CONSULTATION AND CONSULTATION AND ACCOMMODATIONACCOMMODATION

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATIONSESSION

LISTUGUJ & GESGAPEGIAGFEBRUARY 6 & 7, 2013

Environmental Assessment- Your Say

Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n Wind Energy ProjectAgenda

1) Introduction2) The Mesgi’g Ugiu’s’n (MU) project3) The Environmental Assessment (EA) Process 4) Preliminary Birds & Bats Survey Results 5) Participation of the MMS to the drafting of the EA 6) Mi'gmaq Valued Ecosystem Components (draft) 7) Next Steps: Comments/Concerns/Questions

ABORIGINAL WIND ENERGY ABORIGINAL WIND ENERGY PROGRAM PROGRAM

• The Government of Québec has already made a decision towards for 700 MW including the 250 MW aboriginal wind energy program.

• The 700 MW program is crucial to maintaining 1,200 wind industry related jobs in the Gaspésie and Matane through 2016 and 2017. The program needs to be launched now, with the decree/regulation in place to meet this timeline.

• As stated before, wind development has so far provided little benefit to First Nations.

• This is a unique opportunity for Premier Pauline Marois and Minister Martine Ouellet to correct this situation and to show how to build the future of Québec along with the Mi’gmaq Nation while ensuring the sustainability of manufacturing jobs in the Gaspésie.

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OUR PROJECT• Initiated and controlled by the Mi’gmaq Nation.

• Located on public land of the MRC d’Avignon in the Gaspésie (far from dwellings).

• 150 megawatts (MW) in size.

• 330 M$ in investment.

• At least 300 jobs during construction and 15 permanent jobs for 20 years of operation.

• Central tool for the Mi’gmaq’s socio-economic development.

What is an Environmental What is an Environmental Impact Assessment Study?Impact Assessment Study?

• Project justification and description

• Environment Description (Physical Aspect, Biological Aspect, and Human Aspect)

• Impact Assessment (Methods & Results)

• Mitigation Measures

• Cumulative Effects • Environmental Surveillance & Monitoring Program

Preliminary resultsPreliminary resultsBirdsBirds• 10 raptors species, low 10 raptors species, low

numbers, no nest foundnumbers, no nest found

• Roughly 40-45 songbirds Roughly 40-45 songbirds species observed during species observed during spring and fall migrations spring and fall migrations and breeding seasonand breeding season

• Very few ducks and geeseVery few ducks and geese

• 3 species at risk, including 3 species at risk, including Bald Eagle Bald Eagle

BatsBats• 6 bats species detected: 3 6 bats species detected: 3

resident, 3 migratoryresident, 3 migratory

• Little Brown Bat and Little Brown Bat and Northern long-eared Bat are Northern long-eared Bat are the most common but could the most common but could not be distinguishnot be distinguish

• 5 species at risk5 species at risk

• Low bat mortality due to Low bat mortality due to collision with bladescollision with blades

Participation in the Participation in the drafting of the drafting of the Environmental Impacts Environmental Impacts AssessmentAssessment• The goal is to make sure that the knowledge of the Mi’gmaq people is given full The goal is to make sure that the knowledge of the Mi’gmaq people is given full

and equal consideration in the EIA.and equal consideration in the EIA.

• Incorporation of Mi’gmaq worldview and values to the EIA will be realized Incorporation of Mi’gmaq worldview and values to the EIA will be realized following a 3-steps process :following a 3-steps process :

1.1. Having Mi’gmaq people document their concerns, including the reasons for Having Mi’gmaq people document their concerns, including the reasons for such concerns, about the anticipated environmental, social, and economic such concerns, about the anticipated environmental, social, and economic impacts of a proposed project;impacts of a proposed project;

2.2. mitigating these concerns to the satisfaction of both the Mi’gmaq people of mitigating these concerns to the satisfaction of both the Mi’gmaq people of the region and government regulations; andthe region and government regulations; and

3.3. designing specific programs to fully involve Mi’gmaq people and designing specific programs to fully involve Mi’gmaq people and incorporate their knowledge into subsequent monitoring of VECs and incorporate their knowledge into subsequent monitoring of VECs and managing of impacts over the long term.managing of impacts over the long term.

• The involvement of Mi’gmaq people and incorporation of their knowledge into EIA The involvement of Mi’gmaq people and incorporation of their knowledge into EIA begins when the communities affected by proposed development identify what is begins when the communities affected by proposed development identify what is important to them and why. In other words, it starts with the identification of valued important to them and why. In other words, it starts with the identification of valued ecosystem components (VECs) from a Mi’gmaq perspectiveecosystem components (VECs) from a Mi’gmaq perspective..

Valued Ecosystem Valued Ecosystem ComponentsComponents

• Salmon and trout and their habitat, i.e. watershed from the head-water streams including the tributaries, springs, seeps, streams and wetlands to the union with the sea• Birds, namely Eagles as well as wildfowl and their habitat;• Campsites and overnight sites;• Furbearers such as beaver, fox, otter, mink and their habitat;• Medicinal, ceremonial and decorative plants and their habitat, namely wetlands/swamplands;• Moose and its habitat;• Plants for food such as fiddleheads, wild berries and hazelnuts and their habitat;• Sacred areas, which include burial sites, ceremony and spirit being sites;• Rabbits and Partridge and their habitat;• Specialty wood areas, such as black ash and birch stands.

NEXT STEPSNEXT STEPS

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE MESGIABOUT THE MESGI’’G UGJUG UGJU’’SS’’N N

WIND FARM PROJECT?WIND FARM PROJECT?

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

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