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Does the Act Apply to your Project?

In order for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act to apply to your project, the following criteria must be met:

• Project: Your project must be an undertaking in relation to a physical work or be a physical activity listed in the Inclusion List Regulations.
• Excluded Projects: If your project is listed in the Exclusion List Regulations or is in response to special emergency situations, the Act does not apply.
• Federal Authority: There must be a federal authority that has specific decision-making responsibility associated with your project.
• Triggers: Triggers are powers, duties or functions (e.g. issuing permits, granting approvals, or providing funding) performed by a federal authority that require it to conduct an environmental assessment under the Act.

Does the Act Apply?

Examples of Projects under the Act

• Construction of bridges
• Demolition of buildings
• Construction of industrial or tourist facilities
• Installation of erosion control measures causing fish habitat destruction
• Exploration or production of oil or gas
• Abandonment or construction of mines
• Remediation of contaminated land
• Construction of highways financed by federal funds
• Expansion of hydroelectric facilities
• Dredging of navigable waterways

Fast Facts

• Ninety-nine percent of federal environmental assessments are screening level environmental assessments.
• Some projects may require a comprehensive study. These projects are identified in the Comprehensive Study List Regulations.
• The two most common Law List Regulations triggers are the requirement for an authorization under the Fisheries Act and an approval under the Navigable Waters Protection Act, for proposals involving works in or near water bodies.

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