SEPT-ÎLES, MARCH 10, 2022 – The Northern Institute for Research in Environment and Occupational Health and Safety (INREST) and the Port of Sept-Îles are very pleased to announce $1.998 million in funding from the Government of Quebec to create the main Enviro-Actions™ development and demonstration pilot area in the Bay of Sept-Îles.
The project will also receive a significant financial contribution of $2.5 million from the Port of Sept-Îles over the next five years, for a total budget of nearly $4.5 million. These major investments in the preservation of the Sept-Îles industrial-port (IP) zone ecosystem come courtesy of the Quebec government’s “Advantage St. Lawrence” maritime strategy, which aims to establish a smart economic corridor along the river and ensure that maritime traffic is respectful of the environment, among other objectives.
With the Enviro-Actions™ pilot project, the knowledge and tools developed in 2013 when setting up the Bay of Sept-Îles environmental monitoring observatory will be adapted so that similar observatories can be created for other IP zones in Quebec. The innovative project uses near real-time monitoring tools to preventively detect potential environmental contamination and quickly implement corrective measures, combining expertise and cutting-edge technology to assess environmental quality and adopt solutions for mitigating environmental impacts and climate change.
“The goal of the Advantage St. Lawrence strategy is to connect, organize, and unify our waterways. That’s why we’re proud to support INREST in implementing Enviro-Actions. This groundbreaking, high-potential project will make the St. Lawrence and Saguenay Rivers a major competitive corridor conducive to the growth of our blue economy.”
Chantal Rouleau, Minister for Transport and Minister Responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal Region
“The operations and strategic position of the Port of Sept-Îles make it a key player in the port network of Quebec and Eastern Canada. Having a data capture system in the port zone sets it apart and supports the port’s sustainable evolution. The system is a distinctive asset for our region and will help preserve the natural environment. I am very pleased that our government is helping to safeguard the North Shore’s marine ecosystem.”
Jonatan Julien, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Minister Responsible for the Côte-Nord Region, and Minister Responsible for the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine Region
“Over the past few years, INREST has demonstrated its ability to lead and carry out innovative, large-scale projects and has received valuable support from the Government of Quebec, the Port of Sept-Îles, and the community. This has allowed INREST and its CEIP (Centre for Industrial Port Expertise) division to position themselves as key players at the provincial and national levels in the preservation of ecosystems in port and industrial areas. The Government of Quebec and the Port of Sept-Îles are key partners for INREST, proving once again their willingness and commitment to prioritize environmental preservation and sustainable development.”
Dr. Julie Carrière, Executive Director, INREST and CEIP
“The Bay of Sept-Îles environmental monitoring observatory established by the Port and INREST in 2013 was the first of its kind on the St. Lawrence, paving the way for this innovative model and demonstrating regional leadership in the protection of marine ecosystems. The Port is therefore proud to provide major funding for the Enviro-Actions project, which will position our industrial-port zone as a leader in the use of instruments and the development of management tools for monitoring the precious ecosystems of Quebec’s coastal and port areas.”
Pierre D. Gagnon, President and CEO, Port of Sept-Îles
Implementing the Enviro-Actions™ model in IP zones will serve to:
- Measure and monitor the water, air, and sound quality of IP ecosystems in near real-time
- Create an environmental alert system for managers in IP zones to increase responsiveness before an incident occurs (prevention mode)
- Provide all port authorities and managers in IP zones with better tools to measure the effects of their activities on the environment, respond to community expectations and concerns, and make decisions, including for the environmental management of IP zones
- Collect credible and current data that is scientifically neutral and promotes social acceptability
- Provide a better understanding of current environmental impacts and how these impacts will evolve in the future so that challenges and solutions for the preservation of ecosystems can be identified, with a view to sustainable development
- Measure the results of environmental conservation and improvement efforts in IP zones
- Use innovative big data and artificial intelligence approaches to integrate data management for the purpose of performing trend or predictive analysis, building profiles, anticipating risks, and monitoring phenomena in near real-time
ABOUT THE PORT OF SEPT-ÎLES
Boasting diverse, state-of-the-art facilities, the Port of Sept-Îles is one of North America’s largest ore-handling ports, with a projected volume of nearly 40 million tonnes in 2022. It is also recognized as the largest primary aluminum port terminal in the Americas in terms of business volume. The port facilities at Sept-Îles play a vital and strategic role in the economy of Eastern Canada. The Port of Sept-Îles established the first environmental monitoring observatory in the St. Lawrence marine ecosystem. Sustainable development is a cornerstone of its values and actions.
ABOUT INREST
The Northern Institute for Research in Environment and Occupational Health and Safety (INREST) is a non-profit organization that focuses on environmental and occupational health issues. INREST made its mark on the global scene by setting up the largest industrial-port (IP) zone environmental observatory for the preservation of marine ecosystems in Quebec and by creating the Centre for Industrial Port Expertise. The division’s main thrust is to set up environmental observatories and instrumentalize Quebec’s maritime territory for the purpose of conserving the ecosystems in all of the province’s port and industrial zones, which includes collecting live data and issuing Enviro-Alertes™ as per the Enviro-Actions™ preventive management model.
Sources :
Patsy Keays
Director, Corporate Affaires & Corporate Secretary
Port of Sept-Îles
Tel. 418 961-1235
pkeays@portsi.com
Kim Doiron
Associate Director
INREST
Tel. 418 732-4405
kim@inrest.ca
