Class EA for Waterpower Projects
Third Edition - April 2012
(PDF - Size: 7 MB)
The Class Environmental Assessment for Waterpower Projects (Class EA) was approved in October 2008 as a planning process that allows proponents to assess the potential effects to the environment using best available information in order to make an informed decision about how or whether a project should proceed. The Class EA applies to all waterpower projects to which Ontario Regulation 116/01 – Electricity Projects (2001) under the EA Act currently or as amended applies.
The Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA) is proposing to amend the Class EA by adding a new category of projects, which would apply only to small projects associated with existing facilities or water management infrastructure. As this has been determined by the Ministry of the Environment to be a major amendment, the OWA is applying the provisions of Section 8.2.2 of the Class EA and undertaking consultation for a period of 45 days. As such, the period for comment and input begins on August 3, 2012. An overview of the proposed amendment and a series of Questions and Answers are available at the following links:
Proposed Amendment to the Class EA for Waterpower Projects Q&A
Revised September 12, 2012 (PDF)
Proposed Amendment to the Class EA for Waterpower Projects Webinar Presentation (PDF)
Proposed Amendment to the Class EA for Waterpower Projects (PDF)
Draft Notice of Project Template (PDF)
If you have comments on the proposed amendments, written submissions to the Director of EAB with a copy to the OWA are due no later than September 17, 2012. Should you have any questions in this regard, please contact Colin Hoag, OWA Policy Advisor at 1- 866-743-1500 or at choag@owa.ca.
Agatha Garcia-Wright
Director – Environmental Approvals Branch
Ministry of the Environment
12A Floor, 2 St Clair Ave W
Toronto ON
M4V 1L5
Paul Norris
President
Ontario Waterpower Association
380 Armour Rd. Suite 210
Peterborough, ON
K9H 7L7
NOTICE OF MINOR AMENDMENTS CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR WATERPOWER PROJECTS MARCH 2012 (PDF)
NOTICE OF MINOR AMENDMENTS CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR WATERPOWER PROJECTS MARCH 2011(PDF)
NOTICE OF MINOR AMENDMENTS CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR WATERPOWER PROJECTS 2010 (PDF)
A Citizen's Guide - Understanding the Class Environmental Assessment Process
for Waterpower Projects (PDF)
