Environmental Assessment Decision Statement
Route 389 Improvement Project between Fire Lake and Fermont

The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change (the Minister), has reviewed the federal environmental assessment of the Route 389 Improvement Project between Fire Lake and Fermont (the Project) proposed by the Ministère des Transports du Québec (the proponent). Pursuant to section 125 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012), the environmental assessment of this Project was completed under the former Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (the former Act).

Having taken into consideration the Comprehensive Study Report and the public and Indigenous people comments filed pursuant to subsection 22(2) of the former Act, the Minister is of the opinion that:

• the Project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, taking into account the implementation of the mitigation measures described in the Comprehensive Study Report; and
• the mitigation measures and follow-up program described in the Comprehensive Study Report are appropriate for the Project.

The Minister has referred the Project back to the responsible authorities, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Infrastructure Canada, for appropriate action under section 37 of the former Act.

The Minister requests that the responsible authorities ensure the mitigation measures described in the Comprehensive Study Report will be implemented. The Minister also requests that the responsible authorities ensure the follow-up program described in the Comprehensive Study Report will be carried out, in order to determine the effectiveness of the measures taken to mitigate any adverse environmental effects and to verify the accuracy of the environmental assessment of the Project.