News Release
Route 389 Improvement Project between Fire Lake and Fermont – Public Comments Invited and Federal Funding Available

OTTAWA – May 24, 2012 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) is conducting a comprehensive study type of environmental assessment of the proposed Route 389 Improvement Project between Fire Lake and Fermont located in Quebec. The public is invited to comment on the project and the conduct of the comprehensive study.

The public is also invited to comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines that identify potential environmental effects to be addressed and information that needs to be included in the proponent's EIS. Public comments received will be reviewed and considered before the guidelines are finalized and issued to the proponent.

The draft EIS Guidelines and more information on this project are available on the Agency's website (registry reference number 12-03-66250). The document is available in paper copy by request.

The Agency is also making available $40,000 under its Participant Funding Program to assist groups and individuals to participate in activities related to subsequent public consultations during this environmental assessment.

Public comments and funding applications received by June 26, 2012 will be considered.

This is the first of several public comment periods that will occur during the environmental assessment of the project.

The project proposed by the Ministère des Transports du Québec consists of improving Route 389 between Fire Lake and Fermont (kilometre 478 to 564) in order to increase the flow and safety of the road and, in addition, improve the link with Newfoundland and Labrador as well as facilitate access to natural resources The work includes building 55.8 kilometres of new right-of-way road and improving the existing road for a total length of 69.5 kilometres.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.

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Media may contact:

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Céline Legault
Communications Advisor
Tel.: 613-957-0278