Notice of approval – terms of reference

Proponent: The Regional Municipality of York
Environmental assessment (EA) file number: EA-02-04-03

As provided for by subsection 6(4) of the Environmental Assessment Act, Terms of Reference, as submitted for approval to the Ministry of the Environment on November 20, 2009, to govern the preparation of an environmental assessment for the above-noted undertaking, is hereby approved with the following amendments:

  1. Section 6.1 of the ToR be amended to include consideration of innovative wastewater treatment technologies as an "Alternative To" the undertaking;
  2. Section 6.1 of the ToR be amended to include a subsection, as follows:

    6.1.5 Innovative Wastewater Treatment Technologies

    Consideration of innovative wastewater treatment technologies will be considered in the UYSS EA. At a minimum, this will include but not be limited to consideration of the development and use of a wastewater purification system and water recycling facilities to be located in the Regional Municipality of York; and

  3. Section 6.2 of the ToR be amended to add the following sentence to the end of the paragraph:

    York Region is committed to considering and evaluating the incorporation of innovative wastewater treatment technologies in the consideration of "alternative methods" of carrying out the undertaking.

Pursuant to subsection 6.1(1) of the Environmental Assessment Act, any environmental assessment for the above-noted undertaking, submitted to the Ministry of the Environment pursuant to subsection 6.2(1) of the Environmental Assessment Act, must be prepared in accordance with the Terms of Reference as hereby approved with the following amendments:

Reasons

I am satisfied that an environmental assessment prepared in accordance with the Terms of Reference will be consistent with the purpose of the Environmental Assessment Act and the public interest for the following reasons:

  1. The ToR ensures that the EA will be completed using a comprehensive public, Aboriginal and government agency consultation process that is open and transparent;
  2. The ToR ensures that the completed EA will contain a sufficient level of detail to accurately assess the environmental effects of all alternatives and the proposed undertaking;
  3. The ToR sets out a planning process that will ensure the completed EA will be consistent with the purpose of the EAA and the public interest; and,
  4. The amendments to the ToR contained in this Notice requiring consideration of innovative wastewater treatment technologies will further ensure that a reasonable range of "alternatives to" and "alternative methods" will be evaluated in the EA.

Dated the 11thday of March, 2010 at Toronto.

Original signed by
Minister of the Environment
77 Wellesley Street West, 11thfloor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 2T5