Form 101 - Instructions

Grants Programs

Research Tools and Instruments Grants (RTI)

(Including Categories 1, 2,3 and Subatomic Physics)

GENERAL INFORMATION

For deadlines and other information consult the Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) Grants program description in the Program Guide for Professors.

CHECKLIST FOR A COMPLETE APPLICATION

Use the following checklist to make sure your application is complete.

Research Tools and Instruments

• Application for a Grant (Form 101)
  • Application profile (including certification requirements, amounts requested)
  • Co-applicants
  • Summary of proposal
  • Proposed expenditures
  • Budget justification (attachment)
  • Relationship to other research support (attachment)
  • Quotes (minimum of 2) - for items over $25,000
  • Proposal (see instructions for page limits)
  • Appendix A (Environmental Impact) – if required
  • Appendix B (CEAA Pre-Screening Checklist) – if required
  • Appendix C (Referee Suggestions) – for RTI - Categories 2 and 3 only
• Personal Data Form (Form 100) for the applicant and each co-applicant
  • Personal information (appointment, academic background, HQP)
  • Experience
  • Research support
  • List of HQP
  • Contributions
  • Appendix A (Personal Data) – one original only – do not photocopy
  • Appendix B (Eligibility Questionnaire) – one original only – do not photocopy (if required)
  • Appendix C (Description of Applicant's Activities) – if required
  • Appendix D (Consent to Provide Limited Personal Information About Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) to NSERC): form/s must be retained by the applicant and made available to NSERC upon request.
• For RTI - Category 2 - Letter of support from Head of Department
• For RTI - Category 3 - Letter of support from the University President

NOTE: Pages in excess of the number permitted will be removed.

Number of copies (including original) for applications submitted on paper

• RTI - Category 1: 4 copies
• RTI - Categories 2 and 3: 10 copies
• Subatomic Physics RTI - Categories 2 and 3: 5 copies

How to Complete Form 101

Read and/or print the following documents before you begin to complete Form 101:

• Frequently Asked Questions on how to use the On-line System;
• The NSERC Program Guide for Professors for deadline and program details.

• The Peer Review Manual (Section 7) for details on the selection criteria;

Whom should I contact if I need help?

If you have questions regarding:

• the program to which you are applying (e.g., content of the application, program deadlines, eligibility, budget, etc.), contact the Staff responsible for the program;
• the On-line System, send an e-mail to: webapp@nserc.ca or call telephone number (613) 995-4273.

Include in your message the e-mail address where you may be contacted as well as your telephone number.

eSubmission and Electronic Signatures

Applicants have the choice of using either the electronic submission system or continuing to use the traditional paper-based process. (Access to PDF versions of the forms will also remain available.) User ID/password-based "signatures" will be established in the eSubmission functionalities allowing applicants, supporting organizations and authorized institutional representatives such as Research Grants Officers, Scholarships Liaison Officers and Business Officers to "sign" and submit on-line applications and other documents to NSERC.

The eSubmission process incorporates the following features:

• account management - the ability to access NSERC's on-line system to update personal information, and recover a forgotten user name or password;
• access/link manager - the ability to grant research collaborators or supporting organizations access to electronic applications, browse and print applications, and link-required components (e.g., a personal data form or a letter of support);
• attachment functionality - the ability to electronically attach documents that are part of the application (e.g., the project description);
• application manager - the ability for designated institution administrators to electronically access applications, comment on them, and officially submit them to NSERC;
• electronic acknowledgement of receipt - the ability to automatically acknowledge receipt of electronic applications once they have been transmitted to NSERC.

Note: For those who opt for paper submission, the traditional procedures and requirements will have to be followed (e.g., paper-based applications will have to be signed by all appropriate authorities within the institution).

Even if the eSubmission process includes appropriate controls and checkpoints to ensure validation of the information by the institutions' Research Grants Officers before it is submitted to NSERC, it is important to mention that applicants will have to follow the internal approval process in place at their institution, as specified by the relevant authorities.

For Paper Submission:
What do the signatures on the application mean?

One copy of the grant application must bear the original signatures of the applicant and co-applicant(s), of the department head and president of the institution (or their representatives). An institution may also require a signature from the faculty.* If the applicant is normally the signing authority for the department, faculty, or institution, another senior official must sign instead.

The signature of the applicant confirms that the applicant:

• accepts the terms and conditions of the grant as set out in NSERC's policies, guidelines and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Granting Agencies and Canadian institutions;
• will use the grant only for the purpose for which it is awarded;
• will inform NSERC and institutional officials of changes in eligibility status or in the nature of the research that may have an impact on certification or approvals for research involving humans, human pluripotent stem cells, animals or biohazards, environmental assessments, financial reporting and other related policies;
• will meet reporting requirements specific to the grant/award or granting program;
• acknowledges and accepts that NSERC reserves the right to defer or cancel a grant instalment if the continued need for funds is not demonstrated;
• agrees to comply with the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, the policies and guidelines regarding animal care, biohazards, and research activities having potential effects on the environment (see the NSERC Policy on Environmental Assessment);
• understands the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act as they pertain to grant application information;
• attests that consent has been obtained from trainees to include limited personal information about them in the Highly Qualified Personnel section of the Personal Data Form (Form 100);
• agrees to comply with the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Integrity in Research and Scholarship, and authorizes the institution, if need be, to release to NSERC personal information that is relevant to his or her NSERC application and grant/award;
• will acknowledge, wherever possible, NSERC's funding assistance for the research;
• certifies that the information provided in the application is complete, accurate and consistent with institutional policies to the best of the applicant's knowledge. The provision of false or inaccurate information may result in sanctions, including the termination of funding and disentitlement from eligibility for future funding;
• has not been barred from applying to NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, or any other research funding organization, for reasons of breach of standards of ethics or integrity (financial or scientific misconduct); and
• accepts the following two conditions of funding:
  • should the applicant decide to pursue commercialization of any results of the research funded in response to this application, he or she will disclose to his or her institution any potential intellectual property arising from the research; and
  • if the applicant discloses any potential intellectual property arising from the research, he or she and the institution will endeavour to obtain the greatest possible economic benefit to Canada from the resulting commercial activity.
    
    Note: The above requirement for disclosure is not intended to supersede the intellectual property ownership policy that the institution might already have in place.

In addition, if the applicant is a current or former (in the last twelve months) public office holder or public servant in the federal government, the applicant also certifies that he or she:

• respects and complies with the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service.

*Some institutions require the dean's signature on grant applications. As the dean's signature is an institutional requirement, not an NSERC one, the institution's policy should prevail (e.g., the dean's signature should be obtained only if it is required by an institution).

The signatures of the co-applicants confirm that they:

• also agree to the above; and
• agree that the applicant will administer the grant on behalf of the group/team.

Note: In the case of an Industrial Research Chair application, the signatures would be that of the Chair candidate(s) or Chairholder(s).

The signatures of the institutional authorities certify that:

• the institution will abide by the roles and responsibilities as set out in the Memorandum of Understanding with the three Federal Granting Agencies;
• the applicant has met or will meet the eligibility requirements;
• the institution agrees to comply with NSERC's data protection requirements and has adequate safeguards in place to protect sensitive information entrusted to it by NSERC for the purpose of administering applications and awards; and
• if the applicant discloses any potential intellectual property arising from the research, he or she and the institution will endeavour to obtain the greatest possible economic benefit to Canada from the resulting commercial activity.

Note: The above requirement for disclosure is not intended to supersede the intellectual property ownership policy that the institution might already have in place.

The signatures of authorized officers of other supporting organizations certify that the organization:

• agrees with the content of the application and will provide the committed resources; and
• agrees to the release of the public summary of the award and to the publication of the organization's name as a supporter of the initiative.

If you are both the applicant and a principal of a collaborating company, another senior official must sign on behalf of the company.

Collection and Use of Personal Information

The information you provide in your application is collected under the authority of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Act.

The information is stored in a series of NSERC data banks described in Info Source. Details on the use of this information are provided in the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act (ATIP).

How to submit your application

When you submit your application, make sure you include all required documentation and appendices. Remember that most universities have an internal deadline date that is earlier than NSERC’s deadline date. As a result, plan ahead. Make sure you allow enough time before the application deadline.

The onus is on the applicant to submit a complete application and one that conforms to the presentation standards established by NSERC. Incomplete applications and applications that do not meet the presentation standards may be rejected or be at a disadvantage in comparison with those that are complete and respect the presentation standards. Late applications will not be accepted.

Material or updates received under separate cover (before or after the deadline date) will not be accepted. Exception to this rule: material being forwarded to NSERC separately as part of an electronically submitted application. Late material will not be accepted.

If you are submitting your application and documents in paper version by mail, forward your package by the deadline date to the address noted under the heading "Mailing Address" in this document.

Do not submit two versions. If both paper and electronic versions are submitted, NSERC will only accept the electronic version.

Mailing Address

Send your correspondence to:

NSERC
350 Albert Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 1H5
Canada

APPLICATION PROFILE

Type of grant

RTI grants are divided into three categories according to the total net cost of the equipment, i.e. excluding taxes, shipping, and handling. These categories are:

• RTI - Category 1: $7,001 to $150,000;
• RTI - Category 2: $150,001 to $325,000; and
• RTI - Category 3: more than $325,000.

¹A moratorium on Categories 2 and 3 is in effect. During this moratorium, NSERC will accept applications under Category 1 for equipment with a total net cost of up to $250,000, provided the applicant is able to secure funding from other sources to bring the amount requested from NSERC to $150,000 or less. Such sources may include contributions from NSERC Discovery Grants held by the applicant or co-applicants. The use of other types of NSERC grants is permitted, provided a prior written authorization is obtained from NSERC.

Title of proposal

The title should describe the equipment applied for. It will be used for publication purposes. It should not contain a company or trade name. Spell out scientific symbols and acronyms.

Enter the time devoted (in hours per month) to the use of the equipment or facility.

AREA(S) OF RESEARCH

Research Subject Codes

Consult the NSERC Code Tables. All applicants are required to select a primary research code.

Key Words

Provide a maximum of 10 key words that describe the proposal.

CERTIFICATION/REQUIREMENTS

Before completing this section, consult the Policies and Guidelines of the Program Guide for Professors concerning the requirements for certain types of research.

Research Involving Human Subjects:

If you select "Yes", you must provide your institution's administration with the appropriate certification indicating that research involving human subjects has been reviewed and has received the required approval.

Research Involving Human Pluripotent Stem Cells:

If you select "Yes" or if through peer review the application is found to fall into this category and is recommended for funding, it will be forwarded,with your consent, to the Stem Cell Oversight Committee (SCOC) to ensure compliance with Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research: Guidelines for CIHR-Funded Research. The SCOC review is in addition to normal review by local Research Ethics Boards (REBs). Funding will not be released until approval has been obtained from the SCOC.

Research Involving the Use of Animals:

If you select "Yes", you must provide your institution's administration with the certification from the animal care committee at the institution that the experimental procedures proposed have been approved and that the care and treatment of animals is in accordance with the principles outlined in the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) guide.

Research Involving Hazardous Substances:

If you select "Yes", you must provide your institution's administration with the certification from the biosafety committee at the institution that the laboratory procedures being used comply with the safety precautions necessary for the level of containment required by the research.

Environmental Impact:

If any phase of the research activities take place outside of an office or a laboratory and/or involve physical work under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA), you must complete Appendix A (Environmental Impact) and B (CEAA Pre-screening Checklist).

CO-APPLICANTS

For group applications, list each co-applicant's name, personal identification number (if known), organization name, as well as the time (in hours per month) each co-applicant will devote to the proposed research/activity or the use of equipment or facility.

Co-applicants, except those from the applicant's institution, must advise the authorized officer of their organization that NSERC will be seeking their signature through its secure site, agreeing to their participation.

Only major (frequent) users should be listed as co-applicants and need to obtain their organization's signature and submit a Personal Data Form (Form 100).

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

Enter information about each co-applicant organization's signing officer (other than the organization of the principal investigator). For supporting organizations such as an industrial partner or a government department, enter information about the authorized representative(s).

If the application is being submitted in paper format, a signature must be provided by each co-applicant organization's signing officer, or the authorized representative of the supporting organization (such as an industrial partner or a government department).

SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

The summary is intended to explain the proposal in language that the public can understand.

Using simple terms, briefly describe the equipment or the facility that is requested, and the nature of the work to be supported. Indicate why and to whom the research is important, the anticipated outcomes, and how your field and Canada will benefit.

If you wish, you may also provide a summary in the second official language in the text box identified for that purpose.

PROPOSED EXPENDITURES

Before completing this section, read the instructions and consult the Use of Grant Funds section of the NSERC Program Guide for Professors for information about the eligibility of expenditures for the direct costs of research and the regulations governing the use of grant funds.

Use the Budget Justification section to explain and justify each budget item.

RTI Grants are one-year awards that assist in buying or developing research equipment that costs more than $7,000. In exceptional cases, multiple-year requests will be accepted. The onus is on the applicant to clearly explain the rationale. Items costing less than $7,000 each can be purchased with Discovery Grant funds or be included as a complement to a main piece of equipment being requested.

Costs that are not eligible for all categories of RTI include:

• Insurance costs for equipment and research vehicles;
• Costs of the construction, renovation or rental of laboratories or supporting facilities;
• Software licensing or upgrades for subsequent years.

Indicate in the space provided any contributions from other sources to the cost of the equipment.

BUDGET JUSTIFICATION

Provide a detailed explanation and justification for each budget item identified in the Proposed Expenditures section. Provide sufficient information to allow reviewers to assess whether the resources requested are appropriate.

Equipment or facility

Give a breakdown of the items requested. Provide details on models, manufacturers, prices, and applicable taxes. Justify the need for each item requested. Provide two recent quotations for components or systems costing more than $25,000. The Quotations section will allow you to describe the quotations to be sent with the proposal.

Travel

Other expenses

List all items not relevant to previous categories and provide a brief explanation for major items.

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER RESEARCH SUPPORT

See Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency and Addressing Other Sources of Funding for additional information.

Any relationship and/or overlap, conceptual or financial, with work supported by NSERC or other funding sources must be explained.

Use additional pages to provide the following information:

• Clear and concise information on the conceptual and budgetary relationship or difference between this application and all other support (currently held or applied for). Also explain perceived duplication in funding or, if applicable, indicate how the NSERC application complements research funded by other sources.
  
  
• For each grant currently held or applied for, clearly describe the main objective, and provide a brief outline of the methodology, budget details, and details on the support of highly qualified personnel. In addition, the relationships to the NSERC application must be explained. Such information may be provided, for example, in the form of a brief summary of the necessary details for each grant.

If you have received or applied for funding from the CFI (Canada Foundation for Innovation), provide details on how the money was or will be spent.

The onus is on the applicant to provide sufficient information to enable the reviewers to evaluate the relationship with other sources of support and to recommend the appropriate NSERC funding level. The consequence of not providing adequate information to assess the relationship to other research support is that the reviewers may recommend reduced or no funding.

QUOTATIONS

Provide two recent quotations for items or systems costing more than $25,000. Give a brief description of the document and indicate whether you will be submitting it as an attached file or as a paper copy.

PROPOSAL

Use the guidelines outlined in the General Presentation section to provide the requested information in a document to be attached to the application.

Page limits

Follow the instructions and address the selection criteria for the Research Tools and Instruments Grant program you are applying to. Using the headings below and the maximum number of single-sided pages permitted, describe:

• For all RTI categories,
  • the research program(s) to be supported;
  • the equipment requested and the reason(s) for the configuration proposed;
  • the necessity of purchasing the proposed equipment or facility to undertake the research programs effectively;
  • the availability of similar equipment in the same department, elsewhere in the university, or at nearby institutions;
  • the accessibility and degree of utilization of such equipment and, where applicable, the necessity of replacing existing equipment;
  • the impact on the research program of a delay in acquiring the equipment;
  • how the proposed equipment will be used for training.

In addition,

• RTI - Categories 2 and 3 Grant applications must include:
  • details of a clearly defined and workable organizational structure to ensure the equipment or installation will be operated and maintained efficiently and effectively and that it will respond adequately to user requirements.
  • a discussion of the synergy of the equipment with, and how it complements, existing equipment and staff at the university or nearby institutions. Alternatively, explain why this criterion does not apply to your proposal.

Applications for computing equipment are considered on the same basis as all other equipment applications, including proposals to develop computing facilities to support research programs. RTI grant funds may be used to purchase hardware and/or to pay for the acquisition of software.

EXPECTED REVENUES

For RTI - Categories 2 and 3

Complete the Expected Revenues section for a RTI - Categories 2 or 3. The "Cash Contributions from University" and "Other Contributions" (items 3 and 4) will be transferred automatically to the Total Cash Contributions from Other Sources under the Proposed Expenditures for Direct Cost of Research section.

If you are filing up your application on paper you must transfer this information. Do not transfer "User fee revenues" (items 1 and 2).

LETTER(S) OF SUPPORT

For all RTI categories, if a cash contribution towards the purchase of the equipment is provided by an organization (other than the applicants' institution(s)), a letter is required from the organization confirming this commitment.

For RTI - Categories 2 and 3 grant applications, letters from academic, industrial or government partners attesting that they intend to use the proposed facility and/or contribute to the costs of the equipment or its operation will be accepted.

• RTI - Category 2 Grant applications
  
  A letter from the Department Chair is required. The letter must indicate the importance and priority that the department places on the proposed equipment and the extent to which the department proposes to provide support.



• RTI - Category 3 Grant applications
  
  A covering letter from the president of the university or his/her delegated representative is required for RTI - Category 3 and Subatomic Physics - Research Tools and Instruments applications. The letter must indicate the importance and priority that the university places on the proposed equipment or facility and the extent to which the university proposes to provide support (e.g., provision of space, financial contribution to the purchase and installation, funding of technical support staff, etc.).

APPENDIX A - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Note: If you have checked "Yes" under Certification Requirements on Form 101, both Appendix A and Appendix B must be completed.

Please complete all the fields in Appendix A.

If applying in paper format and extra space is required to complete any section of Appendix A – Form 101, please continue on a separate sheet of paper. More than one section may be continued on the same page, with each section identified (1, 2, 3, 4). If necessary, more than one page may be used. Each additional page must be clearly labelled with the applicant’s name, initials and PIN (upper left-hand corner), and “APPENDIX A, FORM 101 – Page [page number] of [total number of pages]” (upper right-hand corner).

Name of other participating organizations (if applicable): Please list the names of any federal or provincial government departments or agencies, industrial partners, or universities/colleges that will be participating in or contributing to the proposed research.

Name of location: Give the name of the location where the proposed work will take place. An Appendix A must be completed for each location at which research is to be conducted. If your research involves more than 3 locations, please contact NSERC's Environmental Assessment (EA) Unit by e-mail at enviro.assess@nserc.ca or by phone at (613) 992-3612 or (613) 995-8079.

Main characteristics of the location: Provide a brief, non-technical description of the location(s) at which the work described in the proposal will be conducted.

In the sections that follow, describe in non-technical language the activities that will be undertaken in the course of the research. This includes both the research activities themselves and the activities required for the research to take place (e.g., ground clearing or preparation, construction of access trails or roads, etc.).

Principal activity(ies) and Activity component(s):

Principal activity(ies): For each location, list the principal activity(ies) (e.g., fossil collection).

Activity components: Each principal activity includes one or more activity components. Provide a short description of individual activities grouped within the principal activity. Examples of activity components are construction and clearing of access trails; construction of a boardwalk, clearing of brush from the study site, fossil excavation, cleaning of fossil,; and removal of fossils. Please provide quantitative estimates if possible (e.g., in the preceding example, the construction and clearing of an access trail could involve an area 500 m long by 2.5 m wide).

For each principal activity and activity component, list the environmental elements affected and a description of those effects in the space provided.

Environmental elements affected: For each activity component, certain environmental elements will be affected. For the purposes of environmental assessment, environmental elements include biological and physical elements. For example, the construction and clearing of an access trail might involve the removal of all vegetation (including trees over 50 cm in diameter), or the clearing of brush up to 2 m high only. Please provide quantitative estimates, if possible.

Description of effects: Environmental effects of the project are changes in the biophysical environment caused by the project, as well as certain effects that flow directly from those changes. These include effects on human health, socioeconomic conditions, physical and cultural heritage (including effects on things of archaeological, paleontological, or architectural significance), and the current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by First Nation persons. Do not describe the effects in detail; a simple statement will suffice.

For instance, returning to the previous example, removal of the vegetation might entail erosion, the loss or elimination of particular avian or mammalian species, the loss of livelihood for residents, or a loss of spiritual or aesthetic value. Such loss depends on the context in which it takes place.

Mitigation measures: This section should describe the mitigation measures, if any are required, that will be undertaken to alleviate potential environmental effects. To continue with the previous example, a mitigation measure to minimize vegetation loss might be to plant tree or brush seedlings, or to avoid clearing vegetation in a known avian or mammalian habitat, or in an area that is of cultural or aesthetic value to the residents.

APPENDIX B – CEAA PRE-SCREENING CHECKLIST

Research proposals that are subject to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) are determined in two ways. Either they involve undertakings in relation to physical works (Part 1), or they relate to a proposed activity not related to a physical work that is subject to the Act (Part 2).

Part 1

Determination of a Physical Work under the CEAA

Determining whether or not something constitutes a physical work under the CEAA requires a consideration of what is defined as a physical work, and what is defined as an "undertaking in relation to a physical work."

A physical work has the following characteristics:

• it is constructed or assembled;
• it is fixed in place (that is, it is not intended to be moved frequently);
• it is permanent (e.g., a building made of ice blocks is not permanent); and
• it is to be maintained on an ongoing basis.

Obvious examples of physical works are buildings, towers, and greenhouses. However, the following are also considered to be physical works under the CEAA:

• boreholes that are drilled and lined with concrete or plastic sleeves;
• poles or transmission towers that are erected;
• ditches that are dug and maintained - for example, with reinforced sides; and
• culverts that are installed.

Undertakings in relation to a physical work must be examined. The applicant must determine whether any phase of the proposal involves the "construction, operation, modification, decommissioning, abandonment or other activity" in relation to a physical work.

• Applicants should carefully consider whether any phase of their research contributes to funding the operation of a physical work. The operation of a physical work, for example a synchrotron or radar, is considered to be an undertaking, and provision of funds or in-kind contributions towards the operation of a physical work may trigger an assessment. Note: User fees are not recognized as contributions.
• Modification of a physical work involves the alteration of the work to suit a new purpose.
• Maintenance and repair of a physical work are considered as undertakings.

If in doubt as to the nature of the physical work, please contact NSERC's EA unit.

Part 2

Determination of Assessable Activities under the CEAA

The CEAA requires the assessment of activities not related to physical works. In many cases, these activities require a permit or authorization from a federal department or agency pursuant to other legislation.

Note: Applicants are responsible for verifying whether permits are required for any of the activities. Please check with the appropriate federal authority; if you are unsure, check "Unknown".

• Activity takes place in a National Park or National Nature Reserve in Canada. Note that this does not apply to provincial parks or conservation areas.
• Activity takes place on First Nation lands. Some activities on First Nation lands may require a permit or other authorization, which would trigger an environmental assessment under the CEAA.
• Activity takes place in the North. Some activities taking place in the Yukon, Nunavut, or the Northwest Territories may require a permit or other authorization, which would trigger an environmental assessment under the CEAA.
• Activity takes place in or within 30 metres of the right-of-way of a power line, a natural gas line, or a railway line. These activities may require a permit or other authorization, which may trigger an environmental assessment under the CEAA.
• Activity takes place in or adjacent to a water body, resulting in harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of a fish habitat (including the removal or damaging of aquatic vegetation). These activities may require a permit or other authorization, which may trigger an environmental assessment under the CEAA. Note that "water body" means any water body, including a canal, a reservoir, an ocean, and a wetland, up to the high-water mark, but does not include a sewage or waste treatment lagoon or a mine tailings pond. "Wetland" means a swamp, marsh, bog, fen or other land that is covered by water during at least three consecutive months of the year.
• Destruction of fish other than by fishing. This activity may require a permit or other authorization, which may trigger an environmental assessment under the CEAA.
• Sampling or prospecting for ores or minerals. These activities may require a permit or other authorization, which may trigger an environmental assessment under CEAA. If you are hand-collecting rock samples, check "no."
• Disposal of a prescribed nuclear substance other than in a laboratory equipped for such disposal. If you are undertaking an outdoor activity and your research involves the use of isotopes that are not released into the environment and that will be disposed of at a university or institution that manages the disposal, check "no."
• Deposit of a deleterious or other substance into the environment (in the earth, air, or water).
• Any kind of remediation of contaminated land. The installation of passive measuring equipment does not constitute remediation; however, the installation and testing and/or use of active remediation technologies is considered "remediation." This applies whether the remediation involves an entire contaminated site or a portion thereof.
• Deposit of oil, oil wastes or any other substance harmful to migratory birds in waters or in any area frequented by migratory birds.
• Killing or removal of migratory birds, their nests, eggs, or carcasses or other physical activities that may require a permit or other authorization under the Migratory Birds Regulations or Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations. These activities may trigger an environmental assessment under the CEAA.
• Removal or damaging of vegetation, the carrying on of agricultural activities or the disturbance or removal of soil in a wildlife area, which requires a permit or other authorization under Section 4 of the Wildlife Area Regulations. These areas are described under the Canada Wildlife Act.
• Physical activities that are carried on in Canada and that are intended to threaten the continued existence of a biological population in an ecodistrict, either directly or through the alteration of its habitat. Biological populations include insects and other invertebrates as well as plants, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. "Ecodistrict" means an ecodistrict as described in the publication entitled A National Ecological Framework for Canada, published by Environment Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and as depicted on those maps that contain ecodistricts and that are included in the series of maps entitled Terrestrial Ecozones and Ecoregions of Canada, published by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, as amended from time to time.
• Establishment or operation of a field camp in a single location that will be used for 200 person-days or more within a calendar year.
• Seismic surveying involving more than 50 kg of chemical explosive in a single blast; or marine or freshwater seismic surveying, if during the survey the air pressure measured at a distance of one metre from the source would be greater than 275.79 kPa (40 lbs/sq in).

Important

If you have checked "Yes" to any item under Parts 1 or 2, a Screening is likely to be required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Please contact NSERC's EA unit for additional information.

If you have checked "No" to all items under Parts 1 and 2, your proposal is not likely to be subject to assessment under the CEAA.

If you have checked "Unknown" to any item under Part 2, please contact NSERC's EA unit (below) for additional information.

If you have any questions or require more information, contact:

Environmental Assessment Unit
NSERC
350 Albert Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 1H5
(613) 992-3612 or (613) 995-8079
enviro.assess@nserc.ca

APPENDIX C - REFEREE SUGGESTIONS

For RTI – Categories 2 & 3 only

Suggest the names of several people competent to assess the technical aspects of the proposal. This list should include experts from the academic community and the industrial sector.

Give the name, complete mailing address, telephone and facsimile numbers, e-mail address, and the area(s) of expertise of potential referees.

Referees should be able to review the proposal in the language in which it is written.

You may also request in a cover letter that some individuals or companies not be involved in the review of your application. Your request will be taken into account by NSERC.

Conflict of Interest

Suggested referees must not:

• be from the same institution as the applicant(s);
• have been a research supervisor or graduate student of the applicant(s) within the past six years,
• be providing letters of support for the application,
• have collaborated with the applicant(s) within the past six years or have plans to collaborate in the immediate future;
• be an employee of a non-academic organization with which the applicant has collaborated within the past six years; or
• be in any other potential conflict of interest (e.g., personal, financial).