Traduction
Proposed hydroelectric development in Angliers
BAPE report is now public
Québec City, Septembre
11, 2003 – At the request of the Minister
for the Environment, Mr. Thomas J. Mulcair, the Bureau
d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement
(BAPE) today publicly-released its inquiry and public
hearing report on the proposed hydroelectric development
in Angliers by La Régionale Société
d’hydroélectricité Régionale
inc. The mandate for this inquiry and public hearing
began on April 28, 2003 with Ms. Sylvie Girard as
Chairperson of the Commission, assisted by Commissioner,
Mr. Bertrand Bouchard.
By the end of the public hearing process, the Commission
concluded that the proposed hydroelectric development
in Angliers is justified, and acceptable from an environmental
perspective. The Commission based their assessment
on a combination of factors, namely: energy justification;
the environmental impact of the development; its reception
within the community; and especially, the local and
regional economic benefits generated by the project.
According to the Commission, the energy yield from
Angliers, while modest, may enable Hydro-Québec
Production to meet a small portion of its additional
needs in the coming years since the development is
achievable on the short term.
The Commission noted that the current des Quinze reservoir
management method would not be modified by the future
Angliers station. However, they did conclude that
the proposed development could enable Hydro-Québec
Production to synchronise the operations of the Rapides-des-Quinze
and Angliers stations in order to generate energy
during peak hours. According to the Commission, using
the Angliers station for this purpose should only
be authorised following an environmental impact study
of level fluctuations on the rivière des Outaouais
(upstream from the Rapides-des-Quinze station), which
could result from this type of management. Moreover,
in the Commission’s opinion, the promoter and
the Municipality of Angliers should consider relocating
the water intake before start-up of the station.
Lastly, the Commission is aware of the considerable
economic benefits for the government, the region and
more specifically the Municipality of Angliers that
will be generated by the station’s construction
and operation. They noted that the proposed development
has been well-received by the population and supported
by local and regional authorities as well as regional
economic organisations. The economic benefits are
central to the acceptability of the development within
the local community. However, the Commission feels
that the dialogue between the natives communities
and the promoter should continue in order to ensure
the most harmonious integration possible of the development
into the surrounding community.
Availability of the report
The inquiry and public hearing report on the proposed
hydroelectric development in Angliers is now available
for consultation, in French, at the BAPE consultation
centres, the reading rooms set up in the affected
community and the BAPE website: www.bape.gouv.qc.ca.
Requests may also be forwarded to the BAPE office,
by e-mail: communication@bape.gouv.qc.ca or phone:
(418) 643-7447 or toll-free: 1 (800) 463-4732.
You may recall that during the first part of the public
hearing, the Commission held two public sessions in
Angliers. During the two public sessions of the second
part, the Commission received fourteen briefs and
four oral presentations from individuals, groups,
organizations and local and regional authorities interested
in the project.
– 30 –
Source: Marie-Ève Chamberland,
Communications Advisor
|
