OTTAWA — January 18, 2013 — As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) put in place to support the government's Responsible Resource Development Initiative, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency must determine whether a federal environmental assessment is required for the proposed Range and Training Area Project located in the Thunder Bay Region in Ontario. To assist it in making its decision, the Agency is seeking comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment.
The Department of National Defence proposes the construction and operation of a new Range and Training Area to provide a weapons marksmanship and training facility for the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Navy Reserve personnel located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The proposed parcel of land to be leased is a privately owned former timber land tract located approximately 15 km east of Upsala, Ontario. The establishment of a new Range and Training Area will require the construction of range facilities to support ongoing military training as follows: a small arms practice range with 15 firing lanes for weapons marksmanship training; administration buildings; training facilities such as a rappel tower and urban operations site and a parking lot area.
Written comments must be submitted by February 7, 2013 to:
Range and Training Area – Thunder Bay Region
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
55 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 907
Toronto ON M4T 1M2
Telephone: 416-952-1576
Fax: 416-952-1573
ChampdetirDNDRange@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
To view a summary of the project description or for more information on the project and on the environmental assessment process, visit the Agency’s website (registry reference number 80009). All comments received will be considered public.
The Agency will post on its website a decision stating whether a federal environmental assessment is required.
If it is determined that a federal environmental assessment is required, the public will have three more opportunities to comment on this project, consistent with the transparency and public engagement elements of CEAA 2012.
Projects subject to CEAA 2012 are assessed using a science-based approach. If the project is permitted to proceed to the next phase, it will continue to be subject to Canada’s strong environmental laws, rigorous enforcement and follow-up and increased fines.
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.
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