Municipal Class Environmental Assessment

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Protecting the Environment is very important in Ontario. Municipal projects often have the potential to impact the natural, social and economic environment so the projects must comply with the Province’s Environmental Assessment Act.

Environmental Assessment is a planning and decision making process used to promote environmentally responsible decisions. The Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process has been approved under the Environmental Assessment Act and it sets out the process that municipalities follow while planning most sewer, water, road, and transit projects.

EA Process This presentation will describe the general process used in Ontario to assess the potential environmental impacts of a municipal project on the environment and then select the best solution. Project Types Then we will outline the specific process used for each type of project.

Responsibilities and Rights Next we will describe the proponent’s role and then we will review the public’s responsibility to participate in the Environmental Assessment process and their right to question or appeal the decision at the end of the process. Detailed Information Finally, we will provide direction on how to obtain further, more detailed information on the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment.

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment General Process “The Problem” The Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process begins with defining the problem or the opportunity that should be addressed. Consultation with affected parties should be early in and throughout the process such that the planning process is a cooperative venture.

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment General Process Alternative Solutions Consideration of a reasonable range of alternatives, both the functionally different alternatives to, and the alternative methods of, implementing the solution are to be considered.

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment General Process Preferred Solution Next, identification and consideration of the effects of each alternative on all aspects of the environment must be done. It is important to note that the environment is broadly defined and includes the natural, the social/cultural, the technical and the economic/financial environments. All must be considered. After a systematic evaluation of alternatives in terms of their advantages and disadvantages, to determine their net environmental effects, a preferred solution is selected.

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment General Process Documentation The information gathered and the process followed is documented and available for public review. The style of the documentation varies with the project type.

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment General Process Implementation Implementation includes preparing contract drawings, proceeding with construction and monitoring the environmental provisions that were committed to during the process.