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
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