The Class Environmental Assessment Process

The study is subject to Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act (the Act) and is being carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000).

The study is being completed as a Group B undertaking under the Class EA. Group B projects are major improvements to existing facilities and potentially have significant impacts on the environment. As part of the Group B project, a Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) has been prepared summarizing the environmental impacts and mitigation measures that will be in place during construction.

The TESR is being made available for the required 30-day review period from January 29, 2020 to March 2, 2020, and can be downloaded here. If a member of the public or review agency believes the TESR does not fully outline the project impacts or provide appropriate mitigation measures, a request (known as a Part II Order or “Bump-up” Request) may be sent to the Minister of the Environment asking for the assessment to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act. The decision whether a Part II Order request is appropriate or necessary is made by the Minister of the Environment.

If no Part II Order requests are received by the end of the review period, the study is considered approved under the Act and may proceed to construction, subject to obtaining any other outstanding environmental approvals and funding.