Thursday, April 18, 2024
Whatever location is used to place the document on the public record and wherever the document is available for review, the location should be clearly indicated in the notices to the public. In the case of large or controversial undertakings, it may be necessary to have more than one copy of the ESR available for public review. In fact, in some cases, it may be necessary to print several copies and make them available to members of the public wishing to have individual copies.
One of the key principles of successful planning under the EA Act is
“to provide clear and complete documentation of the planning process followed, to allow for the traceability of decision making with respect to the project”.
Documentation of the planning and design process followed in developing Schedule B and C projects is, therefore, a mandatory requirement of this Class EA. It is important that, for all Schedule B and C projects, documentation be established that allows traceability.
In the case of Schedule B projects, formal documentation in the form of a separate report is not necessary. It is expected that these projects will generally be straightforward and that detailed technical investigations and analyses will not be needed to arrive at the preferred solution.
Schedule C projects, on the other hand, are by their nature expected to be more complex and often require detailed studies, investigations and analyses. Schedule C projects, therefore, carry the requirement for the preparation of a formal Environmental Study Report (ESR).
The following Sections provide details of the documentation requirements which are a minimum in all cases.