Current status

Environmental assessment: approved, March 31, 2010

Project summary

The purpose of the undertaking is to address the need for additional sanitary sewer capacity projected from future growth as allowed for in York Region’s Official Plan.

Proponent

Region of York and Region of Durham

Location

York and Durham Region

Type

Sewage

Reference number

06030

Contact

Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch

Project history

Environmental assessment: approved
Date submitted: November 28, 2008
Expiry of public comment period: January 23, 2009
Expiry of public comment period for Ministry review: November 20, 2009
Decision date: March 31, 2010

Terms of reference: approved
Date submitted: July 22, 2005
Expiry of public comment period: August 25, 2005
Decision date: February 28, 2006

Environmental assessment

The Regional Municipalities of York and Durham sought approval under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) for an undertaking, namely the Southeast Collector (SEC) Trunk Sewer project, which addresses the need for additional sanitary sewer capacity projected from future growth as allowed for in York Region’s Official Plan, in accordance with the provincial initiative for growth outlined in the Places to Grow Act.

The construction of a new SEC Trunk Sewer using tunnel access shafts, in combination with the implementation of other water efficiency and inflow/infiltration reduction measures includes a Central Duffins Sewer Chamber and connection, diversion and maintenance chambers as well as corrosion, meter, and odour control facilities. The preferred route of the SEC Trunk Sewer begins just north of Box Grove in the Town of Markham from where it follows along 14th Avenue to Townline Road. It turns south following Townline Road to the Hydro corridor, traveling east along the Hydro corridor to Liverpool Road. The route proceeds south on Liverpool Road to Finch Avenue, continuing east on Finch Avenue and ending at Valley Farm Road in the City of Pickering.

The SEC Trunk Sewer EA study process was summarized in a report, and was submitted on November 28, 2008 to the Ontario Minister of the Environment for formal review and approval, in accordance with Section 6.2 (1) of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act, and the approved terms of reference for the project. The first comment period, which lasted for 8 weeks, was from November 28, 2008 to January 23, 2009. Comments about the EA and the proposed undertaking were accepted.

An amended EA report was submitted on August 21, 2009, for formal review and a decision, following which, MOE staff prepared the ministry review. A notice of completion of the ministry’s review was published on October 16, 2009. The five-week public comment period on the review expired on November 20, 2009, during which time any comments about the proposed undertaking, the EA, and the ministry’s review could have been made. Also during that time, requests for the Minister to refer the application to a hearing were allowed.

The Minister of the Environment with the approval of Cabinet made a decision to allow the proposed undertaking to proceed subject to strict conditions on March 31, 2010.

Terms of reference

The Regional Municipality of York (York Region) initiated a project in accordance with Schedule B of the Municipal Class EA in October 2001 for obtaining provincial Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) approval for expanding the existing York-Durham Sewage System (YDSS) Southeast Collector Trunk Sewer within York Region from 9th Line to the York/Durham boundary meter chamber. On October 1, 2004, the Minister formally notified York Region that the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) had received submissions requesting that an Individual EA be prepared for all remaining unfinished sections of the YDSS including the Southeast Collector.

As a result, pursuant to subsection 16(1) of the EAA, the Minister ordered York Region to comply with Part II of the EAA for the Southeast Collector project and carry out an Individual EA subject to eight conditions. Since the project limits have been extended from the York/Durham boundary meter chamber into the Regional Municipality of Durham (Durham Region), Durham Region will be a co-proponent with York Region for the Southeast Collector Trunk Sewer Individual EA.

As part of the Southeast Collector Trunk Sewer EA, York and Durham Regions are submitting a terms of reference (ToR) to MOE for formal review as required under the EAA. If approved, the ToR will provide the framework for the preparation and review of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed undertaking.

Description of the undertaking being proposed

The York-Durham Sewage System is a series of five pumping stations, forcemains and over 120 kilometres of sewer pipe that services the municipalities of Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Markham, Vaughan and Pickering. Sections of the existing Southeast Collector Trunk Sewer are currently operating near capacity. The purpose of the proposed undertaking is to accommodate the additional sanitary sewer flows projected from future approved growth as identified by the Regional Municipality of York’s Official Plan. The description of the undertaking will be developed through the EA.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act coordination

The requirements of Canadian Environmental Assessment Act are triggered if a project is a federal project, requires federal land, is funded by a federal agency, or requires an approval by a federal agency. For this project, it is currently unclear whether the requirements of Canadian Environmental Assessment Act will be triggered.

As part of this EA, the Region will coordinate Federal and Provincial Environmental Assessment requirements. The intent is to produce a single EA body of documentation to meet all of the information needs of both governments.