OTTAWA – December 19, 2005 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency invites the public to comment on proposed amendments to the Exclusion List Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The proposed changes would significantly reduce unnecessary environmental assessment screenings and redirect human and financial resources to projects with the potential to cause significant environmental effects. Exempted projects include undertakings involving structures such as buildings, fences and other associated facilities, leases within national park communities, road widening projects and railway crossings.
The amendments were determined following extensive consultations over the past several years with federal departments and agencies that must ensure environmental assessments are conducted when required by the Act. Also, the Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC), a multi-stakeholder advisory group to the federal Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, was directly involved in developing the amendments. A RAC sub-committee examined an early draft and prepared a report including recommendations.
The proposed amendments were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on December 17, 2005. Comments received by January 31, 2006 will be considered when preparing the regulations for final approval. Please address your comments, in the official language of your choice, to the following:
John D. Smith
Director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
161 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor
Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: (613) 948-1942
john.smith@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
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The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.
For more information, media may call:
Gordon Harris
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: (613) 957-0825
gordon.harris@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
