Federal Environmental Assessment – What's Next – Stages Of Project Impact Assessment

This is the most recent in a series of posts which discuss the proposed recommendations set out by the Expert Panel in its report entitled Building Common Ground – A New Vision for Impact Assessment in Canada, The Final Report of the Expert Panel for the Review of Environmental Assessment Processes (the "Report"). This entry will focus on some of the particulars of the assessment process as outlined in the Report.

Three-Stage Approach to Project Impact Assessment

Planning Phase

The Report contemplates a three-stage assessment process for projects: a Planning Phase, a Study Phase, and a Decision Phase. At all phases of the assessment, the Impact Assessment Commission ("IAC") would take the lead and opportunities would be given for public participation.