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Federal Environmental Assessment Process Aligned with the Federal Nuclear LegislationOttawa, Ontario, - November 4, 2003 - The Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, today welcomed regulatory amendments that will align the federal environmental assessment process for the nuclear sector, under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, with the requirements of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSC Act). "These changes will ensure that the federal environmental assessment regime for nuclear projects remains transparent and rigorous," said Minister Anderson. The amendments include changes to the Inclusion List Regulations, the Exclusion List Regulations, the Law List Regulations, and the Comprehensive Study List Regulations, under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The amendments were needed to reflect updated federal nuclear legislation through the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, and to recognize the establishment of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) which replaced the Atomic Energy Control Board. The regulatory amendments will ensure that nuclear projects continue to be subject to a high-quality and demanding federal environmental assessment process. They reflect comments received during a 30-day public consultation period. An important change in the Exclusion List Regulations will exempt the simple transfer of an ongoing operation from the federal environmental assessment process. This amendment will apply to all existing physical works and is not limited to nuclear facilities. For example, the transfer of the operation of an existing facility – nuclear or non-nuclear – without any interruptions or changes in operations would not require an environmental assessment under the Act. The changes came into effect on October 24, 2003 and will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on November 5, 2003. The multi-stakeholder Regulatory Advisory Committee (RAC), chaired by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, participated in the development of the changes to the regulations. The RAC is composed of members of government (federal, provincial and territorial), Aboriginal organizations, environmental organizations, and industry, including the Canadian Nuclear Association and the Mining Association of Canada. The regulations were finalized following their publication in the Canada Gazette Part I on August 2, 2003. -30- 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: Robert Deslauriers 
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