The green light for the Northvolt project risks having “major” impacts for wildlife, since the disappearance of natural environments of “high ecological value” will cause the irreversible loss of habitats for several species, particularly threatened species. This is what emerges from the reports of the Legault government experts produced as part of the analysis of the project and obtained by The duty.
Aware of the fact that the site of the future factory constitutes a habitat for “several wildlife species in precarious situations”, the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP) requested a “wildlife advice” to the Wildlife Management Department (DGF).
The ministry refused to send us this notice last week. Our request was instead transferred to the “Principal Directorate of Intelligence, Access to Information, Ethics and Complaints” of the ministry. This process may take several weeks and result in a refusal or the transmission of documents which may be redacted.
Reading the conclusions of this wildlife opinion obtained by The duty, we see that the Legault government experts are categorical: “the anticipated impacts of the project for wildlife are major”, the word “major” being even underlined, according to what we can read in the final “analysis report”. of the authorization request which was presented by Northvolt. The document details the potential impacts and the measures planned to “minimize” them.
It is dated January 8, the day Quebec gave the green light to the destruction of dozens of wetlands, but also to the felling of some 8,700 trees.
“The project causes a loss of natural environments (humid and terrestrial) serving as feeding, breeding and/or migratory stopover habitat for local and regional wildlife, [dont] several species in a precarious situation”, indicate government scientists, who describe the work in progress as operations of “destruction of plant cover” and “filling of wetlands”.
“High value”
They specify at the same time that “the project site is a massif of natural environments” of great “diversity” which “give it an interest for fauna, including more than 142 species of birds and numerous species in situation precarious (14 species of birds, 4 species of bats as well as 3 species of turtles)”.
Another document produced by the Quebec Ministry of the Environment in October also underlines the “high ecological value” of the site, which is “one of the rare residual natural environments” in the region and one of the last which allows a link between terrestrial environments and the Richelieu River. This observation recalls the conclusions of government experts, in March 2023, to justify the rejection of a real estate project on the same site.
In November, the MELCCFP specified that the destruction of approximately 138,000 m2 of wetlands by Northvolt “includes almost all tree-swamp type wetlands, which are among the most mature, intact and diverse environments on the site”. The “total or partial destruction” of 61 wetlands is planned.
The ministry further explains, in a report earlier this month, that these areas have “evolved” over time and that, although some were created as part of previous excavation work, their origin ” has no impact on their roles and importance, nor on their protection” under the Environmental Quality Act.
And despite the reassuring speech of Northvolt, which promises in particular to preserve certain wetlands, the “loss” of more than 950,000 m2 of natural environments constitutes a point of no return for the biodiversity of the sector. Indeed, the experts underline, the surface area of “residual” natural environments would “not be sufficient to maintain the essential functions supporting local and regional wildlife biodiversity, in this case avian fauna, turtles and bats”.
The analysis report cites as an example the authorized destruction of a pond which is a habitat for three species of turtles at risk, including the spiny softshell turtle, which is “endangered”. All these species are theoretically protected. In an opinion from the Regional Directorate for Analysis and Expertise dated November 7, 2023 obtained by The dutyhowever, we recommended the protection of this 1700 m pond2. As compensation, however, Northvolt promises “the creation of a habitat for turtles of an equivalent nature” elsewhere on the site, within the “residual environments”. The company has three years to get its plan approved.
Richelieu River
Another “urgent” opinion dated October 19 and for which five government experts were consulted highlights that the site is used by four species of bats in danger, in particular because of the presence of “large trees”. “Considering the current worrying state of bat populations, any loss of habitat can have a significant impact on populations,” warn the scientists. “The installation of two bat roosts in residual environments on the site or on an alternative site aims to minimize the impacts of the project,” promises Northvolt.
The October document also raises questions regarding the potential impacts of the project on the Richelieu River. Northvolt plans to install a water pumping system to supply its industrial facilities, but also to discharge water into the river. The operation will take place in “critical habitat” of the copper redhorse protected by the Species at Risk Act.
However, this could have “an impact” on this species which only exists in Quebec, but also on the spiny softshell turtle. Both species are endangered. The company has not yet specified the volumes that will be drawn and discharged, but it has promised to respect all environmental rules in force.
The final MELCCFP analysis report also details the mitigation measures linked to the authorization granted to Northvolt on this “dedicated to development” site. It specifies in particular that the company must propose and have approved within three years a project of “restoration and/or conservation of natural environments” which can reach a maximum of 500,000 m2 “on an alternative site”, ideally in the same region. The objective is to “minimize the loss of habitats used by wildlife, [dont] species in precarious situations.
On the site, in addition to the conservation of certain wetlands, various measures are planned for the “reclamation” by the end of 2032 of wetlands which will be disturbed temporarily, during the work. The watercourses connected to the Richelieu River will be preserved and the threatened plant species that are on site will be subject to compensation or “relocation” measures. Tree cutting cannot take place during the nesting period of birds and bats, as provided for by federal regulations.
Regarding the destroyed wetlands, financial compensation of $4.75 million was paid in December 2023. This is equivalent to approximately $34 per square meter. After the rejection of a request for an injunction last Friday, Northvolt resumed the work, which is planned for six weeks.