Subject to the implementation of required mitigation measures, the Panel concluded in its recent report that the construction and operation of the plant was unlikely to cause significant negative impact.
There is the potential to develop up to 1.5GW of capacity o the Romaine river on the Lower North Shore in Quebec. Work on the scheme's pre-feasibility studies began five years ago. The developer is Hydro-Quebec.
The Panel was called upon in September last year to assess the environmental impacts of the project. The lead federal agencies providing expert advice to the Panel hearings were Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada.
The Government's acceptance of the report was announced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans.
Fisheries and Oceans minister, Gail Shea, said in a statement: 'We will work with the Government of Quebec and Hydro-Quebec to address the potential environmental impacts through agreed upon mitigation measures.'
The Panel's report was issued in February.
