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27 Cards in this Set

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What is Environmental Assessment?

In its simplest form, it is a planning tool that is now generally regarded as integral component of sound decision making. As a planning tool it has both an information gathering and decision making component which provides the decision maker with an objective basis for granting or denying approval development.

List and explain the fundamental principles of EAs.

I. Provide strong legislative foundation: EA should be based on legislation that provides a clear and concise method with respect to the objectives, purpose and responsibilities.




II. Suitable Procedures: The quality, consistency, and outcomes of the EA should reflect the environmental, political and social context within the jurisdiction the EA is being conducted and be able to respond to issues.




III. Public Involvement: Public who are and aren't affected by the project must be consulted but their concerns should be able to affect the final planning decision.




IV. Orientation towards problem solving and decision making: The EA should be relevant to the important issues and should generate the needed information to influence decision making based on the local settings where conditions of approval.




V. Monitoring and feedback capability: The considerations of impacts should not end with approval and construction; the process should ensure a process for compliance; and accuracy of impact prediction and evaluation of performance.





In the environmental assessment act, how is "environment" defined?

(a) air, land, or water


(b) plant and animal life, including human life


(c) the social, economic and cultural conditions that influence the life of human or a community


(d) any building, structure, machine or other device or thing made by humans,


(e) any solid, liquid, gas, odour, heat, sound, vibration or radiation resulting directly or indirectly from human activities,


(f) any part or combination of the foregoing and interrelationships between any two or more of them, in or of Ontario.

What is the planning act?

It is the ground rules for land use planning in Ontario, and describes how land uses may be controlled and who can control them.

What is the purpose of the planning act?

- Promotes sustainable economic development in a healthy natural environment within a provincial policy framework.




- Integrate matters of provincial interest into political& municipal planning decisions by requiring that all decisions shall be consistent with the provincial policy statement when decision-makers exercise planning authority or provide advice on planning matters.




- Provide for planning processes that are fair by making them open, accessible, timely & efficient




- encourage co-operation & coordination among various interests.




- recognise the decision-making authority & accountability of municipal councils in planning.

What's the difference between the roles of the province and the municipalities?

Province


- Issues policy statement under planning act


- Prepares provincial plans


- Promotes provincial interest, such as, protecting farmland, natural resources and the environment, as well as promoting development that is designated to be sustainable.


- Provides a one-window planning service to municipalities...


- Gives advice to municipalities and the public on land use planning issues


- administers local planning controls and gives approval where required.




Municipalities




- Makes local planning decisions that will determine the future of the communities


- Prepares planning document such an official plan.


- Ensures planning decisions and planning documents are consistent with the provincial policy statement and conform or do not conflict with provincial plans.


- Upper-tier municipalities as well as planning boards deal with broad and use planning issues that concern more than one local municipality.



What is an official plan (created by municipalities)?

These plans set out the municipality's general planning goals and policies that will guide future land use zoning by-laws, which sets the rules and regulation that control development as it occurs.

What is a provincial policy statement and what are the components?

A statement (2014), promotes a policy led planning system that recognises there are complex inter-relationships among and between environmental, economic, and social factors in land use planning.




I. Building Strong Communities: Providing various housing types (i.e. affordable, etc.), and densities to meet the needs of residents and future needs.




Protection of employment areas to promote economic development and competitiveness.




II. Wise use and Management of resources: Policy direction to protect province's resources that will help ensure Ontario's long-term prosperity, environmental health, and social well-being.




III. Protecting Public Health and Safety




- Policies to ensure any public health hazard development is kept away.


- The decision maker ensures that the policies in the provincial policy statement are applied as an essential part of the land use planning decision-making process.

What is the OMB?

The Ontario Municipal Board was created by the Ontario government to oversee municipalities' accounts.



They resolve individual differences on community planning issues, by providing a public forum for resolving disagreements.





What are the types of application and appeals do the OMB hears?

- Land use planning under the planning act and other legislation.




- Financial issues related to development charges, land expropriation, municipal finance and other legislated financial areas




- Municipal issues as legislated under the OMB act and other legislation




- Other issues assigned to the board provincial statute.

True or false? The EAA only applies to the public sector? Explain.

False, it can apply to some private sector companies such as landfills

What is the purpose of Environmental Assessment?

- Allows projects to receive input from a wide variety of sources, including the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government, stakeholders and the public.




- Identifying potential problems prior to construction.




- Promoting good environmental planning




- Improving community acceptance




- Better protection of the environment

List and explain the the types of provincial EAs.

I. Individual environmental assessments: Large, complex projects with the potential for significant impacts on the environment. For these projects, proponents must prepare a terms of reference.




II. Class EAs: For specific project types or classes and are based on the potential for environmental effects (ex. municipal roads, water and sewer, etc.).




III. Electricity generation and transmission: The type can size of the project, proponents must either undertake an individual EA, a screening process or have no EA requirement.

What are the 3 categorisations of proponents in public sector undertakings?

- Ontario government ministries and agencies


- Ontario municipalities


- public body or bodies

What are some examples of public sector undertakings for EAs?

- public roads and highways


- transit facilities


- waste management facilities


- sewage and water works


- flood protection works

What are the key components when proposing an EA?

- Consultation: To the ministry, members of the public, municipalities, other stakeholders, or aboriginal communities which may be affected.


- The consideration of alternatives


- The mitigation & management of environmental effects.

What are the EA principles?

Timelines, clarity and consistency, transparency, public consultation, coordination of approvals, risk management, ecosystem approach, best available information, appropriate level of detail and prevent/ minimise harm

What is a terms of reference?

The terms of reference is a work plan for an EA study submitted to the ministry.

What are some questions that should be asked when assessing alternatives in a EA?

- Do they provide a viable alternative(s)?


- Are they proven technologies


- Are they technically feasible?


- Consistent with other planning objectives/ government priorities?


- Could they affect sensitive environmental features?


- Are they practical, economically viable?


- Within the ability of the proponent to implement (money and resources)?


- Can they be implemented within the study area?

Describe how study area, description of the environment, and potential effects, should be outlined in the EA.

Study Area: Is the area within which activities associated with the undertaking will occur and where potential environmental effects will be studied.




Description of the Environment: Will address all components of the environment that are included in the EAA (refer to definition of environment). Basically different environments (pretty much anything ever) are broken up into their own components.




Potential Effects: The environment that is described that can be affected by the proposed undertaking and its alternatives.

What's the difference between a consultation plan and record of consultation?

Consultation Plan: Is for future consultation that will take place during the preparation of the EA.




Record of Consultation: Is for past consultation that took place during the preparation of terms of reference.

What should the consultation plan outline and considerations?

The general consultation methods proposed; how input from interested persons will be obtained; a description of key decision-making milestones during the preparation of the EA when consultation will occur, and an issues resolution strategy.




Some considerations: complexity of the undertaking, potential for controversy, extent of potential environmental effects.

What is consultation?

It is a 2-way communication process, intended to: Provide, info to the public, identify persons & aboriginals who may be affected by/have interest in a project, identify concerns from the undertaking, create an opportunity to develop proponent communities in response to local input, to address public concerns vs. regulatory procedures, to provide information to the ministry to enable a fair and balanced decision, and to expedite decision-making.

Why would you prepare a draft of the terms of reference?

- It allows potential issues to be identified and considered up front


- It allows identification of major gaps and omissions that is not corrected may lead to amendments to the document once it is formally submitted


- it provides the proponent with early feedback on its proposal

Prior to the EAA, what two components were not considered in land use planning?

Environmental and social costs.

What is a zoning by-law?

A zoning by-law controls the use of land in a community. I states exactly: how the land may be used; where building and other structures can be located; the types of buildings that are permitted and how they are used; and the lot sizes and dimensions.

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