Northvolt has started deforestation and destruction of wetlands in preparation for the establishment of its factory. And even if this work takes place partly when it is dark, the company ensures that it is able to monitor the presence of wildlife on site.
After obtaining the green light from the Legault government to fill in numerous wetlands sheltering rich biodiversity, the Swedish multinational obtained its tree felling permit last Friday from the municipality of Saint-Basile-le-Grand.
This permit was granted three days before the municipal council meeting on Monday evening, during which citizens went to challenge elected officials to demand an environmental assessment of the project. “One thing is clear: as long as no investigation into the environmental, social and economic impacts of the establishment of the Northvolt factory has been carried out, the project will not meet social acceptability,” argues Sabrina Guilbert, co-spokesperson for the Citizen Action Committee – Northvolt Project.
She recalls that around 8,000 trees will be cut down and that more than 130,000 square meters of wetlands will disappear to make way for this factory financed by Quebec and Ottawa.
In answering citizens’ questions, the mayor of Saint-Basile-le-Grand, Yves Lessard, however indicated Monday evening that the municipality does not intend to request an environmental assessment of the project, which would probably include an examination by the Bureau d’audiences. public authorities on the environment (BAPE). The City wanted to “develop this sector,” he added, emphasizing that, according to him, the battery component factory project obtained “social acceptability” in the region. This issue is usually dealt with during BAPE hearings.
While citizens were present at the municipal council, Monday evening, deforestation work on the Northvolt site was already underway around 8:30 p.m. According to what the company specifies, the tree felling takes place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., “in accordance with municipal regulations”. However, on the municipality’s website, it is indicated that the work “will take place from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.”, for a period of six weeks.
The work therefore takes place partly when it is dark. The company nevertheless claims that it is able to monitor the presence of wildlife in areas where wooded and wetlands are destroyed. “Before the start of the work, in each of the identified areas, the biologist first carries out a check to validate the presence of animals. If no animal is identified, the biologist confirms to the workers that they can proceed,” the company specifies by email. If necessary, the animal in question can be moved, Northvolt adds in his written response.
A wildlife inventory carried out at the request of the company made it possible to “confirm the presence on the site of several painted turtles and snapping turtles”, two species listed on the federal list of endangered species, according to a document obtained by The duty. Since the site preparation work is planned during the hibernation period of these turtles, they should be buried alive.
Biodiversity
Tree cutting must be completed before spring to allow Northvolt to comply with the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, which prohibits work during the nesting season. The habitat that these animals used until now could therefore be destroyed. Several dozen species of birds frequent the site, some of which are threatened.
The Legault government authorized Northvolt to destroy twice as large an area of wetlands as another residential construction project refused on the same site less than a year ago. Experts from the Ministry of the Environment then justified their decision by emphasizing the rich biodiversity of the land, the essential nature of the natural environments for the region and the “impressive diversity” of the fauna on the site.
In a document dated March 2023, the ministry which has just authorized Northvolt’s work emphasizes that the planned loss of wetlands would harm “the biodiversity conservation function that the wetlands present on the site fulfill by causing the destruction of large areas of diverse environments providing habitats for food, shelter and reproduction of living species.” Official data provided to Duty by the government of Quebec report the presence of 21 threatened or vulnerable species, but also 142 species of birds.
Director of government relations at Équiterre, Marc-André Viau believes that the Northvolt file gives the impression that the Legault government applies environmental rules according to its “priorities”. According to him, it would have been preferable to subject this industrial development to rigorous examination, in order to ensure the “social acceptability” of the project. The environmental and social issues raised in recent months militated in favor of such an evaluation, he said.