Examples
of past
projects

• Environmental Monitoring

  Saint-Laurent Pipeline

  The Saint-Laurent Pipeline project involved building a 242-km pipeline between Lévis and Boucherville in order to connect the Jean-Gaulin Refinery and the Montreal East Valero Energy terminal. The pipeline crosses 4 administrative regions, 32 municipalities, 10 MRCs or equivalent territories, and 5 of the UPA’s regional federations. Environmental monitoring aimed to ensure that the project complied with the conditions listed in the permits and authorizations, plans and specifications, and environmental regulations. Monitoring was carried out to determine the success of site rehabilitation activities as well as the durability of the compensatory infrastructures required.

  Services rendered

  • Developed environmental monitoring programs and activities
  • Carried out environmental monitoring during the construction phase
  • Removed and relocated the fish prior to the work on the water body
  • Transplanted trees and plant species at risk
  • Characterized and managed water used for hydrostatic testing, contaminated soil, and drilling fluid
  • Developed subsurface drainage plans
  • Carried out noise management activities (outsourced)
  • Carried out vibration control activities (outsourced)
  • Carried out archeological digs (outsourced)
  • Developed a program to compensate for the loss of wooded areas
  • Monitored crop yield
  • Monitored the regeneration of forest stands and transplanted trees
  • Monitored the recovery of wetlands
  • Monitored wildlife rehabilitation sites for the Western chorus frog

  

• Environmental Monitoring

  Programme d’excavation d’intégrité pour le pipeline TransCanada

  

• Environmental Monitoring

  Saint-Sébastien extension

  The Saint-Sébastien extension project located in Saint-Sébastien and Pike River was intended to meet the growing demand for natural gas by increasing the capacity of the current network and consolidating it in the area. The project entailed an extension of an exiting conduit over a distance of about 4 km and the implementation of above-ground infrastructures. Various monitoring activities had to be undertaken as per the conditions listed in the permits and authorizations obtained. First, Groupe Conseil UDA developed a crop monitoring program to ensure the sites were rehabilitated following construction work. During the construction phase itself, a Groupe Conseil UDA representative made sure the various measures and commitments to protect the environment were implemented and ensured the worksite complied with the environmental regulations in effect. Finally, various monitoring activities were carried out after the sites were rehabilitated.

  Services rendered

  • Developed a program to monitor crop yield
  • Carried out environmental and agronomic monitoring during the construction phase
  • Carried out archeological monitoring during the construction phase (outsourced)
  • Monitored crop yield following construction
  • Monitored the quality of water in drinking water wells (pre-construction, during the work, following the construction) (outsourced)
  • Issued an agronomic expertise report (monitoring) as required by the CPTAQ

  

• Environmental Monitoring

  Gouin Bridge

  The Ministère des Transports du Québec wanted to rebuild Gouin Bridge in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu along St-Jacques Street above the Chambly Canal and the Richelieu River. Groupe Conseil UDA was mandated by the Ministère to carry out environmental monitoring for the work. This involved making sure the mitigation measures promised were implemented and that the conditions and recommendations issued by environmental authorities were followed, noting any deficiencies, and issuing additional mitigation measures. These monitoring activities took place between 2017 and 2021.

  Services rendered

  • Acted as a liaison and ensured communications between the worksite team and the MTQ
  • Carried out environmental monitoring on the worksite: water and sediment management, residual matter management, spill management, contaminated soil management, monitoring for environments to be protected
  • Documented environmental monitoring activities carried out on site
  • Acted on behalf of the MTQ to outline its environmental commitments in meetings with various stakeholders (entrepreneur, sub-contractor, city, ministères, etc.)
  • Defined a fish habitat in Richelieu River to compensate for the project (2019)
  • Applied for various authorizations and permits from regulatory authorities for certain activities

  

• Environmental Monitoring

  Development of a wetland in Saint-Thomas

  Dépôt Rive-Nord obtained an authorization to operate a new technical landfill cell in Saint-Thomas. Following the public consultation process, the company stated they would develop a wetland north of their facilities in order to restore natural ecosystem functions and provide a wildlife-friendly environment. Groupe Conseil UDA’s mandate included designing a compensatory habitat, obtaining the permits and authorizations required for the work including inventorying wildlife and plants on site, supervising the work, and monitoring the wildlife habitat and wetland.

  Services rendered

  • Carried out an environmental characterization of the site for future reference: hydrological conditions, wildlife and flora inventory of the wetland
  • Defined the concept for the wetland and designed the installations (dikes and spillways, pond reprofiling, shoreline protection, etc.)
  • Identified and integrated amenities for wildlife (perches, nest boxes, shelters, and resting sites)
  • Prepared and submitted applications for permits and authorizations
  • Planned and supervised the work, including the application of mitigation measures
  • Monitored the amenities and how they are used by wildlife

  

• Environmental Monitoring

  Monitoring Île Lapierre

  To compensate for the impacts resulting from the construction of the new Samuel De Champlain Bridge, Infrastructure Canada selected the Île Lapierre enhancement project to compensate for the loss of fish habitats and wetland ecosystem functions. The compensatory habitat was completed in July 2018. Groupe Conseil UDA’s mandate was to carry out monitoring activities (herpetological and ichthyological inventories) during years 1, 3, and 5 following the construction work, issue observations as to whether or not the goals were attained, and make recommendations for subsequent monitoring activities.

  Services rendered

  • Developed a monitoring program regarding the use of the habitats by herpetofauna and ichthyofauna
  • Carried out field inventories of fish, frogs, turtles, and eels
  • Assessed the results of inventories in comparison with initial data to validate if the objectives were met
  • Helped draft monitoring reports

  

• Environmental Monitoring

  Remediation work on a water body in Dunham

  Pipe-lines Montréal operates a 380-km network made up of three pipelines located in the same easement. The right-of-way crosses a body of water in Dunham where problems caused by erosion have been observed. To preserve the integrity of the pipes, remediation work on the shoreline and coast was required. The goal was to preserve the natural environment while adequately protecting the pipes. Groupe Conseil UDA was mandated with obtaining the required authorizations for the work, monitoring this work from an environmental standpoint, and carrying out any post-construction monitoring.

  Services rendered

  • Submitted applications for authorizations from regulatory bodies (municipality, MRC, MELCC, MFFP)
  • Acted on behalf of the client with the MELCC when developing the plan
  • Developed an innovative rehabilitation project for the water body in line with the requirements set forth by various authorities
  • Characterized the natural environment in the sector (wetland and water body) and carried out wildlife, ichthyological, and herpetological inventories
  • Designed wildlife habitats
  • Removed the fish prior to the work
  • Carried out environmental monitoring after the work
  • Evaluated and confirmed the work had been done in compliance with regulations
  • Carried out environmental monitoring activities the year after the work was carried out to ensure the goals had been met

  

• Environmental Monitoring

  Expansion of the Sintra quarry located in Saint-Alphonse-de-Granby and Bromont

  Sintra wanted to expand and deepen one of their quarries that has been in operation since 1970. Subject to the Regulation respecting sand pits and quarries, authorization was needed from the MELCC to proceed. A request for this authorization needed be supported by various sector studies including an environmental characterization, a hydrogeological study, a hydraulic study, and a noise study. After assessing the request for authorization, the MELCC required that the wetlands and drinking water wells needed to be monitored in the sector of the quarry to confirm they would not be impacted by the expansion work.

  Services rendered

  • Developed a wetland monitoring program that meets the MELCC’s requirements
  • Characterized and delimited the wetlands to document their initial condition before the project was carried out
  • Installed short piezometers to confirm the groundwater level in some wetlands
  • Carried out monitoring work scheduled every three years (characterization and delimitation of the wetlands to assess the groundwater level)
  • Drafted monitoring reports required by the MELCC