Cette publication hautement spécialisée Natural Heritage Assesment Guide for Renewable Energy n'est disponible qu'en anglais conformément au Règlement 671/92, selon lequel il n’est pas obligatoire de la traduire en vertu de la Loi sur les services en français. Pour obtenir des renseignements en français, veuillez communiquer avec le ministère des Richesses naturelles au naturalheritage@ontario.ca.

Purpose and application of this guide

This Natural Heritage Assessment Guide (the “Guide”) was developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to support sections 23.1, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 34, 37, 38, 41, 42 and 43 of Ontario Regulation 359/09: Renewable Energy Approvals (the “Regulation”) made under the Environmental Protection Act.

This Guide provides direction for completing the following as required by the Regulation:

  • a natural heritage assessment (NHA)
  • an environmental impact study (EIS)
  • an environmental effects monitoring plan (EEMP) with respect to birds and bats

This Guide also establishes the requirements for a “qualified person” within the meaning of the Regulation.

Part A: Introduction

  • Includes background information about this Guide, an overview of key terms and concepts and links to documents referenced in this Guide.

Part B: Qualified persons and attestation

  • Establishes the required qualifications and expertise of a qualified person within the meaning of the Regulation and provides recommendations for completing the required attestation that must accompany a renewable energy approval application.

Part C: Renewable energy natural heritage assessments

  • Describes requirements, further to sections 24, 25, 26 and 27 of the Regulation, for conducting a records review, site investigation, and evaluation of significance.

Part D: Assessment and mitigation of negative environmental effects

  • Describes environmental impact study requirements and procedures further to subsections 37 (2), 38 (2), 41 (5), and 43 (2) of the Regulation and provides examples of negative environmental effects and mitigation actions.

Part E: Birds and bats and their habitats

  • Describes requirements related to birds and bats for wind power projects under sections 23.1 and 38 (2) of the Regulation.

Part F: Provincial parks and conservation reserves

  • Describes requirements, further to the Regulation, related to provincial parks or conservation reserves.