Notice of approval

Proponent: The Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton
Environmental assessment file number: MU-0647-02

Take notice that the period for requiring a hearing, provided for in the Notice of Completion of the Review for the above noted undertaking, expired on March 24, 2000. I received two submissions before the expiration date. Both submissions required a hearing by the Environmental Assessment Board.

I do not consider it advisable or necessary to hold a hearing. Having considered the purpose of the Act, the Environmental Assessment, the Review and submissions received, I hereby give approval to proceed with the undertaking, subject to conditions set out below.

Reasons

My reasons for giving approval are:

  1. On the basis of the proponent’s Environmental Assessment and the Review, the proponent’s conclusion that, on balance, the advantages of this undertaking outweigh its disadvantages appears to be valid.
  2. No other beneficial alternative method of implementing the undertaking was identified.
  3. Issues raised in the submissions regarding noise and storm water management are best addressed by conditions of approval, other legislative requirements as appropriate, and ongoing discussions between the affected residents and The Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton during the detailed design phase.
  4. On the basis of the proponent’s Environmental Assessment, the Review and the conditions of approval, the construction, operation and maintenance of the undertaking will be consistent with the purpose of the Act (section 2).
  5. The Government Review Team has indicated no outstanding concerns that can not be addressed through conditions of approval. The public review of the Environmental Assessment did not identify any outstanding concerns which can not be addressed through these conditions of approval.
  6. The submissions received after the Notice of Completion of the Review was published are being dealt with through conditions where appropriate. I am not aware of any outstanding issues with respect to this undertaking which suggest that a hearing should be required.

Conditions

Definitions

  1. For the purposes of these conditions:
    Proponent
    refers to The Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton or any party who may assume the responsibility for the management of the Cumberland Transitway in the future.
    Environmental Assessment
    refers to the original Environmental Assessment entitled Cumberland Transftway Environmental Assessment Study (October, 1999) and the appendices entitled Cumberland Transitway Environmental Assessment Study: Supporting Appendices (October, 1999)
    Ministry
    refers to the Ministry of the Environment.

General conditions

  1. The Proponent shall comply with the provisions of the Environmental Assessment all of which are incorporated herein by reference, except as provided in these conditions, and as provided in any other approvals or permits required for the undertaking.
  2. These conditions do not prevent more restrictive conditions being imposed by other statutes.
  3. Where these conditions require documents to be filed with the Public Record, it shall be provided to the Director of the Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch of the ministry for filing with the Public Record maintained for this undertaking. Additional copies of all such documents will be provided by the Proponent to:
    • the Director of the Eastern Region Office of the ministry
    • the Clerk of The Corporation of the City of Gloucester
    • the Clerk of The Corporation of the City of Cumberland

Environmental effects

  1. In carrying out the undertaking, the proponent shall ensure that contractors and sub-contractors: meet applicable (including environmental) regulatory standards; adhere to commitments made in the Environmental Assessment in respect of construction, operation and maintenance of the undertaking; and obtain all necessary approvals.
  2. The proponent shall implement any recommendations arising from additional investigations pertaining to noise and storm water management as outlined in a letter from the proponent to the Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch dated January 25, 2000.
  3. The proponent shall complete the archaeological assessment of all areas of archaeological potential in the Innes to Navan Road segment and mitigate, through preservation or resource removal and documentation, adverse impacts to any significant archaeological resources found. Before grading or other soil disturbances take place, except those necessary to carry out archaeological work, within the Cumberland Transitway alignment, the proponent shall file with the Public Record, a letter from the Regional Archaeologist, Southwestern Region of the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation confirming that all archaeological concerns have been satisfied and archaeological licensing and resource conservation requirements have been met.
  4. Should the proponent decide to convert the Cumberland Transitway from an exclusive bus right of way to a light rail facility, an environmental assessment shall be carried out in accordance with the Environmental Assessment Act.

Dated the 17th day of May 2000 at Toronto

Original signed by:
Minister of the Environment
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 12th floor
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5