Regulation respecting activities in wetlands, bodies of water and sensitive areas (chapter Q-2, r. 0.1).

The object of this Regulation is to prescribe certain general standards applicable to the carrying out of activities in wetlands and bodies of waters covered by section 46.0.2 of the Environment Quality Act (chapter Q-2), hereinafter referred to as the Act , and in other sensitive areas as a supplement in particular to the rules prescribed by other statutes and regulation. Excluding sections 4, 8, 8.1, 33.1, 33.2, 33.4, 35.1, 35.2, 36, 38.1, 38.4, 38.5, 38.7 to 38.11, 42, 43.1, 46, 47, 48, 49, 49.0.1, 49.0.2 and 49.1, which apply generally to all types of activities, this Regulation applies to activities that are not subject to ministerial authorization pursuant to subparagraph 4 of the first paragraph of section 22 of the Act nor to the amendment or renewal of such authorization. It applies in particular in a reserved area and in an agricultural zone established pursuant to the Act respecting the preservation of agricultural land and agricultural activities.
Chapter II contains general standards applicable to all wetlands and bodies of water. As general provisions, the Chapter establishes that interventions carried out in wetlands and bodies of water must not interfere with the free flow of water, however such interventions may cause certain permanent restrictions to the free flow of water if they concern a bridge, culvert, weir, baffle or stabilization work. Work carried out in wetlands and bodies of water must satisfy the following conditions: (1) materials must be used that are appropriate for the area concerned; (2) measures must be taken to control erosion, sediments and suspended matter. The activities involved in composting the carcasses of animals that die on a farm and storing the compost produced are prohibited in a wetland or body of water. The Chapter considers the following activities: explosives; excavation or backfilling; vehicle or machinery; Sylvicultural treatments must be carried out by promoting natural regeneration of the vegetation and without soil amendment; restoration. Chapter III contains special standards applicable to bodies of water: Work requiring the removal and trimming of vegetation in the littoral zone or a lakeshore or riverbank must be carried out without stump removal, unless the nature of the work entails stump removal. Activities that are disciplined are: building and infrastructure; maintenance work on a watercourse; dewatering or temporary narrowing of a watercourse; surface water withdrawal facility; drilling work; cultivation of non-aquatic plants. Chapter III.1 special standards applicable to the coastal zone, Chapter IV special standards applicable to lake and riverbanks, Chapter V special standards applicable to flood zones, Chapter VI special standards applicable to wetlands, Chapter VII special standards applicable to certain sensitive areas.