Both private and public sector waste projects are subject to the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) through the waste management projects regulation.
Waste management projects fall into the following environmental assessment (EA) process streams.
- Exempt – projects that have a low risk to affect the environment such as a small recycling facility, are not subject to any EAA requirements.
- Exempt but must complete an environmental screening process – projects with some environmental effects are exempt if they successfully complete the environmental screening process.
This process requires proponents to identify and evaluate the potential environmental effects of their projects, consult with interested persons, and outline possible impact management measures. Proponents then prepare a screening report.
Once notice is provided that the screening report is completed, there is an opportunity to submit an elevation request.
- Must complete an EA – projects that are likely to have significant environmental effects are subject to the requirements of Part II of the EAA and are required to prepare an individual EA (e.g. large landfills).
Elevation Requests
There is an opportunity for anyone to ask that a waste project proceeding under the screening process be elevated to an individual environmental assessment (EA).
An elevation request should only be made when there are outstanding significant environmental issues that cannot be resolved through discussions with the proponent or through mediation, or when the project requires a more rigorous review.
The request must be made in writing to the Director of the Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch. Ministry staff will review the request, consult with appropriate persons and make a recommendation to the director.
The Director can:
- refer the matter to mediation or
- require that the proponent conduct further studies;
- deny the request
- impose conditions when the request is denied or
- require that an individual EA be prepared
