From: Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
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- Hot issue: Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir
- Hot issue: Frontier oil sands mine project and Wood Buffalo National Park
- Hot issue: Impact Assessment Act
Hot issue: Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir
- The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is working cooperatively with Alberta province to complete the federal and provincial environmental assessments.
- The federal review process for the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir Project is continuing under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012.
- The Government of Canada understands the importance of timely decision making in the face of continued vulnerabilities and flood mitigation needs in Calgary and surrounding communities.
Background
- The Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir Project is a proposed flood mitigation project to protect part of Calgary, Alberta, in response to severe flooding in 2013.
- Alberta Transportation is proposing to construct a dry off-stream reservoir and divert extreme flood flow from the Elbow River to the reservoir where it would be temporarily contained and later released back into the river.
- The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is in regular communication with the province to support a coordinated process for the federal and provincial environmental assessments.
- Alberta Environment and Parks and the Natural Resources Conservation Board are responsible for the provincial environmental assessment of the project. Alberta Environment and Parks EA process is also ongoing.
Hot issue: Frontier oil sands mine project and Wood Buffalo National Park
Frontier oil sands mine project
- The Government of Canada understands the economic importance of the oil and gas sector and the opportunities it presents for hardworking Canadians. At the same time, we need to develop these resources in a sustainable manner.
- The Government of Canada is working closely with Indigenous communities and provincial officials on our response to the Joint Review Panel’s recommendations and to address impacts of the Project on Aboriginal or Treaty rights. The Government of Canada will make a decision on the Teck project by the end of February.
Wood Buffalo National Park
- Parks Canada is implementing an Action Plan to protect Wood Buffalo National Park World Heritage Site. Through ongoing collective action with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners, the Government of Canada will preserve the Outstanding Universal Value of Wood Buffalo National Park World Heritage Site.
- In Budget 2018, historic investments were made to protect Canada’s nature, parks, and wild spaces. Thanks to this, over $27.5M has been invested in the development and early implementation of the action plan in response to a request from the World Heritage Committee.
Background
Teck frontier oilsands mine
- The Proponent, Teck Resources Ltd. is proposing the Frontier Oil Sands Mine Project, a 260,000-barrel-per-day oil sands mine located approximately 110 kilometres north of Fort McMurray. The project would cover over 24,000 hectares and operate for 41 years.
- In May, 2016, a three-member Joint Review Panel was established with the Alberta Energy Regulator. The Panel held public hearings in fall 2018. In March 2019, the time limit for the federal decision was extended by 7 months in order to account for the federal election period. The federal decision on the Project is due by February 28, 2020.
- On July 25, 2019, the Joint Review Panel submitted its report containing its conclusions and recommendations under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012). The Panel concluded that the Project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, taking into account the implementation of the mitigation measures committed to by the Proponent together with the mitigation measures recommended by the Panel.
- The Panel concluded the Project is likely to result in significant adverse environmental effects to the following environmental components and Indigenous interests: wetlands, biodiversity, old-growth forests, wetland and old growth-reliant species at risk; asserted rights, use of lands and resources, culture of Indigenous groups who use the project area; and, the Ronald Lake bison herd, and also contribute to existing significant adverse cumulative effects in these areas.
- The Project is estimated to emit about 4.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. The Panel noted that these contributions may make it more difficult for Canada to achieve its targets and commitments under the Paris Accord. The Panel concluded that the possibility of exceeding the 100-megatonne limit established in Alberta's Oil Sands Emissions Limit Act in the near term is less likely even if the Project were to proceed.
- In its capacity as the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), the Panel has approved the provincial authorizations required for the Project to proceed subject to limitations and 461 conditions.
- The Agency developed draft potential conditions to be included in the Decision Statement, should the Project be allowed to proceed, and have solicited input from federal departments, the province and Indigenous groups. A 30-day public comment period on these conditions concluded on November 26, 2019.
- In consultation with potentially impacted Indigenous group and other federal departments, the Agency is developing an accommodation package that seeks to address outstanding concerns relating to the impacts of the Project on asserted or established Aboriginal or Treaty rights, should the Project be allowed to proceed.
Wood Buffalo National Park
- In December 2014, the Mikisew Cree First Nation submitted a petition to the World Heritage Committee requesting inclusion of Wood Buffalo National Park on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The petition identified a number of potential threats related to current and planned hydroelectric dams, oil sands development, and climate change on the ecology and hydrology of the Peace–Athabasca Delta that could negatively impact the site’s Outstanding Universal Value. The petition also noted concerns regarding environmental legislation, regulatory tools, and monitoring programs. A number of high-profile Canadian NGOs and experts supported the petition.
- In July 2019, the World Heritage Committee commended the actions that have been taken to strengthen the protection and management of the World Heritage Site. Through the Government of Canada's Budget 2018, historic investments are protecting Canada's nature, parks and wild spaces. These investments are supporting the development and early implementation of the Action Plan to protect Wood Buffalo National Park World Heritage Site.
- The Government of Canada will report back to the World Heritage Committee on implementation of the Action Plan by December 1, 2020.
Hot issue: Impact Assessment Act
- A strong economy depends on a healthy environment. The Impact Assessment Act protects the environment and respects Indigenous rights, while strengthening the economy and encouraging investment.
- While the intention is not to reopen the Impact Assessment Act, the Government welcomes advice on its implementation and is committed to working cooperatively with provinces on project assessments.
Impact Assessment Act
- To support Canada’s competitiveness and attract investment, the impact assessment system provides clear expectations, shorter legislated timelines, and aims to avoid duplication with other jurisdictions wherever possible with “one project, one review”.
- The Project List provides industry with certainty on when the Impact Assessment Act applies and ensures that federal impact assessments will focus on the activities that matter most to Canadians.
- The Project List focuses federal impact assessments on projects with the greatest potential for adverse environmental effects in areas of federal jurisdiction.
Background
- On August 28th, 2019, the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) came into force, repealing the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. Two regulations also came into force to support implementation of the IAA: the Physical Activities Regulation and the Information and Management of Time Limits Regulations.
- Key elements of the IAA include:
- One agency to manage impact assessments
- The new Impact Assessment Agency of Canada will lead all project reviews, and will work in cooperation with other regulatory bodies such as the new Canada Energy Regulator and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to conduct integrated reviews of designated projects.
- Early engagement
- The planning phase will bring greater certainty and predictability to the process by establishing, at the outset, requirements and expectations that will inform and guide a project assessment through to decision and beyond.
- Broader scope of assessment
- The IAA moves from environmental assessment to impact assessment based on the principle of sustainability. Impact assessments consider both positive and negative environmental, economic, social, and health impacts of potential projects. Decisions will be guided by science, evidence and Indigenous knowledge.
- Coordination of Crown consultation activities.
- Expanded regional and strategic studies.
- Decisions made in the public interest.
- One agency to manage impact assessments
- Project List
- The Project List is the result of months of rigorous consultations with industry, Indigenous communities, provinces and territories, and the public on what kinds of activities should be subject to federal impact assessments.
- A project that matches a description on the Project List would be a designated project, and will be required to enter into early planning under the Impact Assessment Act, where a determination would be made on whether or not it requires a full impact assessment.
- Projects not included in the Project List may still be assessed by provincial and territorial governments. And they may be subject to federal legislation such as the Fisheries Act, or assessment by other federal regulators such as the new Canadian Energy Regulator.
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