Eastmain Magazine

Volume 9, Issue 2, July 2011

People with a powerful vision

Eastmain-1-A powerhouse

Commissioning highlightedSarcelle powerhouse

Tonnes of progress! Mitigation measures

Working with land users

Changes were also on the agenda for Montréal employees, since the owner of 888, boulevard de Maisonneuve Est, has rented the 6th fl oor to a new tenant starting July 1. Building owner Busac and SEBJ analyzed all the possibilities to reduce the impact of moving SEBJ to other premises. The best solu-tion was to divide the group between the two adjoining high-rises: the 7th fl oor of 888, boulevard de Maisonneuve Est, already occupied by SEBJ staff , and the 21st fl oor of 800, boulevard de Maisonneuve Est, SEBJ headquarters back in the ’70s and ’90s. Not just SEBJ personnel are on the move. The staff of HQP’s Projets majeurs for La Grande Rivière region, headed by Jean Matte, which was on the 6th fl oor, will also be moving to the 7th. This relocation will have the positive eff ect of bringing together the SEBJ experts who are preparing for public hearings with

the Crees in June 2012.

analyzed all the possibilities to reduce the impact of moving SEBJ to YB – The end of May and the month of June were harbingers of change for SEBJ employees in Montréal, as well as for those of Hydro-Québec Production’s Projets majeurs for La Grande Rivière region. On Tuesday, May 31, all of SEBJ’s Montréal-based staff was invited to a presentation about the subsidiary’s reorganization by Normand Béchard, Director – Eastmain Projects. The same presentation was given simultaneously by site managers at Sarcelle and Eastmain-1-A.

As it happens, it was also Mr. Béchard’s fi nal presentation, since he is leaving for new challenges after five years as the head of the Eastmain-1-A/Sarcelle/Rupert project. It was a farewell full of memo-ries and emotions. Yvan David, Project Administrator – Eastmain-1-A and Sarcelle Powerhouses, will be succeeding him as director of the Eastmain projects.

Things are moving in Montréal!

2 Eastmain Magazine, July 2011 People with a powerful vision

Supervisor – Public Relations / Magazine Editor: Bionda Miotto / 819 865-2100, ext. 4151, [email protected] – Public Relations and Editor-in-Chief: Jimmy Lavoie / 819 865-2100 poste 4159, [email protected]: Geneviève Bujold, Catherine Langlois, Jimmy Lavoie, Liza PerronContributors: Normand Faubert, Yves Barrette, Bruno Blanchette, Johnny Saganash, Suzie DeschampsTranslator: Margaret Kane Savage / Revisers: Isabel Fonte, Karin Montin / Graphics: Paul Salois Design / Additional graphics: Catherine LangloisPhotographer: Paul Brindamour / Additional photos: Geneviève Bujold, Catherine Langlois, Bionda Miotto, Jean Patenaude / Printer: Imprimerie Lebonfon

Eastmain Magazine is published by SEBJ Public Relations for the workers of the Eastmain-1-A/Sarcelle/Rupert project.Internet site: www.hydroquebec.com/rupert Extranet site: www.extranetsebj.ca (© SEBJ, All rights reserved)Eastmain Magazine is printed on chlorine- and acid-free EcoLogo certifi ed paper, made in Québec, containing 100% post-consumer fi bre, manufactured using biogas energy.

To mark the commissioning of generating unit LC 11, the site manager of Eastmain-1-A, Denis Groleau, invited some fi fty representatives of the various companies that worked on the construction and commissioning of this fi rst unit to a friendly dinner on June 15, 2011.

Unit LC 11: A smooth startThe atmosphere was congenial in the multipurpose room at Eastmain workcamp, where people from Voith Hydro, the TAP Consortium, SEBJ and Hydro- Québec were gathered. Regional Director – La Grande Rivière, Claude Major, of Hydro-Québec Production, and his management team were present. Mr. Groleau and Mr. Major took the opportunity to thank all the companies for the eff orts that led

to achieving the ultimate goal: commissioning the fi rst generating unit on June 9, 2011.

Congratulations to everyone involved!

Eastmain-1-A powerhouse

Commissioning highlighted

CL – On June 9, 2011, the fi rst generating unit of the Eastmain-1-A powerhouse, LC 11, was commissioned. This eagerly awaited event ended almost two years of hard work since the fi rst part—the draft tube cone—was installed by turbine manufacturer Voith Hydro in October 2009.

To celebrate this achievement, on June 16, site manager Denis Groleau had all the workers pose for posterity in a photo taken on the transformer deck (see cover). In addition, a short ceremony was held that evening in the cafeteria, during which Mr. Groleau took the opportunity to

Site manager Denis Groleau and pastry chefs, Vicky Tanguay and Dominic Voisin, cut the cake at the commissioning ceremony for the fi rst unit, on June 16, 2011.

KEY DATESInstallation of the main parts of unit LC 11Draft tube cone: September 28, 2009Stay ring: November 11, 2009Stator frame: November 16, 2009, to March 1, 2010Turbine runner: August 28, 2010Wicket gates (24): September 7–13, 2010Shaft: October 28, 2010Rotor: February 6, 2011Spider: February 11, 2011

Commissioning: June 9, 2011

congratulate and thank everyone at Eastmain-1-A.

ESS-WEDC also baked a cake with the inscription “Mise en service du premier groupe ! Félicitations !” [First unit com-missioned! Congratulations!].

Today, unit LC 11 supplies several megawatts of electricity to the grid, and everyone can say “Mission accomplished!”

Eastmain Magazine, July 2011 3

JL – There is still plenty to do at the Eastmain-1-A powerhouse. Now that generating unit LC 11 has been in production since early June, the focus has shifted to units LC 12 and LC 13.

On June 8, the Hydro-Québec start-up team was able to begin the last phase before the ready-to-run testing for components of unit LC 12. The beginning of this gradual start-up of the second generating unit will allow the turbine manufacturer, Voith Hydro, to correct any problems and complete the fi nishing touches.

Work continues on the other two generating units

Stator assembly is fi nished at unit LC 13. In early June, the work consisted mainly of assembling the last major parts, like the spider and the thrust bearing sump in the assembly area, and, fi nally, correcting the lamination stacking of the rotor rim. In the turbine pit, Voith Hydro crews have installed the catwalk, gate mechanism and actuators. Various mechanical and electrical tests are also under way on what will be the powerhouse’s last unit.


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JL – The TAP Consortium is not about to run out of work under its contract to install equipment and provide electrical and mecha-nical systems. In mid-June, the Consortium concentrated on start-up work for unit LC 12’s apparatus and commissioning of the busbars. Its employees are also working in overdrive to continue mechanical work on the two main levels of the powerhouse.

Still a lot left to do

Meanwhile, TAP’s multidisciplinary crews were busy building the entrance to the loading bay of Eastmain-1-A powerhouse and doing other architectural work, including erecting the framework of the mezzanine and fi nishing drywall joints.


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LP – Since April, the Sarcelle jobsite has been bustling with activity. While units 23 and 22 take shape, all the systems and equipment necessary for the future powerhouse’s operation are being installed. The trades are all working together toward the possible start-up of bulb unit LS 23 in October 2011.

Equipment is increasingly fi lling the powerhouse. The air-oil pressure tanks and all their associated systems will be operational shortly. An impressive number of electrical systems, ventilation systems, pumps, and pipes are also being connected at amazing speeds. All of this is precision work requires many checks.

After a slight lull, the turbine manufacturer resumed its activities in a big way with the arrival of several parts of LS 23 throughout the month of April. The runner chamber, shaft, hub cover, stator, runner hub and rotor have joined the stay ring, sealing ring, distributor and draft tube, to which the upstream sleeve was added. Many adjustments are still needed, but the progress being made is encouraging. Although the focus is certainly on LS 23, the fi rst unit slated for start-up, the other two are not being neglected. In fact, the distribu-tor, wicket gates, gate-operating ring and lower part of the runner chamber of unit LS 22 are already in place.

Tonnes of progress!

Weights of parts of the unitsPlease note that these fi gures are approximate, and that some parts include diff erent systems or sections that may or may not be included in the weights.

tonnes

Hub cover (nose of bulb unit and vertical access): 81Stator: 120 Rotor: 161 Runner: 70 Gate ring: 25 Runner chamber: 47 Stay ring: 213 Each wicket gate (16): 3

People with a powerful vision

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6 Eastmain Magazine, July 2011

PISTON HOUSINGThe workers are also busy outdoors. Downstream, the piston housing is very advanced. Architectural work on the steel and masonry structure has been completed. Alstom crews are work-ing on putting the 13-metre-high pistons into operation.

WATER INTAKEUpstream, Canmec workers conducted tests on the stoplogs and installed the two sets of 10 stoplogs in front of units LS 21 and LS 22. Installation of the trashracks was completed in mid-June.

EXCAVATIONContractor Bobson, whose responsibilities include excavating the upstream and downstream coff erdams, started preparatory ground work in early May. The wire mesh on the walls of the headrace and tailrace was taken down quickly. Heavy machinery, which had been rare since excavation stopped in June 2009, is back.

SARCELLE SUBSTATIONWork has been completed at the substation. The connections and fi nal equipment tests have been done. The last transformer arrived at the jobsite in mid-June and, the following week, the last fi lling and degassing operations were concluded.

LS 23 bulb unit on trestles

Sarcelle substation

Transformer 21 at Sarcelle substation

Trashracks at LS 21 intake

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Since June, a number of mitigation measures have been carried out in the area. There is still a lot of work to do, but 58 of the contracts scheduled have already been awarded to tallymen.

In June, land users collected wood debris and marked navigation channels. By June 18, the crews working for Matthew Iserhoff and Andrew Brian, Marco Voyageur, Tommy Neeposh Forestry Works, Jimikin Enterprises, Walter Jolly and Kenny Jolly had completed their contracts.

Land redevelopment and enhancement will continue all summer. Whether planting shrubs, doing mechanical seeding and hydroseeding, developing portages and trails, building boat ramps or implementing other mitigation measures, the teams working with the tallymen will be busy.

Suzie DeschampsSection Manager – Administration and Mitigation Measures

Until he retired last April, the team was working under Grégoire M. Gaudet, Section Manager – Mitigation Measures and Maintenance. Mr. Gaudet played an instrumental role and did remarkable work during the draft-design studies for the Eastmain-1-A/Sarcelle/Rupert project, starting in 1999. It was an emotional farewell as we wished him all the best for his retirement. His valuable contribution to the project will be long remembered.

Working with land users


Good-bye, Grégoire

JS – On June 21, social worker Wanda Gabriel, technician Virginia Matoush of Environnement illimité and Cree counsel-lor Lloyd Mayappo invited all the Cree workers to the round cottage at Eastmain workcamp to celebrate Aboriginal Day with a traditional meal prepared by the family of Lawrence Neeposh of Nemaska.

Before the meal, Howard Hester said a prayer in French, English and Cree to thank God for this celebration with coworkers and for the food prepared for the occasion.

A hundred people attended. The menu featured bear, goose, rice with moose meat, walleye, sturgeon, donuts and fruit pudding (budin). Many people were intrigued by these dishes and everyone really liked them. So much so that, by 7 p.m., there was nothing left!

SEBJ’s public relations people handed out prizes following a draw by Virginia Matoush and Wanda Gabriel. Our thanks go out to the administration team—Gaston Marin, Julie Larochelle, Denis Bilodeau and Bernard L’Heureux—and the members of the ESS-WEDC crew, who made the party a success.

It was a wonderful evening filled with good humor and fellowship.

Johnny SaganashCree Counsellor

Great Aboriginal Day party

Traditional food

Loyd Mayappo, Virginia Matoush and Johnny Saganash

Howard Hester says a prayer before the meal


Allan Moses

Luke Tent


Photo: Lloyd Mayappo

Photo: Lloyd Mayappo

Walking out ceremonyGB – On June 25, Lloyd Mayappo, Cree counsellor at the Sarcelle jobsite, invited family and friends to his camp to attend a walking out ceremony.

The walking out ceremony is held when toddlers are considered old enough to take their fi rst steps outside their homes. In a traditional setting (tepee, trees, a cord of wood, ribbons with symbolic col-ors), parents show their children, through evocative gestures, the traditional roles of men and women in the community;

roles that may be theirs someday.

The ceremony begins with a prayer followed by a Cree chant. Then, in turn, each child dressed in a traditional outfi t walks out of the tepee as the whole family looks on proudly. At the end of this rite of passage, everyone in attendance enters the tepee to offi cially welcome the children into the community. For the Crees, this ceremony is also an opportunity to remember how important it is to respect and preserve the wildlife and vegetation around them. Although it is an ancient tradition, many of today’s young parents feel that it ought to be carried on.

More pics from the Aboriginal Day party

Success in occupational health and safetyJL – In June, the Société d’énergie de la Baie James (SEBJ) highlighted the commitment of two Eastmain-1-A jobsite workers and their achievements in occupational health and safety. Congratulations to

Hey, your hard hat!Everyone on a construction site has to wear a hard hat that complies with the CSA Z94.1 standard. The hard hat plays a vital role: it protects the head from trauma by reducing the pressure and distributing the force of an impact over the largest possible area. A hard hat has to withstand impacts, electric shocks, combustion and chemicals; it must be comfortable and easy to clean with soap and water. As recently as last July, a worker was hit in the head by a piece of concrete the size of a football that fell during work under the

Shawn Delarosbil and Mylène Goulet. They each received a jersey with the project logo from Gaston Lepage, SEBJ Health and Safety Supervisor.

Gaston Lepage and Mylène Goulet Voith Hydro site manager Marc Paquette, Shawn Delarosbil and Gaston Lepage

Turcot interchange. Out cold when help arrived, the man regained consciousness while being rushed to the hospital. If it hadn’t been for his hard hat, that worker’s life could have come to a tragic end. (From Prévenir Aussi, Vol. 24, No. 4 [winter 2009–2010], p. 4).

Bruno BlanchetteSupervisor – Occupational Health and Safety


To mitigate the project’s impacts on the environment, a series of measures were prepared with the Cree. One of these was the development, in the territory of the community of Mistissini, of 10 ha of wetlands to facilitate hunting Canada goose and increase biodiversity of wildlife and vegetation.

Excavation material disposal sites had the following advantages over other sites considered for conversion into wetlands:

• Sites previously disturbed by construction activities would be enhanced.• The work would be carried out on a stable and safe surface.• Existing access roads would be used.

The disposal site (AR-16) west of canal C-3 in the Rupert tailbay was selected because of its area of over 20 ha, its substrate made up mostly of till with its high water-retention capacity that would make potential pond beds watertight, and its large volume of material (about one mil-lion cubic metres), making it easy to come up with various design scenarios.

In fall 2009, after the land was prepared, a variety of habitats were developed, alternating ponds, wetlands and semiaquatic and terrestrial grass beds. In summer 2010, hydroseeding and machine seeding were done and nearly 1,000 semiaquatic plants (mannagrass, iris, bur-reed, bulrush, and arrowhead) were introduced on pond edges.

Normand FaubertSupervisor – Environment

DEVELOPING WETLANDS

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