Renewed Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation

The public is invited to comment

The public is invited to comment on revisions to the Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation.

The agreement applies when an environmental assessment of a proposed project is required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and Saskatchewan's Environmental Assessment Act. The agreement establishes a process for a single, cooperative environmental assessment to be conducted as efficiently and effectively as possible.

The proposed renewed bilateral agreement will replace the 1999 agreement between Saskatchewan and Canada which expired on November 30, 2004. The renewed agreement will implement some of the key features of amendments to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

Following a review and consideration of the comments received, the Honourable Stéphane Dion, federal Minister of the Environment, and the Honourable David Forbes, Minister of Saskatchewan Environment anticipate signing the renewed Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement for Environmental Assessment Cooperation (2005).

The 30-day public comment period begins on January 29, 2005.

Interested persons are invited to submit their comments on the draft agreement no later than February 28, 2005. Please direct your comments in the official language of your choice to:

Vanessa Cook
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
160 Elgin Street, 22nd floor
Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: 613-957-0324
Fax: 613-948-1354
Email: harmonisation@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Larry Lechner
Saskatchewan Environment
3211 Albert Street
Regina, SK S4S 5W6
Tel.: 306-787-5786
Fax: 306-787-0930
Email: llechner@serm.gov.sk.ca

Comments received will be shared with both parties in order that each may review all submissions.

Copies of the draft agreement in English or French and related documents are available on the Agency website and on the Saskatchewan Environment website at http://www.se.gov.sk.ca/environment/assessment/.