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What is a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Process?
A Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) is an approved planning document which describes the process that proponents must follow in order to meet the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act (EA Act). The Class EA approach allows for the evaluation of the environmental effects of alternatives to a project and alternative methods of carrying out a project.
It includes mandatory requirements for public input and expedites the environmental assessment of smaller recurring projects.
Class EA's are a method of dealing with projects, which display the following important common characteristics:
- recurring usually similar in nature usually limited in scale have a predictable range of environmental effects
- responsive to mitigating measures.
Projects that do not display these characteristics must undergo an individual environmental assessment (IEA).The Class EA deals with municipal road/water & wastewater projects, including:
- Maintenance and operational activities, reconstruction and modification of existing roads and traffic facilities, the construction of new roads, reconstruction and modification of existing sewage, stormwater management and water facilities. The construction of new sewage and water facilities. Construction of stormwater management and related erosion, flood and water quality control facilities.
- Slope stability and related projects.
Project Schedules
Projects are categorized according to their environmental significance and their effects on the surrounding environment. Planning methodologies are described within the Class EA and are different according to Class type.
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Schedule A |
Schedule A: Projects are limited in scale, have minimal adverse environmental effects and include a number of municipal maintenance and operational activities. These projects are pre-approved and may proceed to implementation without following the full Class EA planning process. Schedule A projects generally include normal or emergency operational and maintenance activities.
Schedule A +: The purpose of Schedule A + is to ensure some type of public notification for certain projects that are pre-approved under the Municipal Class EA, it is appropriate to inform the public of municipal infrastructure project(s) being constructed or implemented in their area. There, however, would be no ability for the public to request a Part 2 Order. If the public has any comments, they should be directed to the municipal council where they would be more appropriately addressed. |
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Schedule B |
These projects have the potential for some adverse environmental effects. The proponent is required to undertake a screening process, involving mandatory contact with directly affected public and with relevant government agencies to ensure that they are aware of the project and that their concerns are addressed.
If there are no outstanding concerns, then the proponent may proceed to implementation. If there are no outstanding concerns, then the proponent may proceed to implementation. Schedule B projects generally include improvements and minor expansions to existing facilities. If however the screening process raises a concern which cannot be resolved, the Part II Order
may be invoked; alternatively, the proponent may elect voluntarily to plan the project as a Schedule C undertaking. |
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Schedule C |
Such projects have the potential for significant environmental effects and must proceed under the full planning and documentation procedures specified in this Class EA document. Schedule C projects require that an Environmental Study Report (ESR) be prepared and filed for review by the public and review agencies. Schedule C projects generally include the construction of new facilities and major expansions to existing facilities. If concerns are raised that can not be resolved, the Part II
Order may be invoked. |
Planning Process
The Class EA planning process provides an alternative for municipalities conducting road/water & wastewater projects; The ideology for the Class EA document reflects the five key principals of planning as outlined in the EA act. They are:
- Consultation with affected parties early in and throughout the process, such that the planning process is a co-operative venture.
- Consideration of a reasonable range of alternatives, both the functionally different alternatives to the project (known as alternative solutions) and the alternative methods of implementing the preferred solution.
- Identification and consideration of the affects of each alternative on all aspects of the environment.
- Systematic evaluation of alternatives in terms of their advantages and disadvantages, to determine their net environmental effects.
- Provision of clear and complete documentation of the planning process followed, to allow 'traceability' of decision-making with respect to the project.
The 5 Phases of the Class EA Process
The following chart shows steps considered essential for compliance with the requirements of the EA Act. The entire process should be complete in such a way as to allow a reviewer to easily trace each step of the process.
| Phase 1 |
Problem or Opportunity: Identify the problem or opportunity. |
| Phase 2 |
Alternative Solutions: Identify alternative solutions to the problem, by taking into consideration the existing environment, and establish the preferred solution taking into account public and agency review and input. At this point determine the appropriate Schedule for the undertaking, and/or identify the approval requirements; proceed through the following Phases for Schedule C projects. |
| Phase 3 |
Alternative Design Concepts for Preferred Solution: Examine alternative methods of implementing the preferred solution, based upon the existing environment, public and government agency input, anticipated environmental effects and methods of minimizing negative effects and maximizing positive effects. |
| Phase 4 |
Environmental Study Report: Document, in an Environmental Study Report a summary of the rationale, and planning, design and consultation process of the project as established through the above Phases and make such documentation available for scrutiny by review agencies and the public. |
| Phase 5 |
Implementation: Complete contract drawings and documents, and proceed to construction and operation; monitor construction for adherence to environmental provisions and commitments. Where special condition dictate, also monitor the operation of the complete facilities. |
Information Sources
Municipal Engineers Association (MEA), Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, October 2000, as amended in 2007. (Approved by Order-in-Council no. 1923/2000).
Definitions
Alternative Solutions
Feasible alternative ways of solving an identified problem (deficiencies) or addressing an opportunity, from which a preferred solution is selected.
Note: alternative solutions include the "Do Nothing" alternative.
Environment as defined in the EA Act:
- air, land or water,
- plant and animal life, including human life
- the social, economic and cultural conditions that influence the life of humans or a community
- any building, structure, machine or other device or thing made by humans
- any solid, liquid, gas, odour, heat, sound, vibration or radiation resulting directly or indirectly from human activities, or
- any part or combination of the foregoing and the inter-relationships between any or more of them in or of Ontario.
Environmental Study Report
The documentation for a specific project in accordance with the procedures for Schedule C projects setting out the planning and decision making process, including consultation practices, which has been followed to arrive at the preferred solution. The ESR also sets out the mitigating measures proposed to avoid or minimize environmental impacts.
Individual Environmental Study Report
An environmental assessment requiring the submission of a document for approval by the Minister, pursuant to subsections 6(1) and 6(2) of the EA Act and which is neither exempt from the EA Act nor covered by a Class EA Approval.
Part II Order
An order to comply with Part II of the EA Act. This is an appeal provision whereby a person or party with an outstanding concern may request the Minister to make an order requiring a proponent to comply with Part II of the EA Act before proceeding with a proposed undertaking to which the Class EA would otherwise apply.
Project
A specific activity planned and implemented in accordance with the Class EA (may also be referred to as the undertaking). The project consists of all those activities necessary to solve a specific problem (deficiency) or address an opportunity.
Proponent
For the Class EA, is the group of municipalities who submitted the environmental assessment for the establishment of the Class EA for approval under the EA Act.
For a project planned in accordance with the Class EA, the proponent is the municipality which is developing the project, or which is ultimately responsible for the road works constructed by a private developer.
Sewage (Wastewater)
The liquid waste which may be sanitary waste, commercial wastes, or industrial waste.
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