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Other Items of Interest
In this section:
- Agency Organization
- Statistical Summaries of Environmental Assessments
- Contacts for Further Information
Agency Organization
The reporting structure to the Minister of the Environment is shown in the figure below.
Actual Spending: $18,372K with 148 FTEs.
Statistical Summaries of Environmental Assessments
The table below provides a statistical summary of environmental assessments conducted by responsible and regulated authorities. It outlines the total number of projects that underwent an environmental assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act during the 2006-2007 reporting period.
| Fiscal Year 2006-2007 | EA Decisions Taken this Fiscal Year | Follow-up Program | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA Type | Ongoing on April 1, 2006 | Initiated this fiscal year | Not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects | Likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects | Terminated | Ongoing follow-up program on April 1, 2006 | Follow-up program initiated this fiscal year | Follow-up program completed this fiscal year |
| Screening | 2,543 | 5,352 | 4,227 | 0 | 303 | 128 | 75 | 73 |
| Class Screening | n/a | n/a | 946 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Comprehensive Study | 29 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Review Panel | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Panel Substitution | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note: In addition, within the 2006-2007 reporting period, a total of 1,950 screenings were completed by the Business Development Bank of Canada and Farm Credit Canada. Effective June 11, 2006 these Crown corporations were required to conduct environmental assessments of their projects subject to the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, but with a modified process with respect to reporting on the Registry Internet site.
Screenings
A screening is the most common type of environmental assessment. It is a systematic approach to identifying and documenting the environmental effects of a proposed project and determining the need to eliminate or minimize (mitigate) the adverse effects, to modify the project plan or to recommend further assessment through mediation or an assessment by a review panel.
Screenings are used to assess a wide range of projects. Screenings will vary in time, length and depth of analysis, depending on the circumstances of the proposed project, the existing environment and the likely environmental effects. Some screenings may require only a brief analysis of the available information and a brief report while others may need new background studies and will be more thorough and rigorous.
The responsible authority must ensure that the screening of the project is carried out and must prepare or ensure the preparation of a report which summarizes the findings of the screening.
For a summary of environmental assessments undertaken by each responsible or regulated authority consult the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's website at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca.
Comprehensive Studies
Certain projects, by their very nature and size, may have the potential to cause significant adverse environmental effects. These types of projects have been identified and listed in the Comprehensive Study List Regulations.
As a result of revisions to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (the Act), proclaimed through Bill C-9 on October 30, 2003, the responsible authority must consult the public on its proposed approach and recommend to the Minister of the Environment whether the project should continue by means of a comprehensive study environmental assessment or be referred to a mediator or a review panel. At the end of the comprehensive study process, the Minister is required to issue a decision statement as to whether the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.
The Agency's role in the comprehensive study process is to provide advice to responsible authorities, project proponents and the public; ensure that the comprehensive study report complies with the requirements of the Act; manage the public comment period; and provide advice to the Minister of the Environment in support of the Minister's track decision on the environmental assessment and the determination of potential adverse environmental effects. Public participation is facilitated by the Participant Funding Program, which provides financial assistance to eligible individuals and public organizations with legitimate interests in the project.
The Minister concluded that the comprehensive studies described below were not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects and referred them back to the responsible authority:
- Deltaport Third Berth Project (www.ceaa.gc.ca/050/viewer_e.cfm?cear_id=3734)
- Kitimat Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal (www.ceaa.gc.ca/050/viewer_e.cfm?cear_id=10430)
- Project to Implement a Processing Plant for Spent Potlining (www.ceaa.gc.ca/050/viewer_e.cfm?cear_id=9911)
- Wuskwatim Hydro Generating Station (www.ceaa.gc.ca/010/0003/0016/index_e.htm)
Review Panels
Distinguished by extensive public participation, review panels and joint review panels with other jurisdictions are the most visible and public type of environmental assessment. Review panels are independent from government, with members appointed by the Minister of the Environment.
The review panel conducts its assessment in an open and public manner, with individuals and groups presenting information and views through public comment periods and public hearings. Public participation is facilitated by the Participant Funding Program, which provides financial assistance to eligible individuals and public organizations with legitimate interests in the project.
At the completion of the review process, the review panel's report, including conclusions and recommendations, is submitted to the Minister of the Environment. The recommendations are advisory, and the responsible authority, with the approval of the federal Cabinet considers and responds publicly to all recommendations.
The Agency's primary roles in a review panel process are to provide advice and coordination to federal expert authorities and responsible authorities; maintain the public registry; manage the review process and provide technical and administrative support to the review panel; administer the Participant Funding Program; and design and implement a public information program with the review panel.
During this reporting period, the Agency provided support and advice to the following panel reviews. To locate these environmental assessments on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry website:
- Go to: http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/050/index_e.cfm
- Select All in the Status drop-down menu
- Type the Reference Number in the Keyword(s) / Reference Number box
- Press Enter
| Projects Being Assessed | Reference Number |
|---|---|
| Cacouna Energy | 04-07-7440 |
| Construction of 4 Hydroelectric Dams, Romaine River | 04-05-2613 |
| Deep Geologic Repository for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Wastes | 06-05-17520 |
| Emera Brunswick Pipeline Company Ltd. Brunswick Pipeline | 06-08-17667 |
| EnCana Shallow Gas Infill Development Project in the Suffield National Wildlife Area | 05-07-15620 |
| Kearl Oil Sands - Mine Development | 05-07-16237 |
| Kemess North Gold-Copper Mine | 04-07-3394 |
| Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation | 07-05-26178 |
| Muskeg River Mine Expansion (MRME) - Albian Oil Sand Project | 05-07-16259 |
Two other environmental assessments are available only on the CEAA web site:
- Eastmain-1-A and Rupert Diversion: www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/010/0001/0001/0017/index_e.htm
- Mackenzie Gas Pipeline: www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/010/0001/0001/0020/index_e.htm
Contacts for Further Information
Director of Communications
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor
Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3
Tel: 613-957-0712
Fax: 613-957-0946
E-mail: info@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's Web Site
Treasury Board Secretariat's Web Site
Footnote:
1Accommodation provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada. Contributions covering employer's share of employees' insurance premiums and expenditures paid by the Treasury Board Secretariat. Salary and associated expenditures of legal services provided by Justice Canada.