Modification of Underground Marine Pipelines at Section 70 of the Port of Montreal, Borough of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Montreal, Quebec
Document reference number: 2
September 25, 2026 – The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) has determined that the proposed Modification of Underground Marine Pipelines at Section 70 of the Port of Montreal, Borough of Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Montreal, Québec 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 considered for this determination are the following:
Dust
- Installation of geotextile screens on construction fencing
- Covering of excavated soils
- Cleaning of access roads and traffic areas
- Water spraying or application of dust suppressants on exposed surfaces
- Implementation of industry best management practices (BMPs)
- Additional measures specified in the civil works specifications
Noise
- Installation of geotextile screens on construction fencing
- Limitation of working hours to between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- Maintenance of excavation and transportation equipment. Equipment will be inspected daily prior to use, and workers will complete inspection checklists. Defective equipment will be repaired and/or replaced, depending on the nature of the issue.
- Implementation of industry best management practices (BMPs)
Light Pollution
- Installation of supplemental lighting where required (pedestrian walkway and excavation areas). General site lighting is provided by existing MPA parking lot light. Additional lighting used for the pedestrian walkway will operate during nighttime hours. Any task-specific lighting required for nighttime construction activities will operate only while work is underway and workers are present, and will be turned off afterwards.
- Directional lighting aimed downward toward the ground
Environment
- Implementation of industry best management practices (BMPs)
- Measures specified in the civil works specifications
- Measures specified in Terminal Norcan's operating procedures
- Engagement of external environmental professionals to provide environmental monitoring and compliance oversight during construction
- Management of excavated soils in accordance with the Règlement concernant la traçabilité des sols contaminés excavés (RCTSCE), and soil tracking through the Traces Québec system
- Groundwater pumping and management by a specialized contractor
- Implementation of Terminal Norcan's Emergency Response Plan for incident management
- Pipelines will be drained to remove 99.9% of hydrocarbons. The underground section to be replaced will be flushed using a low-pressure cleaning truck, and residual material will be recovered by a vacuum truck operated by Récubec. Récubec will manage the transportation and disposal of recovered materials at an authorized facility.
- Use of spill prevention and control equipment
- On-site inventory of emergency response equipment
- Qualified and trained personnel
Land Use and Access Disruptions
- Consultation, coordination, and authorization with affected stakeholders
- Catelli
- CGC
- Termont
- MPA
- Information sharing and stakeholder communication
- Appropriate signage
- Traffic control personnel present during movement of heavy equipment
- Restriction of vehicle circulation areas
- Delineation of work areas using construction fencing
- Reconstruction of the existing concrete block retaining wall in accordance with engineering standards, including installation of adequate drainage to ensure long-term performance
- Restoration of all disturbed areas following completion of the works
- Reinstallation of any fences removed during construction in accordance with MPA requirements
Refuelling Operations
- Refuelling shall be performed only by trained personnel who remain present throughout the operation
- Regular inspection of refuelling equipment, hoses, valves, and fittings to identify wear or leaks
- Placement of secondary containment beneath containers, tanks, and equipment during refuelling
- Shutdown of equipment engines prior to refuelling
- Availability of a spill response kit on site
- Compliance with the Equipment Refuelling Procedure
Petroleum Products, Hazardous Materials, and Hazardous Waste Management
- Store fuels, oils, solvents, and other hazardous materials in sealed and properly labelled containers, located a minimum of 30 m from any watercourse and 15 m from any ditch, sewer, or well
- Place all containers within appropriate secondary containment systems
- Maintain only quantities necessary for ongoing work activities on site
- Ensure containers are closed after use and stored under cover at the end of each workday
- Maintain an accessible spill response kit (absorbents, shovel, impermeable bags) near storage areas
- Segregate hazardous waste (contaminated rags, empty containers, used filters, waste oils) in labelled, closed containers separate from regular construction waste
- Arrange collection and disposal through licensed hazardous waste transporters or recyclers
- In the event of a spill, stop the source if safe to do so, immediately contain and recover the spilled material, remove impacted soil, and notify the site supervisor
- Inform all workers of storage area locations and spill response procedures
Excavated Materials, Unconsolidated Materials, and Waste (including CRD debris) Management
- Store excavated materials and unconsolidated materials (soil, gravel, sand) in designated areas away from watercourses and drainage features to prevent migration by runoff or wind
- Stockpile materials in a stable manner and cover them with tarpaulins if stored for more than one day
- Install sediment control measures (silt fence, straw bale barrier, or temporary berm) where stockpile areas are located near slopes or drainage points
- Segregate construction, renovation, and demolition (C&D) waste by material type (wood, metal, concrete, gypsum, etc.) in dedicated containers
- Maintain separate containers for non-recyclable waste destined for landfill disposal
- Transport waste and surplus materials using authorized carriers to approved recycling, recovery, or disposal facilities
- Minimize on-site storage times by removing materials regularly
- Maintain good housekeeping practices and routinely remove debris to prevent off-site migration
- Keep potentially contaminated excavated materials (odours, staining, abnormal coloration) separate from clean materials and notify the site supervisor before disposal
Surface Water and Stormwater Management
- Water accumulated in excavations will be pumped to a Baker tank (mobile watertight storage tank) installed on a stable surface away from watercourses, ditches, and wells
- The Baker tank will allow sedimentation of suspended solids prior to disposal, thereby reducing sediment loads in discharged water
- No direct discharge of excavation water to the environment (watercourses, ditches, or stormwater systems) will occur; all water will pass through the Baker tank
- Water quality sampling may be conducted, if required, prior to disposal to determine the appropriate management method
- Water contained in the Baker tank will be transported by a qualified contractor to an authorized receiving facility (municipal treatment plant or designated disposal site)
Site Restoration
- Remove all equipment, surplus materials, debris, and temporary installations (fencing, storage areas, Baker tank, etc.) upon completion of the works
- Decompact and restore surfaces used for equipment traffic or material storage where permanent infrastructure is not planned
- Grade and level disturbed areas to restore proper drainage patterns and prevent ponding
- Replace previously stripped and stockpiled topsoil, where applicable, in areas designated for revegetation
- Seed or otherwise stabilize exposed soils (mulch, sod, planting) as soon as practicable after completion of construction to minimize erosion
- Repair and restore any infrastructure, fencing, pavement, or site features damaged during construction to original or improved condition
- Remove temporary erosion and sediment control measures once permanent stabilization has been achieved
- Conduct a final site inspection to verify satisfactory restoration
- Confirm that no contamination remains on site; where spills have occurred, verify that affected soils have been remediated or removed
Emergency
- Post a list of emergency contact numbers on site (911, Port of Montreal Emergency hotline [514-283-6911], site supervisor, spill response contractor, Urgence-Environnement, and ECCC, where applicable) and ensure accessibility to all workers
- Designate a site supervisor responsible for emergency response and regulatory notifications
- Maintain an accessible first aid kit and fire extinguisher on site at all times
- Maintain spill response kits (absorbents, shovel, impermeable bags) near high-risk areas such as refuelling stations and hazardous material storage areas
- Ensure workers are familiar with emergency procedures for spills, fires, and accidents, including notification requirements and response actions
- Maintain unobstructed access for emergency vehicles throughout construction activities
- In the event of a spill or environmental incident, stop the source if possible, immediately contain and recover the release, notify the site supervisor, and report to the appropriate regulatory authorities (Quebec Environmental Emergency Service, ECCC) where required by legislation
- Document all incidents, including the nature of the event, corrective actions taken, and follow-up measures, in the site logbook
- Review and update the emergency response plan whenever significant changes to site conditions occur
Therefore, the MPA may perform any duty or function to enable the project to be carried out in whole or in part.