History of Environmental Assessment

Question 1

why do we need environmental assessment for projects?

Answer 1

-EA is important from a project proponent perspective
-want to know the risk to the environment, communities and project
-measures efficiency
-tool/metric
-saves $$, efficient

Question 2

when did environmental assessment appear in Canada

Answer 2

-started being used in the ’70s, began mandatory EA legislations in ’90s

-ON was the first province to pass an act in ‘75

Question 3

name the major pieces of federal environmental assessment legislation

Answer 3

1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

1970 Federal Environmental Assessment Review Office

‘74-80: evolution of fed EAs

Environmental Assessment and Review Process (EARP) took shape

Question 4

in the early 80’s, Beanland & Duinker proposed new approaches to what

Answer 4

proposed new ecological framework for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Question 5

what year were the EARP guidelines passed

Answer 5

1984

Question 6

what year was the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) passed?

Answer 6

1992

Question 7

what is the 2019 Impact Assessment Act

Answer 7

outlines a process for how the Government of Canada goes about assessing the impacts of designated projects and projects carried out on federal lands or outside of Canada.

Question 8

What does the IAA process look like?

Answer 8

1. TRIGGER: does the project fall on the Designated Project List?
2. SCOPE: planning phase where proponent submits a project description. Coordination with interested stakeholders. Alternatives, sustainablility, intersectionality, commitments to climate change considered. ; The Agency determines if to proceed with assessment.
3. PROCESS OPTIONS & DESIGN: either a standard assessment process or a panel review process
4. MONITORING & COMPLIANCE: post-approval process includes monitoring, follow-up, adaptive management

Question 9

What are the triggers of the IAA/IAP?

Answer 9

projects with components that cause changes within national parks or marine protected areas are more likely to trigger a federal impact assessment than before, as will new project types such as offshore wind energy projects.

ex: new mine, digging new well, building a new waste management facility

Question 10

which step of the IAA has been broadened past the CEAA of 2012?

Answer 10

the SCOPE of the assessment has broadened to include biophysical, social, cultural, health, and economic impacts

Question 11

How many days does the Agency have to decide to proceed to a panel or not?

Answer 11

within 45 days of the notice of commencement

Question 12

what are strategic and regional assessments?

Answer 12

Conducted by the Agency or through a committee

Regional assessments assess the effects of existing or future physical activities carried out in a region. Strategic assessments examine the Government of Canada’s existing or proposed policies, plans, or programs relevant to impact assessment

Question 13

Provincial/Manitoba EA Legislation

Answer 13

The Environment Act

Environmental Approvals Branch (EAB)

Question 14

What is the Environmental Approvals Branch?

Answer 14

-they lead the Environmental Assessment and Licensing (EAL) process
-they ensure compliance with Act
-manage impacts of developments

Question 15

what are the steps of the Environmental Assessment and Licensing (EAL) process

Answer 15

1. proponent submits an Environment Act Proposal (EAP), determines if the proposed development triggers the environmental assessment process
2. EAP is reviewed
   3.Proponent provides further info
3. public hearing
4. licensing decision is made
5. appeals and judicial review
6. post-licensing follow-up