Backfilling work begins on the Northvolt factory site | The battery industry

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A phase of work began on Wednesday in the field of the future Northvolt factory in Saint-Basile-le-Grand.

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The backfilling work of part of the wetlands began Wednesday morning on the grounds of the future Northvolt factory in Saint-Basile-le-Grand, in Montérégie. This preparation work is necessary to be able to construct the first building on the site.

Until March 1, approximately 125 trucks will transport crushed stone every day from the Mont-Saint-Hilaire quarry to the site where the Swedish factory will be erected.

Mitigation measures have been planned during the work: flaggers will slow traffic on Route 223 to facilitate the comings and goings of trucks, between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

The duration of the work could be extended, but it must be completed no later than March 10, before the birds' nesting period, indicated the mayor of Saint-Basile-le-Grand, Yves Lessard, during a interview with the Information Network (RDI). Birds will thus be able to nest on other parts of the land that are protected and in wetlands.

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In an interview on the show Tout un matin, Sabrina Guilbert, resident of McMasterville and spokesperson for the Citizen Action Committee, indicated that at a citizens' assembly last week, an expert explained that wetlands play an important role in flood prevention. In 2011, she pointed out, part of the land acquired by Northvolt was flooded and the large wetland acted as a sponge.

Ms. Guilbert reiterated her request for a BAPE review of the entire project to fully understand all the social, economic and environmental factors. p>

Even if the work has started, it is not too late to launch an evaluation of the BAPE, according to her, because once the factory is in works, there will be other issues to study, such as the increase in labor-related traffic, the impact on SMEs, the housing shortage, the use of Richelieu for process cooling, among others.

Ms. Guilbert also warned of the danger of setting a precedent by bypassing public consultations and environmental assessments for future large industrial projects.