What is the environmental public inquiry?

This is a regulatory stage of the procedure for examining the application for environmental authorization for the project, managed by State services. It takes place before the start of the work. During this investigation phase, all residents directly concerned and interested people are invited to find out about the project, to read the environmental authorization file and to give their opinion on the integration of the Canal into its environment.

An important opinion, but on what?

Concretely, by participating in the public inquiry, you will be able to inform you et give your opinion on the characteristics of the project and the ecological developments envisaged to preserve water, aquatic environments, protected animal plant species, existing habitats, etc. All the measures planned by the Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe to avoid, reduce and compensate for the impact of the Canal, will accessible in the environmental authorization application file and will be open to everyone's appreciation.

And after?

At the end of the public inquiry period, the commission of inquiry studies all the contributions collected on the project, write a investigation report, then draws up its conclusions from the report and expresses his opinion (unfavorable or favorable, possibly accompanied by recommendations or reservations).

On the basis of this investigation report in particular, the State grants, where appropriate, environmental authorization, in the form of a prefectural decree (inter-prefectural in the context of the Canal which extends over several departments). The latter contains numerous requirements for the construction site and allows the project owner, the Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe, toinitiate work on the Canal.