Environmental Assessment

Streamlined Environmental Assessments

Not all undertakings require a terms of reference (ToR) and environmental assessment (EA). There are streamlined self-assessment processes that can be used for groups or classes of projects that are carried out routinely, have known impacts, and that are predictable and manageable, therefore do not warrant an individual EA.

A streamlined self-assessment process provides a decision-making framework that enables the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) to be met by proponents in an efficient, timely, economic and environmentally-responsible manner.

The level of assessment required is based on the nature of the project and the potential for environmental effects. Projects within a streamlined process are pre-approved (Minister’s approval not required) conditional upon being planned according to the streamlined process and not being required to do a higher level of EA study (Part II Order/elevation).

Each streamlined EA process includes an appeal mechanism where any interested person, group or government agency that has significant environmental concerns about a project may request that a higher level of EA study be required if their issues and concerns are still outstanding.

There are a number of streamlined self-assessment EA processes in Ontario including:

• Class EAs
• Electricity Projects Regulation
• Waste Management Projects Regulation
• Transit Projects Regulation