Environmental Assessments

Environmental assessments often apply to mining projects. When and what type of environmental assessment(s) applies depends on the specifics of the project and what regulatory process may have triggered the environmental assessment legislation.

Click here for an overview of the environmental assessments process in Ontario (44KB PDF).

Provincial environmental assessment

Provincial environmental assessment processes often are triggered by specific components of a project rather than the entire project itself.

Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for Resource Stewardship and Facility Development

A Class EA - Resource Stewardship and Facility Development Project (RSFDP) process applies to many approvals issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Typically, mine-related assessments relate to approvals required for the following:

land or resource dispositions
roads
and dikes
and stream bank stabilization
excavation, dredge and fill activities

Examples of projects triggering the Class EA would include acquisition of Crown land for buildings and facilities, roads and water crossings. The EA must be completed prior to the issuance of land tenure such as leases, land use permits, Licences of Occupation issued under the Public Lands Act, or the issuance of permits such as Work Permits, Aggregate Permits or approvals under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act. Note 1: does not include mining leases issued under Section 81 of the Mining Act. For further information, contact the local office of the Ministry of Natural Resources. See myLaws – Class EA RSFDP.

Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities (Highways

A Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities may be triggered by the construction or re-alignment of a provincial highway during the development of a mining project. The Ministry of Transportation manages the EA process; however, the proponent will be expected to carry out the required work. For further information, contact the Ministry of Transportation - environmental policy and standards section. See myLaws – Class EA Highways.

Class Environmental Assessment for Minor Transmission Line Facilities

Private sector electricity projects are now subject to the Environmental Assessment Act. Some transmission lines and transformer station projects are subject to review under the Class Environmental Assessment for Minor Transmission Facilities. For further information, see Guide to Environmental Assessment Requirements for Electricity Projects (PDF, 275 kB) and see myLaws – Class EA Transmission Facilities.

Electricity Projects

Screening Level Environmental Assessments

Individual Environmental Assessment process applies to electricity projects depending on the size, source of power generation or transmission line characteristics. For example, a mine’s diesel generation plant that produces more than 5 MW (as a primary source – not backup) triggers an individual EA for the power generation facilities. See myLaws - Individual EA Electricity Projects.

For smaller projects, a screening level process may apply, e.g., diesel generation between 1 MW and 5 MW (see myLaws - Screening EA Electricity Projects).

For further information, also see Guide to Environmental Assessment Requirements for Electricity Projects (PDF, 275 kB).

Designation

Mining projects, normally being private projects, are not subject to the Environmental Assessment Act unless designated. If a project is so designated, then the project must successfully complete an Individual Environmental Assessment prior to any permits being issued. For further information, also see Designation Requests or myLaws – Individual EA.

Federal Environmental Assessment

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) applies to mining projects for which the federal government exercises authority on some aspect of the project.

The CEAA process is most often triggered through a Fisheries Act, Navigable Water Protection Act or Explosives Act approval under consideration. Other triggers may include the use of federal funding, land or facilities. See the following links for an overview of the process and legislation. See myLaws – CEAA.

Canada and Ontario have been working together to harmonize both the federal and the provincial EA approval processes (see Canada-Ontario Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation).