SOS Mount Hereford eager for collaboration after Couillard Northern Pass shift

The SOS Mount Hereford coalition is pleased Premier Philippe Couillard's strong endorsement last week of the idea of burying the Northern Pass hydro line. After having earlier supported Hydro-quebec's arguments for an aerial line, he has switched positions and endorse the unanimous position of the environmental sector, the conservation movement, and the two members of hs government from the Estrie, Minister Luc Fortin and MP Guy Hardy. For the coalition, this is a major step in safeguarding Mount Hereford and its forest.

Jacinthe Caron, Director of the Estrie Regional Environmental Council, has expressed relief that the Prime Minister is joining his voice to that of the community: "There is never an ideal solution when you cross a territory for a power line. The compromise proposed by Forêt Hereford - burial in a part of the protected area, but under existing municipal and forest roads - makes it possible to eliminate impacts on the landscape and minimize those on the area’s ecology, while respecting the communities that will have to live with the deployment of the line."

The coalition has been emphasizing the need to respect this unique conservation area since last autumn. In fact, the protected area on Mount Hereford's private land is the largest real estate donation in Quebec history for conservation purposes. Its surface area of more than 5,000 hectares makes it precious and an inspiring model for the creation of new protected areas in southern Quebec. it says..

Coalition members are thrilled that Couillard has mandated the Minister of Natural Resources Pierre Moreau to bring this issue to a successful conclusion with Hydro-québec and are eager to collaborate with Hydro-québec management and the community to determine the optimal means of burying the line and minimizing its impact.

SOS Mount Hereford is composed of Nature Québec, the Appalachian Corridor, the Estrie Regional Environmental Council, and the Protected Natural Areas Network. So far, SOS Mont Hereford has received the support of musician Richard Séguin, the National Group of Regional Councils for the Environment of Quebec, Landscapes of the Eastern Townships, the Commission on Natural Resources and the Territory of Estrie ( CRRNT), Eastern Townships Tourism, SNAP, as well as 10,000 people who have expressed their support online.