIEW OF BASELINE CONDITIONS .......................................................................................................... 4-1 Methodological Considerations .................................................................................................................... 4-1 Approach .......................................................................................................................................... 4-1 Existing Data .................................................................................................................................... 4-1 Detailed Field Surveys at Bromont CS ............................................................................................ 4-2 Field Reconnaissance for the Sabrevois Asset Purchase ............................................................... 4-2 Groupe Conseil UDA inc. i Consulting services in agriculture, forestry and environment since 1978 TQM Pipeline Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment TQM REINFORCEMENT AND ASSET PURCHASE PROJECT Field Reconnaissance for the Saint-Basile Interconnect ................................................................. 4-2 Spatial Boundaries ....................................................................................................................................... 4-2 Biophysical Environment .............................................................................................................................. 4-3 Physical and Meteorological Environment ....................................................................................... 4-3 Soil and Soil Productivity ................................................................................................................. 4-5 Water Quality and Quantity .............................................................................................................. 4-6 Fish and Fish Habitat ....................................................................................................................... 4-7 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................................ 4-9 Wetlands ........................................................................................................................................ 4-11 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat ........................................................................................................... 4-12 Species at Risk or Species of Special Status ................................................................................ 4-18 Air and Greenhouse Gas Emissions .............................................................................................. 4-18 Acoustic Environment .................................................................................................................... 4-19 Socio-Economic Environment .................................................................................................................... 4-20 Human Occupancy and Resource Use .......................................................................................... 4-20 Heritage Resources ....................................................................................................................... 4-23 Navigation and Navigation Safety