Class Environmental Assessment

For Remedial Flood and Erosion Control projects

NEW! 2009 Amended CO Class EA Approval Document
In July 2009 the Minister of the Environment approved amendments to Conservation Ontario's Class Environmental Assessment for Remedial Flood and Erosion Control Projects (Class EA) that were proposed as part of its five year review process to ensure that the Class EA remains current and relevant. The amendments were all minor in nature and do not present any changes to the Class EA process. The updated Class EA approval document can be downloaded here.

Five Year Review Report
As part of monitoring and reporting conditions for approval of the Class Environmental Assessment for Remedial Flood and Erosion Control Projects (Class EA), Conservation Ontario must submit a five year review report to monitor the effectiveness of the Class EA process and to ensure that the Class EA remains current and relevant. The five year review was prepared in a format which is similar to and combines with the Annual Effectiveness Monitoring Report. CO’s review of the Class EA was submitted to the Ministry of Environment on January 31, 2007.

Download the Five Year Review Report (2002 – 2006)

Annual Effectiveness Monitoring Report
On January 31, 2006 Conservation Ontario submitted to the Ministry of the Environment its 2005 Annual Effectiveness Monitoring Report for the Class Environmental Assessment for Remedial Flood and Erosion Control Projects (Class EA). The Annual Report fulfills requirements to monitor the effectiveness of the Class EA process to ensure sound environmental planning and to ensure that the Class EA remains current and relevant. The 2005 Annual Report addresses those projects initiated, planned, and/or implemented as of December 2005.

The Annual Report assesses the effectiveness of the Class EA planning and design process in addressing such things as, but not limited to, the protection of the environment and participation in the process. This assessment includes a determination of:

• number and types of projects initiated, planned and/or implemented in accordance with the Class EA;
• number of Part II Orders requested and their outcomes;
• problems experienced at the Class EA project level in implementing the process; and
• degree of effectiveness of the Class EA planning and design process.

Download the 2002 Annual Report (pdf file 1.04 MB)

Provincial Approval Received
Update: Status of the "Class Environmental Assessment for Remedial Flood and Erosion Control Projects" (1993)

On May 31, 2000, the Minister of the Environment, with the concurrence of Cabinet, approved the continued use of the "Class EA for Remedial Flood and Erosion Control Projects" (1993) until such time as a new Class EA is reviewed and approved.

On June 26, 2002 the provincial Order In Council (O.C. 1381/2002) was signed, approving the January 2002 "Class EA for Remedial Flood and Erosion Control Projects." A copy of the approval is included in the front of the approved Class EA Document.

Summary of Class EA Review Process
On August 3, 2001, Conservation Ontario submitted a new Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) for Remedial Flood and Erosion Control Projects for approval under the Environmental Assessment Act. This Class EA establishes a planning and approval process for a variety of remedial flood and erosion control projects that may be carried out by Conservation Authorities in Ontario.

Phase I of this approval process involved the development of, consultation on, and approval of a Terms of Reference (TOR) for the preparation of a new Class EA. The Minister of the Environment approved the proposed TOR on September 1, 2000 and this approved TOR guided the preparation of the new Class EA document.

Phase II involved the preparation of the new Class EA by revising the 1993 Class EA for Remedial Flood and Erosion Control Projects. This revision was based upon further consultation and resolution of the issues identified in the approved TOR. The proposed revisions were circulated for review as a draft Class EA (February, 2001) in March/April, 2001, and additional amendments were made based upon the comments received. The final Class EA, submitted to the Ministry of the Environment on August 3, 2001, reflected the results of the review of the draft Class EA.

Phase III was initiated by the submission of the final Class EA to the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) for public/agency review and approval. The public/agency review period was from August 10 to September 28, 2001. Comments were received by MOE from eight different agencies. The "Review under the Environmental Assessment Act" was published in November 2001 by MOE and outlines the concerns/issues raised, Conservation Ontario’s responses and MOE’s recommendations. This "Review" (Nov 2001) document underwent a public/agency review until December 14, 2001. Minor amendments were made to the August 2001 version in January 2002 to address concerns raised in this review. The Minister of the Environment signed the Notice of Approval of the Class EA, June 26, 2002, thus completing this Class EA review process.