A proponent may apply to the Minister for approval of a Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) with respect to a class of undertakings, known as a Class EA document. Class EA documents are approved by the Minister through the individual Environmental Assessment review and approval process. The approved Class EA document establishes a streamlined planning process for proponents to follow in order to fulfill the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) for approval of a project within the class of undertakings. This is a self-assessment proponent-driven process where the proponent of a project is responsible for meeting the requirements in the Class EA prior to implementing a project. The Class EA approach allows for evaluation of the environmental effects of alternatives to an undertaking and alternative methods of carrying out a project, includes mandatory public consultation requirements, and expedites the environmental assessment of smaller recurring projects (e.g., road widening/upgrading).

Currently, there are 10 approved Class EA documents (e.g., Municipal Engineers Association Class EA for Municipal Road Projects). Approximately 90% of projects subject to the EAA are planned and implemented in accordance with a Class EA. A project meets the requirements of the EAA if it is planned in accordance with the process set out in an approved Class EA document and is not required by Order of the Ministry to complete an individual EA, or in other words is not “bumped up” to an individual EA.

A common feature of Class EA documents is a provision which enables any individual, group or agency that has significant environmental concerns with a project to write to the Minister requesting that the project undergo an individual EA, i.e., bump-up the status of the project under the EAA.

All Part II Order (bump-up) requests are reviewed by the Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch (EAAB). Staff consult with the requester(s), the proponent and any other agency or group potentially affected by the Minister’s decision. Information is summarized by staff and a recommendation is made to the Minister who is ultimately responsible for a decision. Evaluation criteria for bump-up requests include the purpose of the EAA, factors suggesting that the proposed undertaking differs from other undertakings in the class to which the Class EA applies, the significance of these factors and differences, the nature of concerns raised by the requester(s), and the benefits of carrying out an individual EA. Staff also evaluate the applicability and effectiveness of other legislation and decision-making processes to address the concerns of the requester(s).

Timelines for the Ministry's review or the Minister’s decision on a request typically range from 30 to 66 days, depending on the Class EA document. The Minister has four options for a decision on a Part II Order (bump-up) request:

• Deny the request.
• Deny the request with conditions.
• Refer to mediation.
• Grant the request and require the proponent to undergo an individual EA.