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Project Rabaska - Implementation of an LNG Terminal (Archived)

Lévis (QC)

Reasons for a Federal Assessment
Project Description
Environmental Assessment Report
Government Response to Panel
Final Decision
Follow-up Program

Reference Number

Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry: 04-05-3971

Environmental Assessment Type

Panel

Responsible or Regulated Authorities

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Transport Canada

Reasons for a Federal Assessment

On June 15, 2004, it was determined that an environmental assessment was required in relation to the project because Transport Canada considered taking action in relation to paragraph 5(1)(a) of the Navigable Waters Protection Act and Fisheries and Oceans Canada considered taking action in relation to subsection 35(2) of the Fisheries Act.

Project Description (as posted in the Notice of Commencement)

Gaz Métro Limited Partnership, Gaz de France and Enbridge Inc. (the Proponents) jointly propose the development of the Rabaska Project aimed at constructing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Ville Guay/Beaumont area comprising the western portion of the City of Beaumont and the eastern portion of the City of Lévis, in the Province of Quebec.

The Rabaska Project includes a terminal comprising two storage tanks, a marine jetty to receive the LNG tankers, pumping, compression and vaporizing facilities and a pipeline of approximately 50 kilometres to connect the terminal to the existing facilities of Trans Québec & Maritimes Pipeline Inc. in St. Nicolas.

The Rabaska Project is subject to a comprehensive study under the CEA Act, pursuant to paragraphs 13(d) and 28 c) of the Comprehensive Study List Regulations regarding the LNG storage facility, with a capacity of over 50,000 tonne, and the marine terminal designed to accommodate tankers over 25,000 Deadweight Tonnage.

The National Energy Board, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Transport Canada and the Canadian Transportation Agency are the responsible authorities (RAs) and shall ensure that an environmental assessment of the Rabaska Project is undertaken.

Scope of the Project

The scope of the project as determined for the purposes of the environmental assessment includes the various components of the project as described by the Proponents in the June 2004 Project Description, and the physical works and activities described in this document.

The scope of the project includes construction, operation, maintenance and foreseeable changes, and where relevant, the abandonment, decommissioning and rehabilitation of sites relating to the entire LNG terminal, and specifically, the following physical works and activities:

  • marine facilities comprising:
    • a jetty designed to accommodate LNG tankers ranging between 138,000 metres3 and 160,000 metres3 in capacity together with all related unloading facilities;
  • dredging and sediment disposal, where necessary;
  • use of explosives, where necessary;
  • cryogenic lines to move the LNG from the jetty to the terminal;
  • a terminal capable of delivering 500 million cubic feet per day of vaporized gas consisting of:
    • two storage tanks, the walls and roof of which will be made of concrete,
    • pumping, compression and vaporizing facilities to withdraw the liquefied gas from the tanks and inject it in a gaseous state into the pipeline,
    • maintenance, control, and administration buildings,
    • a water treatment plant, including water intake and outfall, where necessary,
    • a metering station together with all related facilities including gas fractionating installations,
    • and a railway spur required to connect the terminal to the railway operated by Canadian National to ship natural gas liquids to local markets;
  • a pipeline of approximately 50 kilometres between the Ville Guay/Beaumont area and the existing facilities of TQM Pipeline in St. Nicolas, Quebec, including a metering station, cathodic protection and shutoff valves;
  • permanent access roads, communications system, and power supply as may be required to service the site;
  • related physical works and activities, including all temporary facilities required for the construction of the LNG terminal; and
  • natural gas supply taken from various places in the Atlantic basin and delivered to the project on an annual basis by means of about 60 LNG tanker deliveries.

Project File

The public may consult the project file on the National Energy Board's web site under "Public Registries". The project file includes all records produced, collected or submitted with respect to the environmental assessment of the Rabaska Project.

Environmental Assessment Report

Appendices
Environmental Assessment Report

Government Response to Panel

The Government of Canada Response to the Environmental Assessment Joint Review Panel Report of the Proposed Rabaska Project - Implementation of a Liquified Natural Gas Terminal

Final Decision

In conformity with the approval of the Governor in Council, a decision was taken on March 4, 2008 and was that the authorities may exercise any power or perform any duty or function with respect to the project because, after taking into consideration the screening report and taking into account the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures, the authorities are of the opinion that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Follow-up Program

It was determined that a follow-up program to verify the accuracy of the environmental assessment and/or determine the effectiveness of any measures taken to mitigate the adverse environmental effects is required for this project. For further information or to obtain a copy of the follow-up program, please contact Transport Canada.