Chapter 4

Question 1

What is screening?

Answer 1

Screening is the narrowing of who is required to complete an EA … determining which projects that require assessment because of the potential for adverse effects or because EA is required by way of certain regulations. The screening process asks: “Is an EA required?”

Question 2

The question will normally result in one of the following answers:

Answer 2

• no, an EA is not required;
• yes, an EA is required;
• a limited EA is required, consisting only of a preliminary assessment or mitigation plan; or
• further study is necessary, such as a preliminary environmental report or consultation study, to determine whether an EA is required.

Question 3

What is the purpose of screening?

Answer 3

to ensure that no unnecessary assessments are carried out but that developments warranting assessment are not overlooked.

Question 4

What are the different types of screening?

Answer 4

List-based screening
case-by-case screening
hybrid screening

Question 5

List based screening

Answer 5

List-based screening, also referred to as prescriptive screening, involves a list of projects for which an EA is (or is not) required based on the potential of that project to generate significant effects or based on regulatory requirements and responsibilities. Lists for projects may be based on project characteristics, thresholds, and geographic location. As well, a negative list outlines projects for which an EA is not required.
Project lists often include specified thresholds so that not all types of projects captured by a project list require assessment. Thresholds are often based on different types or classes of development or project size or magnitude (e.g., total reservoir size for a hydroelectric facility) or on environmental thresholds as established by regulations (e.g., total emission levels or concentrations).
whereas those that do not meet the threshold(s) do not require assessment.

Question 6

case-by-case screening

Answer 6

Case-by-case screening, also referred to as discretionary or criterion-based screening, involves evaluating project characteristics against a checklist of regulations, criteria, or general guidelines as projects are submitted. There is no prescribed list of projects that are subject to EA—two similar projects, but in different locations, may receive different screening determinations. I

Question 7

what are the benefits and drawbacks of case-by-case screening?

Answer 7

Case-by-case screening allows for maximum flexibility for EA application—it is sensitive to context, is dynamic, and provides for better consideration of the local and regional environment in which development is proposed. At the same time, however, case-by-case screening can be time-consuming, inconsistent, and sometimes difficult to defend if the screening criteria are too vague. using this method is also vulnerable to screening out projects that should be assessed.

Question 8

What are the drawbacks of list based screening?

Answer 8

are vulnerable to screening out projects that should be assessed.

problems arise when projects fall just below a prescribed threshold.

• listed project types, characteristics, or thresholds may be outdated and may not conform with the current state of the art;
• thresholds may be identified even though there is no sound reason for them;
• regional differences in the sensitivity of the environment are not considered;
• specified thresholds may not be appropriate in all situations and contexts;
• thresholds are set either too high or too low to properly capture significant impacts.

Question 9

Such “small” projects noted above could be captured under ___________, but the decision is _____________; there must be a ____________ to invest time and resources in the assessment of seemingly small development actions—which is the exception rather than the norm (Westbrook & Noble, 2016). The determination of the need for assessment depends heavily on the __________________ and on the _______________________

Answer 9

case-by-case screening; discretionary; political will; relative weight given to each criterion considered; context within which significant decisions about the project’s potential impacts are being made

Question 10

Hybrid screening

Answer 10

Hybrid screening presents an alternative approach whereby list-based and case-by-case screening are used as complementary screening processes such that listed projects above specified thresholds or located in sensitive areas, for example, are subject to mandatory assessment, whereas projects that fall below the threshold or are not located in sensitive areas are screened for the need for EA on a case-by-case basis. (combining both methods together)… it is a threshold-based screening that also allows for case by case considerations.

Question 11

In hybrid screening, if a project falls under mandatory or inclusion thresholds…

Answer 11

an EA is always required

Question 12

In hybrid screening, if a project falls under indicative thresholds…

Answer 12

it is a case-by-case consideration

Question 13

In hybrid screening, if a project falls under exclusion thresholds…

Answer 13

an EA is not required unless the project is located in a sensitive area.

Question 14

What is the precautionary principle?

Answer 14

when scientific information is incomplete and considerable uncertainty exists as to whether a proposed activity is likely to cause adverse effect, this should not be a reason for approving the proposed activity, for not requiring an EA, or for not requiring rigorous mitigation and monitoring measures

Question 15

What is wrong with the precautionary principle?

Answer 15

the principle itself has been misused to justify everything from minimal change to rejecting any project proposal

Question 16

initial environmental examination

Answer 16

A preliminary study prepared to establish whether an environmental assessment is needed and what level of assessment should be implemented.

Question 17

environmental preview report

Answer 17

An early report that is used to determine whether or not an environmental assessment is needed and the level of assessment required; it outlines the project, potential environmental effects, alternatives, and management measures.

Question 18

Under the Canadian federal Impact Assessment Act, there are three main types of assessment:

Answer 18

a standard impact assessment by the Impact Assessment Agency; a panel review assessment; and a panel review assessment when there is a life-cycle regulator. Most designated projects are subject to assessment by the agency

Question 19

However, a designated project may be referred to a _________ should concerns emerge over the potential adverse impacts of the project, when there is due public concern about the impacts of the project, when there is an opportunity for EA cooperation with other jurisdictions, or when there are adverse impacts on the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Answer 19

Review panel

Question 20

What does the review panel do?

Answer 20

Review panels are responsible for holding public hearings and preparing the impact assessment report.

Question 21

If an EA is required, the government agency or EA office responsible for overseeing the assessment would normally prepare detailed

Answer 21

terms of reference

Question 22

terms of reference provides what?

Answer 22

a roadmap for project proponents, outlining the minimum requirements that must be met when preparing the EIS.

The terms of reference also serve as a checklist for government agencies and the public once an EIS is submitted, ensuring that the proponent has provided the information required to proceed to the review stage. If the proponent has not met the requirements, the responsible government agency or EA office will normally return the EIS to the project proponent to provide the information.