The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) has completed an assessment of the estimated $200 million Bécancour Port Terminal Expansion Project and determined that its potential adverse effects within federal jurisdiction would be limited or addressed through other means.
Société du parc industriel et portuaire de Bécancour is proposing to expand the existing marine terminal by constructing a new wharf (B6). As proposed, the new wharf would be approximately 390 meters long and have one berth designed to handle ships larger than 25 000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) – thus allowing the larger bulk carriers to serve the mining sector at cheaper shipping costs to reach overseas markets. The project would also include dredging activities and the construction of a storage area.
To arrive at its section 16 decision under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), IAAC engaged other jurisdictions, federal experts, stakeholders, the public, and Indigenous Peoples to review the project description and identify potential effects within federal jurisdiction and frameworks to address these potential effects.
IAAC stated on March 13 that the potential adverse effects within federal jurisdiction would be limited or addressed through existing federal and provincial laws and regulations. These include but are not limited to the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act, the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, the Pilotage Act and the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, as well as Quebec’s Environment Quality Act, the Act respecting threatened or vulnerable species, the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife and the Act respecting the conservation of wetlands and bodies of water.
As a result, no further assessment under the Impact Assessment Act is required and the federal assessment process is now complete, the IAAC said. As a next step, Société du parc industriel et portuaire de Bécancour will be required to seek any necessary federal and provincial authorizations and permits for the project.
Following the completion of a financing package and of all regulatory processes, the original project timeline slates start of construction for fall 2027 and start of operations by summer 2029.
(Photo from QSL International)