Class Environmental Assessment

The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) is developing a class environmental assessment (Class EA) for its activities under the Mining Act that are subject to the Environmental Assessment Act. These activities include discretionary tenure decisions related to surface rights, mining rights and chattels, and Ministry-administered mine rehabilitation activities.

As part of the planning process, a draft Class EA is being made available for public review and comment from January 23 to February 21, 2012.

Download the draft Class EA.

The draft Class EA may be amended in consideration of any issues or new information before a final version is formally submitted to the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), as required under the Environmental Assessment Act.

A hard copy of the draft Class EA is available from the contact person listed below and at:

Ministry of the Environment

Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch 2 St Clair Av W, Floor 12A Toronto ON M4V 1L5 (416) 314-8001 / (800) 461-6290

2430 Don Reid Dr Ottawa ON K1H 1K1 (613) 521-3450 / (800) 860-2195

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

933 Ramsey Lake Rd 6th Floor Sudbury ON P3E 6B5 (705) 670-5755 / (888) 415-9875 ext. 5755	104-810 Robertson St Kenora ON P9N 4J2 (807) 468-2819
10 Government Rd P.O. Box 100 Kirkland Lake ON P2N 3M6 (705) 568-4517	203-447 McKeown Avenue North Bay ON P3E 6B5 (705) 494-4045
6-875 Queen St E Sault Ste Marie ON P6A 2B3 (705) 945-6931	B0002-435 James St S Thunder Bay ON P7E 6S7 (807) 475-1311
1270 Hwy 101 E South Porcupine ON P0N 1H0 (705) 235-1625	P.O. Bag Service 43 126 Old Troy Rd. Tweed ON K0K 3J0 (613) 478-3161

Written comments about the draft Class EA must be received by February 21, 2012.

All comments should be submitted to:

Jenn Lillie-Paetz
Environmental Assessment Coordinator
Strategic Support Unit, Mineral Development and Lands Branch
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
933 Ramsey Lake Rd, 6th Floor, Sudbury, ON P3E 6B5
tel: 705-670-5918 or 1-888-415-9845 ext. 5918 fax: 705-670-5803
email: Jennifer.Lillie-Paetz@ontario.ca

Please note that personal information provided in a submission (such as name, address, and telephone number) and your views and opinions are being collected by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines under the authority of the Environmental Assessment Act, for the purpose of engaging in public consultation as required by section 13.1 of that Act. The personal information may also be shared with the Environmental Approvals Branch of the Ministry of the Environment as part of the approval process for the class environmental assessment. The collection, use, and disclosure of this information are governed by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Questions about this collection should be directed to Amanda Mizerski at 416-327-0690 or Amanda.Mizerski@ontario.ca.

Terms of Reference

This class environmental assessment planning process will be carried out according to the Terms of Reference and the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act. The resulting class environmental assessment will be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment for review.

Download a copy of the Terms of Reference.

This class environmental assessment planning process will be carried out according to the Terms of Reference and the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act. The resulting class environmental assessment will be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment for review.

Consultation

A final version of the draft Class EA will be formally submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, as required under the Environmental Assessment Act, in May 2012. Another consultation opportunity will take place at that time.

Members of the public, agencies, and other interested persons are encouraged to actively participate in the planning of this class environmental assessment by attending consultation opportunities or contacting staff directly with information, comments or questions.

All consultation opportunities are advertised in regional newspapers, at this web site, on the Environmental Registry, by direct mail-out, and at ministry field offices throughout Ontario.

If you would like to be added to our project mailing list or have project-related questions, please contact the Environmental Assessment Coordinator (contact information listed above).

MNDM’s Existing Environmental Assessment Act Coverage

MNDM’s existing coverage for these activities under the Environmental Assessment Act is currently in the form of declaration orders:

• MNDM-3 for discretionary mining land grants
• MNDM-4 for mine rehabilitation projects

These declaration orders, which exempt MNDM from the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act, subject to certain terms and conditions, expire on December 31, 2012.

By the time the declaration orders expire, MNDM will have obtained Environmental Assessment Act coverage for all of its applicable activities under the Mining Act, in the form of a Class Environmental Assessment. The development of the Class Environmental Assessment will be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act.

Phases

The process to develop a Class Environmental Assessment will comprise four phases:

Phase One –Terms of Reference Development - COMPLETE

• Distribute draft terms of reference to government agencies, industry stakeholders, Aboriginal communities, and interested persons for input and response.
• Assess input and revise terms of reference as necessary.
• Submit of terms of reference to MOE for review and approval.

Download the Consultation Record for the Draft Terms of Reference consultation period (February 3, 2011 – March 5, 2011).

Phase Two – MOE Review and Approval Process for Terms of Reference - COMPLETE

• Thirty-day consultation period – government agencies, industry stakeholders, Aboriginal communities and interested persons provide input and response.
• MOE Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch – review and evaluate Terms of Reference; provide recommendation to Minister of Environment.
• Minister’s decision.

The terms of reference provides the framework and requirements for the preparation of the class environmental assessment.

Phase Three – Class EA Development

• Prepare Class EA document.
• Distribute draft Class EA to government agencies, industry stakeholders, Aboriginal communities, and interested persons for input and response.
• Assess input and revise Class EA as necessary.
• Submit of Class EA to MOE for review and approval.

Phase Four – MOE Review and Approval Process for Class EA

• Thirty-day consultation period – government agencies, industry stakeholders, Aboriginal communities and interested persons provide input and response.
• MOE Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch – review and evaluate Class EA; provide recommendation to Minister of Environment.
• Minister’s decision

Additional Information

To learn more about Environmental Assessment in Ontario, please consult the following:

• Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act
• Ontario Ministry of the Environment’s Environmental Assessment
• Ontario’s Environmental Registry

To learn more about mineral exploration and mining in Ontario, please consult Ontario’s Mineral Exploration and Mining website.