Hydro-Québec - Sustainable Development

Taking Effective Action to Mitigate Contamination:
Responding rapidly in the event of accidental spills
Restoring contaminated sites

Taking Effective Action to Mitigate Contamination

Restoring Contaminated Sites

To minimize soil contamination, Hydro-Québec conducts research and takes measures to

establish the environmental history of its sites
assess contamination status
restore the sites, as needed, in accordance with current regulations, and
diligently manage the sites and any contaminated soil excavated

Real estate transactions can provide the opportunity to assess land to determine whether it is contaminated. When necessary, soil and groundwater are restored in accordance with the regulations.

Hydro-Québec manages many sites throughout the province, and devotes considerable resources to characterizing and rehabilitating contaminated sites. In keeping with the principle of due diligence, the company adopted a strategy for improving our knowledge of the condition of contaminated sites and limiting environmental and human health risks. The new strategy includes:

A characterization program based on the site characterization guide published by the Québec Department of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks.
New and ongoing rehabilitation programs, some of which have been in effect since 2004 and will continue in the coming years.

Some Examples

	We are rehabilitating the site of the old fuel storage facility at Blanc-Sablon thermal power plant. The work began in August 2005 with the excavation and treatment of 4,000 m³ of contaminated soil. The project could be completed in 2008.

	We restored the site of a former diesel generating station at the Mont-Louis distribution centre.

	To establish restoration strategies, we assessed potentially contaminated James Bay sites. Various characterization and decontamination efforts have been under way for a number of years.

	We are working with the Québec Department of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks to establish a program of measures to improve management of treated-wood storage sites, in compliance with the Environment Quality Act (EQA).

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