Review of the Conformity of the Impact Statement
Guide for Preparing Written Comments

In accordance with the Operational Procedures for the Review of the Eastmain-1-A and Rupert Diversion Project¹ published December 10, 2004 by the COMEX and the federal review panel (hereinafter referred to as "review bodies"), the public was invited on January 31 to give its opinion on the conformity of the impact statement filed by the proponents, Hydro-Québec and its subsidiary, the Société d'énergie de la Baie James. The present document is aimed at facilitating this participation in the review of the conformity of the impact statement, which can be defined as follows:

A checking and analytical exercise to determine whether the impact statement is complete, if it is in compliance with the directives, and if it is sufficient and of satisfactory quality to ultimately lead to a review of the justification of the project, the potential impacts, and the proposed means for mitigating them.

It is important to distinguish the review of the conformity of the impact statement, including a written public consultation, from the evaluation of the project and its impacts, involving public hearings.

How to participate:

Individuals, groups or organizations are encouraged to inform the secretariat of one of the review bodies of their intention to submit comments in order to ensure proper planning for the process of reviewing the conformity of the impact statement.

The document containing the written comments should include the following:

• a short introduction of the person, group, organization submitting the comments, including their expertise and concerns;

• a statement describing their interest in the project;

• the indication of any missing information and/or an assessment of the quality of the proponents' response to the directives. This would include a judgement and related arguments on the need for additional information or elements to be addressed before proceeding with public hearings.

The review bodies, after taking into account the written comments they have received and following their own review of the impact statement, will determine what additional information is required from the proponents.

General guidelines:

• All written comments must be sent to the secretariat of one of the review bodies before midnight on April 30, 2005, the last day of the public consultation period, and must be accompanied by the enclosed transmission sheet.

• Comments must be presented in a manner that is respectful of other participants and the proponents.

• To avoid the dissemination of confidential information, it is recommended that personal information, such as address and telephone numbers, appear only on the transmission sheet. This sheet will be used exclusively by the review bodies.

• The author of the written comments must give the review bodies permission to make copies and to release the document by checking the appropriate box on the transmission sheet. If a document protected by copyright, such as a newspaper article or a scientific journal, is attached to the written comments, the author must receive written authorization from the copyright owner.

• There are no restrictions regarding the number of pages used to express opinions and related arguments. However, if comments exceed 20 pages, it is recommended that they be accompanied by a summary.

• Any addition, change or supporting information must be submitted in the form of an addendum, which will be attached to the main document.

• Comments may be sent in printed form (8 ½ x 11), by mail, fax or, preferably, by e-mail. A document sent electronically must consist of only one file containing all of the comments. The document must be compatible with the Microsoft Office suites (Word, Excel and PowerPoint). If not, the document should be sent in PDF format.

Locations Where the Impact Statement May Be Consulted

Public Information Office^2,3
277 Duke Street (office 103)
Montréal QC H3C 2M2
Tel.: (514) 871-8378
Tel.: (877) 880-8378 (toll free)
www.bip-pio.qc.ca

Canadian Environmental Asssessment Agency^2,3
Place Bell Canada, 22^nd floor
160 Elgin Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: (613) 957-0573
www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Canadian Environmental Asssessment Agency³
Quebec Regional Office
1141 route de l'Église, P.O. Box 9514
Ste-Foy QC G1V 4B8
Tel.: (418) 649-6444

Bibliothèque municipale de Chibougamau²
601 3rd Street
Chibougamau QC G8P 3A2
Tel.: (418) 748-2497

Local Environmental Administrators:
Chisasibi – Tel.: (819) 855-2878
Eastmain – Tel.: (819) 977-0211
Mistissini – Tel.: (418) 923-3253
Nemaska – Tel.: (819) 673-2512
Oujé-Bougoumou – Tel.: (418) 745-3911
Waskaganish – Tel.: (819) 895-8650
Waswanipi – Tel.: (819) 753-2587
Wemindji – Tel.: (819) 978-0264
Whapmagoostui – Tel.: (819) 929-3384

Hydro-Québec³
Centre de documentation
75 René-Lévesque Blvd. West
Montréal QC H2Z 1A4
Tel.: (514) 289-2211, Ext. 4928
www.hydroquebec.com

Ministère de l'Environnement³
Centre de documentation
675 René-Lévesque Blvd. East
Marie-Guyart building, Main Floor
Québec QC G1R 5V7
Tel.: (418) 521-3821
www.menv.gouv.qc.ca

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Bibliothèque Paul-Émile-Boulet
555 Boul. de l'Université
Chicoutimi QC G7H 2B1
Tel.: (418) 545-5011, Ext. 2305

Université du Québec à Montréal
Bibliothèque centrale
Pavillon Hubert-Aquin
Service des publications gouvernementales
400 Sainte-Catherine East, local A-2103
Montréal QC H2X 3R9
Tel.: (514) 987-3000, Ext. 4312

Université du Québec en Outaouais
Bibliothèque
Pavillon Lucien-Brault
101 Saint-Jean-Bosco Street, local B-1009
P.O. BOX 1250, Hull Branch
Gatineau QC J8X 3X7
Tel.: (819) 773-1624

Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Bibliothèque
Pavillon Albert-Tessier
3351 Boul. des Forges, P.O. BOX 500
Trois-Rivières QC G9A 5H7
Tel.: (819) 376-5005

Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
425 Boul. du Collège, P.O. BOX 8000
Rouyn-Noranda QC .J9X 5M5
Tel.: (819) 762-0931, Ext. 1339

McGill University
McLennan Library
Government Information Service
3459 McTavish Street
Montréal QC H3A 1Y1
Tel.: (514) 398-4734

¹ All of the cited documents can be viewed in the indicated locations.

² Public registry locations.

³ The supporting documentation is available only at these locations.

Transmission Sheet
Written Comments Regarding the Conformity of the Impact Statement