Through the planning and design process described in this Class EA, however, it may be determined that, together with the benefits, certain projects may have some adverse effects on the environment. The Class EA process is intended to identify potential impacts and where possible, to avoid them. However, in some cases, this may not be possible. In such situations, measures will have to be taken to either minimize or offset such effects. Actions taken to reduce the effects of a certain project on the environment are called “Mitigating Measures”.
During design, the environment affected by a project will be established and the specific net effects identified. The design shall include measures to mitigate the negative effects. Measures which must be taken to minimize the negative effects will be worked out such that the design can be tailored to recognize them. Contract drawings and documents shall include special provisions to ensure the least impact on the environment. Appendix 2 sets out a table showing typical mitigating measures for potential adverse effects on the environment.
This Class EA describes the process by which the various alternatives are analyzed and the most suitable design is chosen. The construction stage presents another set of alternatives as to how the work will be undertaken.
Many projects which undergo the Class EA planning process will be carried out by contract let by competitive tender, and the contractor is normally the low bidder. The contractor will have estimated his costs and planned his method of operation during the tendering stage, subject to the specifications and special provisions in the contract and any relevant legislation.
Contractors differ in their approach regarding sequence of operation, techniques, methods of operation, type make and size of equipment utilized, and speed of operation. There is, however, a fairly general uniformity in construction operation, being the natural result of economic competition.
Some of these operations have potential for environmental impact, and where these can be anticipated in the design stage, ‘special provisions’ shall be written into the construction package. They shall spell out what can or cannot be done during specific operations. Unforeseen problems that arise during construction shall be addressed on the site, and the proponent’s best judgment used to ensure that changes to the contract do not cause negative environmental impacts.
Staff responsible for inspecting the contractor’s work must be made aware of such provisions, in order to ensure compliance during construction. It shall be the responsibility of the proponent to ensure that inspectors enforce compliance with the environmental provisions, as well as the traditional engineering provisions, of the construction package.
Throughout the planning and design process, and subsequently throughout the construction phase, the proponent is to comply with the policies and guidelines outlined by municipalities, or the provincial or federal governments in documents such as:
In addition, federal requirements need to be addressed and coordinated where applicable, including: