Notice of approval

Proponents: The Corporation of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, The Corporation of the City of Brockville The Corporation of the Town of Prescott
Environmental assessment file number: MU-0476-02

Take notice that the period for requiring a hearing, provided for in the Notice of Completion of the Review for the above noted undertaking, expired on November 10, 1997. I received no submissions before the expiration date. The public had been advised that the Minister was considering applying section 9 of the Act with respect to the Environmental Assessment (which has the effect of eliminating the acceptance decision which was necessary prior to January 1, 1997) and were invited to make submissions on that proposal. No submissions from the public were received.

Pursuant to subsection 12.4(3) of the amended Environmental Assessment Act I order that the provisions of section 9 (other than paragraph 9(2)2 and other than the reference to subsection 6.4(2) in paragraph 9(2)5) apply with respect to the Environmental Assessment.

I do not consider it advisable or necessary to hold a hearing. Having considered the purpose of the Act, the Environmental Assessment, and the Review, I hereby give approval to proceed with the undertaking, subject to conditions set out in Attachment A.

Reasons

My reasons for giving approval are:

  1. On the basis of the proponents' Environmental Assessment and the Review, the proponents' conclusion that, on balance, the advantages of this undertaking outweigh its disadvantages appears to be valid.
  2. On the basis of the proponents' Environmental Assessment, the Review and the conditions of approval, the construction, operation and maintenance of the undertaking will be consistent with the purpose of the Act (section 2).
  3. The Government Review Team has indicated no outstanding concerns that cannot be addressed through conditions of approval under the Environmental Assessment Act and the Environmental Protection Act. The public review of the Environmental Assessment did not identify any outstanding concerns.

I am not aware of any outstanding issues with respect to this undertaking which suggest that a hearing should be required.

Dated the 20th day of January 1998 at Toronto

Original signed by:
Minister of the Environment
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 15th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5