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CEAA 2012 EA PROCESS OPTIONS OCTOBER 15, 2012. Overview. EA Process under CEAA 2012 Screening Environmental Assessment (Standard) Panel Review S. 67, 68 Reviews. CEAA 2012 Pr PROCESS. Screening (Sections 8 – 12).
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Overview • EA Process under CEAA 2012 • Screening • Environmental Assessment (Standard) • Panel Review • S. 67, 68 Reviews
CEAA 2012 Pr PROCESS
Screening (Sections 8 – 12) • True screening of projects, not to be confused with CEAA screenings • Doesn’t apply to NEB, CNSC projects or Minister-designated projects s. 8.(1) • Project description to be provided s. 8.(1) • Agency may require amended description within 10 days (s.8.(2) if “decision cannot be made” because description “incomplete” or lacks “sufficient details”
Screening (Sections 8 – 12) • Internet posting of description summary s.9 • Public comments within 20 days s. 9.(c) • Within 45 days after posting, Agency must: • conduct screening s. 10.(a) • decide if environmental assessment required s. 10.(b)
Screening (Sections 8 – 12) • Agency must consider following s. 10.(a) factors: • “Description of the designated project” • “Possibility that the carrying out of the project may cause adverse environmental effects” • “Comments received from the public” • “Results of any relevant study by a committee established under section 73 or 74”
Environmental Assessment (Standard) • Similar to CEAA comprehensive study • Undertaken by Responsible Authority (Agency, NEB, CNSC) S. 15 • Notice and Consultation requirements ss. 17, 18 • EA must assess factors set out in s. 19.(1) • RA must ensure EA is conducted, report prepared s. 22
Environmental Assessment (Standard) • RA must ensure public “provided with an opportunity to participate” s.24 • RA must post draft report, provide opportunity for public comments s. 25
Environmental Assessment (Standard) • RA/Minister required to make project decision within 365 days s. 27.(1), (2) • Time spent by proponent with respect to EA not included in 365 days • Minister may grant an extension of up to three months s. 27.(3) • Process requirements for EAs carried out by NEB tailored to specific NEB regulatory processes.
Panel Reviews • Independent ad hoc panel s. 42.(1) • Mandatory public participation and funding s. 57, 58 • Mandatory hearings with opportunities to present evidence and question witnesses
Panel Reviews • Minister has 60 days from notice of commencement to refer an environmental assessment to a panel review s.38.(1) • No panel reviews are permitted for NEB, CNSC projects (already have regulatory hearings) s.38.(6) • One-person panels are now permitted, (previously a minimum of three) s.42.(1)
Panel Reviews • Minister specifically authorized to seek further information from the proponent after reviewing the panel report and before making a final project decision. • Overall timeline of 2 years for panel reviews imposed s. 38.(3) • Minister may authorize 3 month extension • Time spent by Proponent to provide information requested by Panel not included. S.48.(a)
Panel Reviews • Minister may terminate panel review if failure to report within specified period s. 49.(1) • Agency required to complete terminated review s. 50
Federal Lands Process (S. 67) • Applies to projects to be carried out on federal lands (National Parks, National Wildlife Areas, Indian Reserves) • No CEAA 2012 EA is required • Authority required to decide whether project “likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects and if so, whether effects “justified in the circumstances” • Doesn’t apply to projects with interprovincial effects
Projects Outside Canada (S. 68) • Applies to projects to be carried out outside Canada by federal authority or to projects outside Canada receiving financial assistance by federal authority • No CEAA 2012 EA is required • Authority required to decide whether project “likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects and if so, whether effects “justified in the circumstances”