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THE RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY'S GUIDE

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The Responsible Authority's Guide interprets the legal framework established by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and provides guidance to responsible authorities for conducting environmental assessments of projects in compliance with the Act. The guide is designed for those within federal departments and agencies who are required to plan, manage, conduct, review, or otherwise participate in federal environmental assessments. It consists of separate guides for managers and environmental assessment practitioners, and includes a set of detailed reference guides on specific environmental assessment topics.

The Responsible Authority's Guide addresses:

• the objectives and principles of the Act;
• the environmental assessment process established by the Act;
• the procedures for conducting environmental assessments of projects in compliance with the Act;
• the obligations of responsible authorities;
• the roles and responsibilities of participants in the process;
• guidelines on key topics.

Part I: The Manager's Guide provides an overview of the federal environmental assessment process and summarizes the roles and responsibilities of participants. It is written for the federal government managers who need to be aware of the requirements of the Act and the obligations placed on their department or agency.

Part II: The Practitioner's Guide reviews the federal environmental assessment process in detail. It is intended for those responsible for planning, conducting , reviewing, or participating in federal environmental assessment. The guide details the procedures required to conduct environmental assessments in compliance with the legislation, with separate chapters on the self-directed environmental assessment in the form of a screening or comprehensive study, and on the public review in the form of mediation or panel review. It also includes a set of appendices that focus on the key regulations to the Act relevant to practitioners.

REFERENCE GUIDE: Addressing Cumulative Environmental Effects

This reference guide is complementary to the Responsible Authority's Guide to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and describes in more detail, an approach for addressing cumulative environmental effects under the Act. Specifically, this reference guide:

• reviews the concept of cumulative environmental effects;
• discusses the relevant requirements of the Act;
• outlines some general considerations;
• proposes a framework for addressing cumulative environment effects under the Act; and
• provides a list of key references on the subject.

REFERENCE GUIDE: The Public Registry

This reference guide describes an approach for maintaining a public registry for projects as required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. It is intended to assist environmental assessment practitioners and others responsible for preparing, reviewing, or managing documents related to environmental assessments conducted under the Act. This reference guide:

• reviews the purpose of the public registry;
• highlights the public registry obligations of responsible authorities;
• details the public registry framework established by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency;
• provides guidelines for responsible authorities in five important areas:
  • coordinating with other responsible authorities;
  • document clearing;
  • cost recovery;
  • responding to requests;
  • official language considerations.

REFERENCE GUIDE: Determining Whether A Project is Likely to Cause Significant Adverse Environmental Effects

This guide describes an approach for deciding whether a project is likely to cause significant environmental effects under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Complimentary to the Responsible Authority's Guide, this reference guide:

• reviews the concept of significance;
• discusses the relevant requirements of the Act;
• proposes an approach for deciding whether a project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects under the Act;
• provides a list of key references on the subject.

REFERENCE GUIDE: Assessing Environmental Effects On Physical and Cultural Heritage Resources [ PDF - 469 kb ]

• discusses the relevant requirements of the Act to consider the effects of a project on tangible cultural heritage resources;
• reviews the concept of cultural heritage resources;
• lists key principles in the assessment of cultural heritage resources;
• proposes a framework to assess a project's environmental effects on cultural heritage resources under the Act;
• provides a list of key references on the subject.

The Responsible Authority's Guide is intended for educational purposes only. It should not be perceived as a substitute for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. In the event of any inconsistency between this guide and the Act, the latter would prevail. Individuals with specific legal problems are urged to seek legal advice.

November, 1994 Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1994
Cat. No. EN106-25/1-1994-E ISBN 0-662-22773-5

A hardcopy can be obtained in a printed edition from the Agency. It can also be ordered as part of a comprehensive training kit. This kit includes a computerized tutorial on how to apply the Act.

Documents may also be ordered using the Publications Order Form.

Responsible Authority's Guide Table of Contents

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