The Northvolt company says it has made a “complete inventory” of the threatened species found on the site of its future factory and it confirms the presence of wildlife species at risk. But she refused to transmit to Duty the reports that would have been written. Same response from the Quebec government, which has still not decided whether the project will be subject to the environmental assessment usually imposed on major industrial projects.
The electric battery component factory project, financed by the gouvernments of Quebec and Canada, will be built on unused land where there are wooded areas and wetlands sheltering dozens of wildlife species. At least 13 of them are listed on the federal list of species at risk, according to data obtained from the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP) of Quebec.
In a written response to questions from Duty, Northvolt says it has carried out its own “complete inventory of vulnerable or threatened fauna and flora”, based on the criteria of the Quebec ministry. The exercise would have been carried out “by specialized biologists, who spent more than 500 hours in the field between June and September”.
This work would have made it possible to list only four species, namely the spiny softshell turtle, the little brown bat, the least bittern and the eastern wood-pewee. The company adds that it is already “working” with Quebec “to relocate, or recreate and develop protected areas to ensure the viability of these species.” However, it is “too early to share the details of this approach”.
Regarding the wetlands found on the site, Northvolt states that “the majority” of them “are considered disturbed by invasive species and human activity.” There are 520,000 m2 wetlands on the site, and the company has filed a request for “intervention” in these environments “for the preparation of the project site,” indicates the MELCCFP.
However, it is impossible to verify the information provided by Northvolt, since it refused to transmit to Duty the documents produced. “We will not share these reports,” was simply indicated by email.
The MELCCFP media relations department, for its part, refused to tell us whether these reports exist, referring our request to the “Directorate of access to information, quality of services and ethics of the ministry “. Such a procedure, which may require several weeks of waiting, may result in a refusal or the transmission of redacted documents.
The ministry however indicated that “additional inventories were carried out in 2023 by the company following discussions with the ministry” and that “the result of this work was included in the authorization request” already filed by Northvolt for carrying out work in humid environments.
One of these environments has been classified as a “wetland of interest”, specifies the Metropolitan Community of Montreal, due to the presence of threatened species.
“Exchanges” between Northvolt and Quebec
If the car battery component factory project was subject to the environmental assessment process provided for major industrial projects, Northvolt would have to carry out an impact study which would detail the rich biodiversity on the site, but also the repercussions of its project on wildlife and the means to take to mitigate or prevent them.
This study would be made public and would be subject to analysis by government experts, who could then determine whether the inventory and analysis of risks to the species were carried out in compliance with current scientific standards. Once the study is deemed complete, a review by the Office of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE) would be likely.
However, the Legault government has not yet decided whether the megaproject will be subject to this procedure. The office of Quebec Minister of the Environment, Benoit Charette, indicated this week to Duty that “exchanges continue” between the ministry and the multinational.
The federal Minister of the Environment, Steven Guilbeault, has also not ruled on involvement in the evaluation of the project. The recent judgment of the Supreme Court which partially invalidated the Impact Assessment Act could also have an impact on the Canadian government’s ability to intervene.
But according to Me David Robitaille, professor at the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa, it would be possible to intervene to enforce the provisions of the Species at Risk Act or federal regulations that protect migratory birds. At least 142 species of birds have been recorded on the site.
Calls for a BAPE review
Several experts have called for an environmental assessment including an examination of the BAPE for this project, the largest manufacturing investment in the history of Quebec. This is the case of the Quebec Environmental Law Center, which recalls that the government can, on the recommendation of Minister Charette, subject a project to this examination.
“We need a scientific and independent evaluation mechanism, taking into account the importance that the population attaches to the protection of natural environments, but also to increase the social acceptability of a project like this,” underlines the director general of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Quebec section, Alain Branchaud.
The biologist adds that the presence documented by Northvolt of the spiny softshell turtle is one of the important elements to consider due to the scarcity of habitats suitable for this species in Quebec.
Nature Québec also pleads for transparency. “We cannot create batteries to fight the climate crisis by worsening the biodiversity crisis. By submitting the Northvolt project to the BAPE, the population and specialists could propose solutions to the government to reduce the impacts,” argues its general director, Alice-Anne Simard.
Even if citizens of the region have expressed their concerns since the project was announced in September, the mayor of McMasterville, Martin Dulac, wants to be reassuring. According to him, the arrival of the mega-factory will not cause “nuisance”. He promises to be “listening” in order to preserve the quality of life of the population. An impact study of the project would require the promoter to assess the social consequences for the region.