Environmental Assessment
Most major municipal construction projects require that the Town conduct an environmental assessment. The Town conducts environmental assessments in accordance with the requirements of Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA), which was prepared by the Municipal Engineers Association and approved by the Ontario Minister Of Environment on September 2007.
Municipal Class Environmental Assessment
The Municipal Class Environmental Assessment is an approved planning document that describes the process that municipalities must follow in order to meet the requirements of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.
The Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process has five required phases as follows:- Phase 1 - identify the problem and/or opportunity;
- Phase 2 - identify alternative solutions;
- Phase 3 - examine alternative methods of implementing the preferred solution;
- Phase 4 - prepare and file an Environmental Study Report;
- Phase 5 - proceed to detail design, construction and operations.
Types of projects
The three types of projects to which the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment applies are:
Schedule A
- Projects that are limited in scale and have minimal adverse environmental effects--including the majority of municipal road maintenance, operational and emergency activities
- Projects are pre-approved and therefore, a municipality can proceed without further approval under the EA Act
Schedule B
- Projects such as improvements and minor expansions to existing facilities
- Projects that have the potential for some adverse environmental effects
- Projects are approved subject to a screening process, which includes contacting directly affected stakeholders and relevant review agencies
Schedule C
- Projects including construction of new facilities and major expansions to existing facilities
- Projects that have the potential for significant environmental effects which therefore must proceed under the planning and documentation procedures outlined in the Municipal Class EA document.
An Environmental Study Report (ESR) is required for Schedule C projects and documents the environmental assessment process that must be carried out prior to proceeding with the construction of the roadway or facility. The ESR must be filed for a minimum 30 day period for public review.
Appeal provision
The Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process includes an appeal provision for parties who do not feel their concerns have been adequately addressed through the Class EA process. The party may request a Part II Order from the Minister of the Environment that will change the status of the project from being subject to the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process to being subject to an individual environmental assessment, as per Part II of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.
It is recommended that all stakeholders work together to determine the preferred means of addressing a problem or opportunity. However if concerns cannot be resolved, the Minister will decide whether to deny the request, refer the matter to mediation or require the municipality to comply with Part II of the Ontario EA Act.
Related Information:
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Phone: 905-878-7252 ext 2500
Fax: 905 876-5029
