Installation of a concrete slab and a new 50,000 L reservoir at Sept-Îles airport

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Notice of Determination

September 4, 2026 – Transport Canada has determined that the proposed installation of a refuelling tank at the Sept-Îles airport is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.  

This determination was based on a consideration of the following factors: 

  • impacts on rights of Indigenous peoples; 
  • Indigenous knowledge; 
  • community knowledge; 
  • comments received from the public; and 
  • technically and economically feasible mitigation measures. 

Mitigation measures taken into account for this determination are:  

General

  • The Proponent is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, standards, codes, guidelines, and requirements issued or adopted by federal, provincial, municipal, or other regulatory and standard-setting authorities.

Fuel Storage System

  • The Owner shall ensure that the design, installation, and operation of the fuel storage system comply with all applicable regulatory requirements, including:
    • Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations (SOR/2008-197)
    • CCME Code of Practice (Federal Storage Tank Regulations);
    • Quebec Construction Code
    • Quebec Safety Code
    • National Fire Code of Canada (NFC)
  • The storage tank system must be registered with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The registration number must be prominently displayed on the storage tank system. (SOR/2008-197, section 28)
  • For the installation of any storage tank system, the owner of the system must use design plans, drawings and specifications of the system that bear the stamp and signature of a professional engineer (SOR/2008-197, section 34(1))
  • The storage tank must be installed by a person approved to do so by the province in which the system is to be installed. In Québec, installation shall be carried out by a contractor holding the appropriate licence issued by the RBQ (SOR/2008-197, section 33)
  • The oil contractor who will install the tank must provide a certificate of compliance signed by a person recognized by the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) at the end of the installation work
  • To use high-risk petroleum equipment, the owner must hold a use permit issued by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ)
  • Upon the installation and before the first transfer of any petroleum products or allied petroleum products into any tank of the storage tank system, the owner of the system must ensure that as-built drawings are prepared, bear the stamp and signature of a professional engineer and show (SOR/2008-197, section 34(2)):
    • the outline of all tanks
    • the centreline of all piping
    • the centreline of all underground electrical power and monitor sensor conduits
    • the building foundation outlines
    • the property line
    • the secondary containment systems
  • An emergency plan must be developed in accordance with the requirements specified in section 30 of the Federal Storage Tank Regulations.
  •  Ensure that the tank is installed on a tight, solid surface and that the bearing capacity of the ground ensures the stability of the installation for the life of the installation.
  • Have a spill recovery kit and fire extinguishers specified in the NFC near the facility
  • The RBQ use permit must be displayed in public view at the address where the tank is locate

Use of machinery

  • Ensure that equipment and machinery are in good working order and free from hydrocarbon leaks.
  • Carry out maintenance, cleaning and refueling of equipment and vehicles in the places provided for this purpose, on a watertight surface, at a distance of at least 30 meters from watercourses and 15 meters from ditches and drainage
  • Restrict equipment and vehicle traffic to the existing road footprint to minimize impacts on existing vegetation.
  • Ensure that all work equipment and machinery arrive on site clean and free of invasive alien species, and maintain them in this condition throughout the construction period.

Management of hazardous materials and hazardous waste

  • The contractor must comply with all applicable regulations regarding the transportation, storage, handling and disposal of hazardous materials and hazardous waste
  • Hazardous materials used during construction activities must be stored in a secure location and transported in properly labelled, leak-proof containers.
  • Hazardous waste must be managed and disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations by a company authorized by the Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP). Waste transportation manifests must be retained on file.

Non-Hazardous Waste Management

  • Develop a construction waste management plan that prioritizes waste reuse and/or recycling. Where disposal is required, waste must be disposed of at an authorized facility.
  • Manage residual materials in compliance with the 3R (reduction at source, reuse, recycling, recovery). Only materials that cannot be disposed of in one of these channels are sent for disposal
  • Ensure at all times that no waste or excavated material is left behind and that the site is returned to an environmentally friendly condition at the end of the work

Soil Management

  • Reuse of excavated soil must comply with Appendix 5 (Grille de gestion des sols excavés) of the MELCCFP's Guide d'intervention – Protection des sols et réhabilitation des terrains contaminés. In addition to provincial criteria, federal criteria must also be considered, as the site is located on federally regulated property. Excavated soil may be reused as backfill on the originating site if concentrations are less than or equal to Criterion C of the MELCCFP's Guide d'intervention and the Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) for commercial land use. Excavated soil must not have noticeable hydrocarbon odours. Laboratory analysis certificates must be obtained and retained on file.
  • If soil or materials showing signs of contamination are encountered during excavation, they must be placed on an impermeable membrane (and covered with a membrane) or in a leak-proof container. The material must be characterized through laboratory analysis and managed in accordance with applicable requirements based on the analytical results. Contaminated soil or materials must not be reused on site. The Transport Canada Environmental Officer must be notified to determine the appropriate course of action.
  • At the end of the work, all excess excavated material that is not reused must be properly managed and removed from the airport property. Such material must be disposed of at a facility authorized by the MELCCFP.
  • All fill material imported to the site must be clean, meaning that contaminant concentrations must be below Criterion A of the MELCCFP's Guide d'intervention – Protection des sols et réhabilitation des terrains contaminés (the Guide). Analytical testing of the fill material must be conducted to verify its quality, and a copy of the analytical results must be provided to the TC representative.

Off-Site Transportation of Excavated Soil

  • All work involving the off-site transportation of excavated soil must comply with the Règlement concernant la traçabilité des sols contaminés excavés. This requirement applies to all excavated contaminated soil resulting from human activities with contaminant concentrations within the A–B range, regardless of the volume of soil transported.
  • The Owner or an authorized representative must register the project in Traces Québec to ensure the traceability of contaminated soil transported off the originating site. This person must complete the tracking documents for all excavated soil associated with the project, including all relevant information regarding the nature of the soil being transported, the transporter, and the receiving facility authorized by the MELCCFP.
  • Upon completion of the work, the traceability report generated by Traces Québec must be provided to Transport Canada (TC).
  • All fill material imported to the site must be clean, meaning that it must meet Criterion A of the MELCCFP's Guide d'intervention – Protection des sols et réhabilitation des terrains contaminés. A certificate of analysis confirming the quality of the fill material must be obtained before the material is used.

Accidents and malfunctions:

  • An effective emergency plan in the event of an environmental incident, spill or fire relating to the characteristics and constraints of the project site and its environment must be prepared by the contractor and sent to all persons concerned, including the departmental representative. The environmental emergency response plan must contain the names of the persons and authorities to be contacted, as well as the measures to be implemented in the event of a spill
  • A spill response kit must be available on site at all times during construction activities. Any spill must be promptly contained and cleaned up, and contaminated materials must be managed in accordance with applicable requirements.
  • In the event of a spill, all affected materials must be recovered, including the spilled product, contaminated soil, and affected water, and managed or disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations. The Airport Manager and the TC Environmental Officer must be notified immediately. Spill characterization, remediation, and preparation of the remediation report must be carried out by an environmental consulting firm.
  • Any spill with environmental consequences must be reported to the emergency services of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) (1-866-283-2333) and to the emergency service of the Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parc (MELCCFP) (1-866-694-5454).

Transport Canada is satisfied that that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. Therefore, Transport Canada exercise any power, or perform any duty or function, to enable the project to be carried out. 

 

 

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