Source: https://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/evaluations/document/121341?culture=en-CA
Timestamp: 2019-02-19 03:29:27
Document Index: 320915233

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1']

Proposed by Sundog RGS GP Inc.
Proposed by Pelican RGS GP Inc.
Sundog RGS GP Inc. or Pelican RGS GP Inc.
The Sundog Renewable Generating Station (RGS) Project proposed by Sundog RGS GP Inc. and the Pelican Renewable Generating Station (RGS) Project, proposed by Pelican RGS GP Inc., are run-of-river hydroelectric facilities on the Athabasca River, 130 kilometers and 180 kilometers respectively, upstream of Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Given the similarities in the timing, location, physical works and activities for the Sundog and Pelican RGS Projects, the requirements outlined in this document for the development of an environmental impact statement (EIS) apply to each proponent for their respective project, as designated by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (the Minister).
Sundog RGS GP Inc. and Pelican RGS GP Inc. (the proponents) are both wholly owned subsidiaries of Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. The proponents may choose to submit separate EISs for their respective project or may choose to submit a single EIS for both projects. Should the proponents choose to collaborate and submit a single EIS, the environmental effects of the Sundog RGS Project and the Pelican RGS Project, as well as applicable measures that would mitigate any significant adverse environmental effects of each project, must be captured in separate chapters.
The purpose of this document is to identify for the proponent the minimum information requirements for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a designated project [1] to be assessed pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012). This document specifies the nature, scope and extent of the information required. Part 1 of this document defines the scope of the environmental assessment (EA) and provides guidance and general instruction on the preparation of the EIS. Part 2 outlines the minimum information that must be included in the EIS.
Section 5 of CEAA 2012 describes the environmental effects that must be considered in an EA, including changes to the environment and effects of changes to the environment. The factors that are to be considered in an EA are described under section 19 of CEAA 2012. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) or a review panel will use the proponent's EIS and other information received during the EA process to prepare a report that will inform the issuance of a decision statement by the Minister Therefore, the EIS must include a full description of the changes the project will cause to the environment that may result in adverse effects on areas of federal jurisdiction (i.e. section 5 of CEAA 2012) including changes that are directly linked or necessarily incidental to any federal decisions that would permit the project to be carried out. The EIS must also include a list of key mitigation measures that the proponent proposes to undertake in order to avoid or minimize any adverse environmental effects of the project. It is the responsibility of the proponent to provide sufficient data and analysis on potential changes to the environment to ensure a thorough evaluation of the environmental effects of the project by the Agency or review panel.
One of the purposes identified in CEAA 2012 is to ensure that opportunities are provided for meaningful public participation during an EA. CEAA 2012 requires that the Agency provide the public with an opportunity to participate in the EA. For EAs led by the Agency the public has an opportunity to comment on the draft EA report. For EAs by a review panel, CEAA 2012 requires that the review panel hold a public hearing. Additional opportunities for participation may also be provided by the Agency or the review panel.
Meaningful public participation is best achieved when all parties have a clear understanding of the proposed project as early as possible in the review process. The proponent is required to provide current information about the project to the public and to the communities likely to be most affected by the project.
A key objective of CEAA 2012 is to promote communication and cooperation with Aboriginal peoples which includes, First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The proponent is expected to engage with potentially affected groups as early as possible in the project planning process. The proponent shall provide potentially affected groups with opportunities to learn about the project and its potential effects, make their concerns known about the project's potential effects, and discuss measures to mitigate those effects. The proponent is strongly encouraged to work with each potentially affected group in establishing an engagement approach. The proponent will make reasonable efforts to integrate traditional Aboriginal knowledge into the assessment of environmental impacts. For more information on incorporating Aboriginal traditional knowledge, refer to Part 1, Section 4.2.2 of these guidelines.
In order to fulfill the Crown's constitutional obligations to consult with potentially impacted groups, the Agency integrates its legal obligation for consultation and accommodation in the EA process. The information gathered by the proponent during its engagement with groups helps to contribute to the Crown's understanding of any potential adverse impacts of the project on potential or established Aboriginal or Treaty rights protected under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 ("section 35 Aboriginal rights") including title and related interests, and the effectiveness of measures proposed to avoid or minimize those impacts.
On December 20, 2017, the Minister designated the Sundog RGS Project and the Pelican RGS Project under subsection 14(2) of CEAA 2012 to require an EA because the Projects may cause adverse environmental effects to areas of federal jurisdiction, including fish and fish habitat, migratory birds, federal lands, and Indigenous peoples' current use of lands and resources.
The EA will include the construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of the following project components and activities:
Headworks, including powerhouses, spillway, and embankment dam
Construction ferry crossing
Site clearing, earthmoving, leveling, excavation, and blasting activities
Explosives storage, manufacturing, and handling
Construction, operation, and removal of cofferdams and any other temporary construction works, including any diversion structures
Power supply(source, quantity)
Filling of the head pond
Drinking and industrial water requirements (source, quantity required, need for water treatment)
Ancillary infrastructure (Administrative, maintenance, and storage buildings)
Under the authority of paragraph 19(1)(j) of CEAA 2012, the Agency also requires consideration of the following additional factor:
environmental and health and socio-economic effects of the Project on the Outstanding Universal Value of the Wood Buffalo National Park, namely on values, integrity and protection and management as described in its Statement of Outstanding Universal Value[2].
for projects requiring a federal authority to exercise a power or perform a duty or function under another Act of Parliament;
The list of VCs presented in the EIS will be completed according to the evolution and design of the Project and reflect the knowledge acquired on the environment through public consultation and engagement with Indigenous groups. The EIS will describe what methods were used to predict and assess the adverse environmental effects of the Project on these valued components.
The spatial and temporal boundaries used in the EA may vary depending on the VC and will be considered separately for each VC, including for VCs related to current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by Aboriginal peoples, or other environmental effects referred to under paragraph 5(1)(c) of CEAA 2012. The proponent is encouraged to consult with the Agency, federal and provincial government departments and agencies, local government and Indigenous groups, and take into account public comments when defining the spatial and temporal boundaries used in the EIS.
The EIS will describe the spatial boundaries, including local and regional study areas, of each VC to be used in assessing the potential adverse environmental effects of the project and provide a rationale for each boundary. Spatial boundaries will be defined taking into account the appropriate scale and spatial extent of potential environmental effects, community knowledge and Aboriginal traditional knowledge, current or traditional land and resource use by Indigenous groups, ecological, technical, and social and cultural considerations.
The proponent is encouraged to consult relevant Agency policy and guidance [3] on topics to be addressed in the EIS, and to liaise with the Agency during the planning and development of the EIS. The proponent is also encouraged to consult relevant guidance from other federal departments.
Section 20 of CEAA 2012 requires that every federal authority with specialist or expert information or knowledge with respect to a project subject to an EA make that information or knowledge available to the Agency or review panel. The Agency will advise the proponent of the availability of any pertinent information or knowledge or expert and specialist knowledge received from other federal authorities or other levels of government so that it can be incorporated into the EIS.
Sub-section 19(3) of CEAA 2012 states that "the environmental assessment of a designated project may take into account community knowledge and Aboriginal traditional knowledge". For the purposes of these guidelines, community knowledge and Aboriginal traditional knowledge refer to knowledge acquired and accumulated by a local community or an Indigenous group.
The proponent will incorporate into the EIS the community knowledge and Aboriginal traditional knowledge to which it has access or that is acquired through public participation and engagement with Indigenous groups, in keeping with appropriate ethical standards and obligations of confidentiality. The proponent will integrate community knowledge and Aboriginal traditional knowledge into all aspects of its assessment including both methodology (e.g. establishing spatial and temporal boundaries, defining significance criteria) and analysis (e.g. baseline characterization, effects prediction, development of mitigation measures). Agreement should be obtained from Indigenous groups regarding the use, management and protection of their existing traditional knowledge information during and after the EA. For more information on how Aboriginal traditional knowledge can be obtained and incorporated in the preparation of the EIS, please refer to the Agency's reference guide entitled "Considering Aboriginal traditional knowledge in environmental assessments conducted under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012[4]".
The EIS will identify all significant gaps in knowledge and understanding related to key conclusions, and the steps to be taken by the proponent to address these gaps. Where the conclusions drawn from scientific, engineering and technical knowledge are inconsistent with the conclusions drawn from Aboriginal traditional knowledge, the EIS will present each perspective on the issue and a statement of the proponent's conclusions and rationale.
In describing and assessing effects to the physical and biological environment, the proponent will take an ecosystem approach that considers both scientific and community knowledge and Aboriginal traditional knowledge and perspectives regarding ecosystem health and integrity. The proponent will consider the resilience of relevant species populations, communities and their habitats. The assessment of environmental effects on Aboriginal peoples, pursuant to paragraph 5(1)(c) of CEAA 2012, will undergo the same rigour and type of assessment as any other VC (including setting of spatial and temporal boundaries, identification and analysis of effects, identification of mitigation measures, determination of residual effects, identification and a clear explanation of the methodology used for assessing the significance of residual effects and assessment of cumulative effects).The proponent will consider the use of both primary and secondary sources of information regarding baseline information, changes to the environment and the corresponding effect on health, socio-economics, physical and cultural heritage and the current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes. Primary sources of information include traditional land use studies, socio-economic studies, heritage surveys or other relevant studies conducted specifically for the project and its EIS. Often these studies and other types of relevant information are obtained directly from Indigenous groups. Secondary sources of information include previously documented information on the area, not collected specifically for the purposes of the project, or desk-top or literature-based information. The proponent will provide Indigenous groups the opportunity to review and provide comments on the information used for describing and assessing effects on Aboriginal peoples prior to finalizing the EIS (further information on engaging with Indigenous groups is provided in Part 2, Section 5 of this document). Where there are discrepancies in the views of the proponent and Indigenous groups on the information to be used in the EIS, the EIS will document these discrepancies and the rationale for the proponent's selection of information.
To facilitate the identification of the documents submitted and their placement on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, the title page of the EIS(s) and its related documents will contain the following information:
For purposes of brevity and to avoid repetition, cross-referencing is preferred. The EIS may make reference to the information that has already been presented in other sections of the document, rather than repeating it. The exception to this preference is the cumulative effects assessment, which should be provided in a stand-alone section. Detailed studies (including all relevant and supporting data and methodologies) will be provided in separate appendices and will be referenced by appendix, section and page in the text of the main document. The EIS will explain how information is organized in the document. This will include a list of all tables, figures, and photographs referenced in the text. A complete list of supporting literature and references will also be provided. A table of concordance, which cross references the information presented in the EIS with the information requirements identified in the EIS Guidelines, will be provided. The proponent will provide copies of the EIS and its summary for distribution, including paper and electronic version in an unlocked, searchable PDF format, as directed by the Agency or review panel.
a summary of engagement with Aboriginal groups, the public, and government agencies, including a summary of the issues raised and the proponent's responses;
an overview of the key environmental effects of the project and proposed technically and economically feasible mitigation measures;
the proponent's conclusions on the residual environmental effects of the Project, and the significance of those effects, after taking into account mitigation measures.
The summary will have sufficient details for the reader to learn and understand the Projects, potential environmental effects, mitigation measures, and the significance of the residual effects. The summary will include key maps illustrating the project location and key project components.
environmentally sensitive areas, such as national, provincial and regional parks, ecological reserves, wetlands, estuaries, and habitats of federally or provincially listed species at risk and other sensitive areas [5];
description of local communities; and,
traditional territories and/or consultation areas, treaty lands, Indian Reserve lands and Métis harvesting regions and/or seasonal or permanent settlements.
any treaty or self-government agreements between federal or provincial governments and Indigenous groups that are pertinent to the Project and/or EA;
relevant existing or draft land use plans, land zoning, or community plans; and
The EIS will describe the purpose of the Project by providing the rationale for the Project, explaining the background, the problems or opportunities that the Project are intended to satisfy and the stated objectives from the perspective of the proponent. If the objectives of the Project are related to broader private or public sector policies, plans or programs, this information will also be included.
The EIS will also describe the predicted environmental, economic and social benefits of the Project. This information will be considered in assessing the justifiability of any significant adverse residual environmental effects as defined in section 5 of CEAA 2012, if such effects are identified.
location of the headworks;
boat passage;
routing of transmission line;
routing of access roads;
fill types and borrow sites; and
The Agency recognizes that projects may be in the early planning stages when an EIS is being prepared. Where proponents have not made final decisions concerning the placement of project infrastructure, the technologies to be used, or that several options may exist for various project components, they are strongly encouraged to conduct an environmental effects analysis at the same level of detail assessment of the various options available (alternative means) within the EIS.
maps, at an appropriate scale, of the project location, the project components, boundaries of the proposed site with UTM coordinates, the major existing infrastructure, adjacent land uses and any important environmental features.
site clearing, grading, excavation;
explosive manufacture and storage (location and management);
Power supply (source and quantity);
water management on the project site, including a detailed water management plan;
number of employees, transportation of employees, any other relevant work requirements.
The EIS will describe the ongoing and proposed participation activities including information sessions that the proponent will hold or that it has already held on the Project. It will provide a description of efforts made to distribute project information and provide a description of information and materials that were distributed during the consultation process. The EIS will indicate the methods used, where the consultation was held, the persons and organizations consulted, the concerns voiced and the extent to which this information was incorporated in the design of the project as well as in the EIS. The EIS will provide a summary of key issues raised related to the project and its potential effects to the environment as well as describe any outstanding issues and ways to address them.
effects of changes to the environment on Aboriginal peoples (health and socio-economic conditions; physical and cultural heritage, including any structure, site or thing that is of historical, archaeological, paleontological or architectural significance; and current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes), and
potential adverse impacts of each of the project components and physical activities, in all phases, on potential or established section 35 rights, including title and related interests. This assessment is to be based on a comparison of the exercise of the identified rights, title and related interests between the predicted future conditions with the project and the predicted future conditions without the Project. Include the perspectives of potentially impacted groups where these were provided to the proponent by the Indigenous groups;
The Agency recommends the proponent create a tracking table of key issues raised by each Indigenous group, including the concerns raised related to the Project, proposed mitigation measures, and where appropriate, a reference to the proponent's analysis in the EIS. Information provided related to potential adverse impacts on potential or established section 35 rights will be considered by the Crown in meeting its common law duty to consult obligations as set out in the Updated Guidelines for Federal Officials to Fulfill the Duty to Consult (2011).
how engagement activities by the proponent allowed Indigenous groups to understand the Project and evaluate its effects on their communities, activities, potential or established section 35 rights, including title and related interests.
In preparing the EIS, the proponent will ensure that Aboriginal groups have access to timely and relevant information on the Project and how the Project may adversely impact them. The proponent will structure its Indigenous engagement activities to provide adequate time for Indigenous groups to review and comment on the relevant information. Engagement activities are to be appropriate to the Indigenous groups' needs and should be arranged through discussions with the groups. The EIS will describe all efforts, successful or not, taken to solicit the information required from Indigenous groups to support the preparation of the EIS.
The proponent will ensure that views of groups are recorded and that groups are provided with opportunities to validate the interpretation of their views. The proponent will keep detailed tracking records of its engagement activities, recording all interactions with Aboriginal groups, the issues raised by each Aboriginal group and how the proponent addressed the concerns raised. The proponent will share these records with the Agency.
Beaver Lake Cree Nation High
Fort McKay Metis Local #63
Lac La Biche Métis Local #2097
Lakeland Métis Local #1909
Métis Nation of Alberta – Region 1
Owl River Métis #1949
Hay River Métis Council
Métis Nation of Alberta – Region 5
The groups referenced above may change as more is understood about the environmental effects of the Project or if the Project or its components change during the EA. The Agency reserves the right to alter the list of groups that the proponent will engage as additional information is gathered during the EA.
Based on the scope of the Project described in section 3 (Part 1), the EIS will present baseline information in sufficient detail to enable the identification of how the Project could affect the VCs and an analysis of those effects. Should other VCs be identified during the conduct of the EA, the baseline condition for these components will also be described in the EIS. To determine the appropriate spatial boundaries to describe the baseline information, refer to section 3.3.3 (Part 1). As a minimum, the EIS will include a description of:
identify and quantify existing greenhouse gas emissions [7] by individual pollutant measured as kilotons of CO2 equivalent per year in the project study areas;
current ambient daytime and nighttime noise levels at key receptor points (e.g. Indigenous communities, priority areas as described by Indigenous groups), including the results of a baseline ambient noise survey. Information on typical sound sources, geographic extent and temporal variations will be included;
existing ambient night-time light levels at the project sites and at any other areas where project activities could have an effect on light levels. The EIS will describe night-time illumination levels during different weather conditions and seasons; and
historical records of relevant meteorological information (e.g., total precipitation (rain and snow, mean, maximum and minimum temperatures and typical wind speed and direction).
the bedrock and host rock geology of the river channel and surrounding area, including a table of geologic descriptions, geological maps and cross-sections of appropriate scale;
the geochemical characterization of excavated materials such as waste rock and potential construction material in order to predict metal leaching and acid rock drainage [8];
landslides, slope erosion and the potential for ground and rock instability, subsidence following project activities;
Baseline concentrations of contaminants of concern within the local, regional and downstream receiving environment;
changes to surface water quality as a result of groundwater-surface water interactions;
an appropriate hydrogeologic model for the project areas, including major structures such as the headpond and headworks, that discusses hydrogeological systems, flow regimes, analyses sensitivity to climactic variations (e.g. seasonal recharge) and hydrogeologic parameters (e.g. hydraulic conductivity) and includes a discussion of model assumptions.
hydrology of the Athabasca River watershed [9], including;
mercury and methylmercury concentrations, stores, mobility and fate in groundwater;
ice formation and mechanical and dynamic break-up processes on the Athabasca River and associated tributaries, including any ice formation modelling done that describes seasonal variation, climatic variability, ice thickness and abundance and includes a discussion of model assumptions.
6.1.5. Riparian, Wetland and Terrestrial Environments
6.1.6. For potentially affected surface waters:
fish or invertebrate species at risk that are known to be present including bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and other valued fish species; and
6.1.7. Migratory birds and their habitat[11]
characterization of various ecosystems found in the project areas, likely to be affected, based on existing information (land cover types, vegetation); and
a list of all federal species designated by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) for listing on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act. This will include those species in the risk categories of extirpated, endangered, threatened and special concern.[12]
With respect to potential effects of any change that maybe caused to the environment on Indigenous peoples and the related VCs, baseline information will be provided for each group identified in section 5 (Part 2) of these guidelines (and any groups identified after these guidelines are finalized). Baseline information will describe and characterize the elements in paragraph 5(1)(c) of CEAA 2012 based on the spatial and temporal scope selected for the EA according to the factors outlined in Part 1, Section 3.3.3 of this document. Baseline information will also characterize the regional context of each of the elements of paragraph 5(1)(c) of CEAA 2012 to support the assessment of project related effects and cumulative effects. Baseline information will be sufficient to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of each VC.
Baseline information for current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes will focus on the traditional activity (e.g. hunting, fishing, trapping, plant gathering, cultural practices) and include a characterization of all attributes of the activity that may be affected by environmental change. This includes not only identifying species of importance, but also assessing the quality and quantity of preferred traditional resources and locations, timing (e.g. seasonality, access restrictions, distance from community), ambient/sensory environment (e.g. noise, air quality, visual landscape, presence of others) and cultural environment (e.g. historical/generational connections, preferred areas). Specific aspects that will be considered include, but are not limited to:
location of traditional territory, reserves and communities (including maps where available);
existing or proposed protected areas, special management areas, and conservation areas;
Baseline information for health [13] and socio-economic conditions will include the functioning and health of the socio-economic environment, encompassing a broad range of matters that affect communities in the study area in a way that recognizes interrelationships, system functions and vulnerabilities. Specific aspects that will be considered include, but are not limited to:
consumption of or reliance on country foods;
which country foods are consumed by which groups, frequency, and location country foods are harvested;
Baseline information for physical and cultural heritage [14] (including any site, structure or thing of archaeological, paleontological, historical or architectural significance) will consider all elements of cultural and historical importance to groups in the area and is not restricted to artifacts considered under provincial heritage legislative requirements. Specific aspects that will be considered include, but are not limited to:
Any other baseline information that supports the analysis of predicted effects of project related changes to the environment on Indigenous peoples will be included as necessary. The EIS will also indicate how input from groups, including Aboriginal traditional knowledge, was used in establishing the baseline conditions related to health and socio-economics, physical and cultural heritage and current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes.
6.1.10. Changes to the environment that would occur on federal lands, in another province or outside Canada
Wood Buffalo National Park, including the Peace-Athabasca Delta
health [15] and socio-economic conditions, including the functioning and health of the socio-economic environment, encompassing a broad range of matters that affect communities in the study area in a way that recognizes interrelationships, system functions and vulnerabilities, and;
The assessment will include a consideration of the predicted changes to the environment as a result of the Project being carried out or as a result of any powers duties or functions that are to be exercised by the federal government in relation to the Project. These predicted changes to the environment are to be considered in relation to each phase of the Project (construction, operation, decommissioning, and abandonment) and are to be described in terms of the magnitude, geographic extent of the changes, the duration and frequency of change, and whether the environmental changes are reversible or irreversible. As changes to various parts of the physical environment, listed below, may be inter-related as part of an ecosystem, the EIS will explain and describe the connections between the changes described.
changes in ambient daytime and night time noise levels at key receptor locations; and
6.2.2. Changes to Groundwater, Surface Water and Fluvial Morphology
changes to the hydrological and hydrometric conditions including instream flow conditions, velocity, quantity, depth, seasonal changes and flooding stages;
changes to the ice regime of the Athabasca River and any associated tributaries;
changes to the ecological functions provided by the Athabasca River, such as flooding, recharge to waterbodies, sediment transport, quantity or quality;
changes to fluvial geomorphology, including changes to the channel, bed and erosion processes contributing to channel stability;
changes to water quality in the Athabasca River or any associated tributaries, including turbidity, oxygen level, methylmercury concentrations, and water temperature.
changes to key habitat for species important to current use of lands resources.
the identification of any potential adverse effects to fish and fish habitat as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Fisheries Act, including the calculations of any potential habitat loss (temporary or permanent) or alterations in terms of surface areas (e.g. spawning grounds, fry-rearing areas, feeding), and in relation to watershed availability and significance. The assessment will include a consideration of:
the potential risk of methylmercury production and accumulation in fish habitat and fish.
changes to water quality or quantity, including nutrient availability, turbidity, temperature and dissolved gases;
the anticipated changes in the composition and characteristics of the populations of various fish species;
deposit of harmful substances in waters that are frequented by migratory birds;
for each habitat unit, the potential effects of the Project on federally listed species at risk and those species listed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada classified as extirpated, endangered, threatened or of special concern (flora and fauna) and their critical habitat; and
With respect to Indigenous peoples, a description and analysis of how changes to the environment caused by the Project will affect:
any changes to the environment that affect cultural value or importance associated with traditional uses or areas affected by the project (e.g. values or attributes of the area that make it important as a place for inter-generational teaching of language or traditional practices, communal gatherings, integrity of preferred traditional practice areas),
any changes to environmental quality (e.g. air, water, soil), the sensory environment (e.g. noise, light, visual landscape), or perceived disturbance of the environment (e.g. fear of contamination of water or country foods) that could detract from use of the area or lead to avoidance of the area,
any changes to the environment resulting from the presence of worker or increased access to the area by non-Indigenous peoples (e.g. noise, competition for or pressure on resources), and
commercial outfitters, and
changes to access to physical and cultural heritage, and
6.3.5. Other VCs, selected because of federal lands, interprovincial, international concerns or related to issuance of a permit (if relevant)
Federal decisions under the:
Fisheries Act; and
Lands of international concern:
Peace-Athabasca Delta [16]
If there is the potential for the Project to result in environmental changes on another province, then VCs of importance not already identified above are to be listed in this section. Any change to the physical environment necessitates the consideration of the effects to health or socio-economic conditions, physical and cultural heritage, or any structure, site, or thing that is of historical, archaeological, paleontological or architectural significance in the effects assessment under section 6.3.5.
The EIS will describe the standard mitigation practices, policies and commitments that constitute technically and economically feasible mitigation measures and that will be applied as part of standard practice regardless of location (including the measures directed at promoting beneficial or mitigating adverse socio-economic effects). The EIS will then describe the Project environmental protection plan and its environmental management system, through which the proponent will deliver this plan. The plan will provide an overall perspective on how potentially adverse effects would be minimized and managed over time. The EIS will further discuss the mechanisms the proponent would use to require its contractors and sub-contractors to comply with these commitments and policies and with auditing and enforcement programs.
The EIS will then describe mitigation measures that are specific to each environmental effect identified. Mitigation measures will be written as specific commitments that clearly describe how the proponent intends to implement them and the environmental outcome the mitigation is designed to address. Where mitigation measures have been identified in relation to species and/or critical habitat listed under the Species at Risk Act, the mitigation measures will be consistent with any applicable recovery strategy and action plans.
The EIS will then provide an analysis of the significance of the residual environmental effects that are considered adverse, using guidance described in section 4 of the Agency's reference guide Determining Whether a Project is Likely to Cause Significant Adverse Environmental Effects under CEAA 2012[17].
ecological and social context [18];
The failure of certain works caused by human error or exceptional natural events (e.g. flooding, earthquake) could cause major effects. The proponent will therefore conduct an analysis of the risks of accidents and malfunctions, across all phases of the project, determine their effects and present preliminary emergency measures.
The EIS will describe the preventative measures and safeguards that have been established to protect against such occurrences and the contingency and emergency response procedures in place if such events do occur.
The proponent will identify and assess the Projects' cumulative effects using the approach described in the Agency's Operational Policy Statement entitled Addressing Cumulative Environmental Effects under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 and the guide entitled Technical Guidance for Assessing Cumulative Effects under CEAA 2012[19].
the same VCs may be affected by other past, present or reasonably foreseeable physical activities [20].
Identify and provide a rationale for the VCs that will constitute the focus of the cumulative effects assessment, emphasizing this assessment on the VCs most likely to be affected by the project and other project and activities. To this end, the proponent must consider, without limiting itself thereto, the following components likely to be affected by the Project:
Athabasca River, including its hydrology and ice formation processes,
fish and fish habitat, including bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and other valued fish species,
the Outstanding Universal Values of Wood Buffalo National Park, including the Peace-Athabasca Delta,
species at risk, and
6.6.4. Effects on the Outstanding Universal Value of Wood Buffalo National Park
Pursuant to paragraph 19(1)(j) of CEAA 2012, the following additional matter relevant to the environmental assessment must be taken into account:
environmental and health and socio-economic effects , including direct, indirect and cumulative effects, of the Project on the Outstanding Universal Value of the Wood Buffalo National Park, namely on values, integrity and protection and management as described in its Statement of Outstanding Universal Value.
Natural World Heritage sites are internationally recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value to humanity under the World Heritage Convention and are inscribed on the World Heritage List. Wood Buffalo National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List based on the following World Heritage criteria:
Criterion (x): Wood Buffalo National Park contains the only breeding habitat in the world for the whooping crane, an endangered species brought back from the brink of extinction through careful management of the small number of breeding pairs in the park. The park's size (4.5 million ha), complete ecosystems and protection are essential for in-situ conservation of the whooping crane.
The proponent will assess the potential environmental and health and socio-economic effects of the Project on the Outstanding Universal Values of Wood Buffalo National Park. Some project activities might have a positive impact as they enhance certain values, while others might compromise ascribed values and could lead to the deterioration of the heritage site. For example, increased infrastructure or improved access can impact social and cultural uses of a heritage site. Other impacts may be society's valuing of a heritage site due to the proximity of project activities or changes in local population due to the influx of workers. Change in local population or access can lead to illegal extraction of biological or geological resources, threatening the Outstanding Universal Value of a World Heritage site. These should be identified in close consultation with local communities and Indigenous groups.
proposed mitigation measures to address the effects identified; and
opportunity for the proponent to take advantage of the participation of Indigenous groups and stakeholders on the affected territory, during the implementation of the program; and
Other criteria used to determine significance[22]
[2] Statements of Outstanding Universal Value are available at: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/
[3] Visit the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency website: https://www.canada.ca/en/environmental-assessment-agency/services/policy-guidance.html
[4] Considering Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge in Environmental Assessments conducted under CEAA 2012
[5] This shall include a description of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of Wood Buffalo National Park World Heritage Site, including a description of the features that contribute to the property's OUV and consideration of the values, integrity, and the protection and management of the Site (see the IUCN World Heritage Advice Note on Environmental Assessment https://www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/import/downloads/iucn_advice_note_environmental_assessment_18_11_13_iucn_template.pdf)
[6] The 2011 Updated Guidelines for Federal Officials to Fulfill the Duty to Consult (the Guidelines) defines Aboriginal rights as: practices, traditions and customs integral to the distinctive culture of the Aboriginal group claiming the right that existed prior to contact with the Europeans (Van de Peet). In the context of Métis groups, Aboriginal rights means practices, traditions, and customs integral to the distinctive culture of the Métis group that existed prior to effective European control, that is, prior to the time when Europeans effectively established political and legal control in the claimed area (Powley). Generally, these rights are fact and site specific. Visit the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada website at: http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100014664/1100100014675
[9] Consideration of the Athabasca River watershed should include the entire river, from its headwaters to its confluence with Lake Athabasca, and will include the Peace-Athabasca Delta, as well as major tributaries contributing to flows along the Athabasca River's course.
[11] Surveys should be designed with reference to the Canadian Wildlife Service's guidance such as Technical Report No. 508, A Framework for the Scientific Assessment of Potential Project Impacts on Birds (Hanson et al. 2009). Appendix 3 of the Framework provides examples of project types and recommended techniques for assessing impacts on migratory birds.
[12] Proponents are encouraged to consult COSEWIC's annual report for a listing of the designated wildlife species: http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct0/index_e.cfm#sar
[16] The Peace-Athabasca Delta is a vast inland delta, designated as a RAMSAR wetland of international significance and is a component of the outstanding universal value of the Wood Buffalo National Park World Heritage Site.
[17] Visit the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's website at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environmental-assessment-agency/news/media-room/media-room-2015/determining-whether-designated-project-is-likely-cause-significant-adverse-environmental-effects-under-ceaa-2012.html
[18] The ecological and social context within which potential environmental effects may occur should be taken into account when considering the key criteria above in relation to a particular VC, as the context may help better characterize whether adverse effects are significant.
[19] Visit the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's website at: www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/
[20] These terms are defined in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's Technical Guidance for Assessing Cumulative Environmental Effects under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, Draft, December 2014 – http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=en&n=B82352FF-1&offset=&toc=hide
[21] Indicate by a check mark which valued components can be considered "environmental effects" as defined in section 5 of CEAA 2012, and specify which subsection of this Act is relevant. For example, for the VC "Use of land and resources by Aboriginal people", the appropriate cell would indicate, section 5(1)(c)(iii).
[22] The ecological and social context within which potential environmental effects may occur should be taken into account when considering the key criteria above in relation to a particular VC, as the context may help better characterize whether adverse effects are significant.