Approvals

Formal Approvals:

The Ontario Environmental Assessment Act (OEEA) requires the preparation of both an Environmental Assessment (EA) Terms of Reference (ToR) and an EA for this project.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) is triggered if a federal department provides funding, grants an interest in federal land, or exercises a regulatory duty (i.e. issuing permits, approvals or authorizations) for the project.

Approval Steps for a Terms of Reference (ToR):

1. Ontario Minister of Transportation - must formally submit the EA Terms of Reference document to the Ontario Minister of the Environment for approval;



2. Ontario Minister of the Environment - must formally review and approve or deny the EA Terms of Reference document (formal review includes regulatory agency and public consultation).

The EA Terms of Reference was approved on June 9th, 2006.


Approval Steps for an Environmental Assessment (EA):

1. Ontario Minister of Transportation - must formally submit the Individual EA Report to both the provincial and federal governments for approval;



2. Ontario Minister of the Environment - must formally review (formal review includes regulatory agency and public consultation) and approve or deny the Route Planning / Concept Design EA Report ;



3. If CEAA is triggered a Lead Federal Responsible Agency in cooperation with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency - will formally review the Route Planning / Concept Design EA Report and make a decision as to whether the proposed project will result in significant adverse environmental effects. If a decision is made that the project is unlikely to cause significant adverse environmental effects then the project can proceed; meaning permits / authorizations review procedures can be initiated.