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ARTICLE · 08 FEBRUARY 2016

Federal Government Initiates Changes To Environmental Review Process For Major Projects

Aird & Berlis LLP
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The previous Federal Government made significant alterations to the federal environmental assessment process with the enactment of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA, 2012).

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
David Stevens
David Stevens
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On January 27, 2016, Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister of Natural Resources released their interim plans that are the first step in updating the environmental review process to be followed for major pipeline projects. The approach required under these interim plans will include consideration of the direct and upstream greenhouse gas emissions associated with the project. It is expected that this updated approach will increase the time required for review of projects currently under review.

The previous Federal Government made significant alterations to the federal environmental assessment process with the enactment of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA, 2012). The CEAA, 2012 restricts the type of projects subject to a federal environmental assessment, stipulates timeframes for completing assessments and permits the Federal Government to delegate an environmental assessment to another jurisdiction or substitute the

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