Notice of approval

Proponent: Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton
Environmental assessment file number: TP-OC-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 March 26, 1999. I received six (6) submissions before the expiration date. Two (2) of these submissions requested a hearing by the Environmental Assessment Board. The public, including the submitters, 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. None did.

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

Reasons

My reasons forgiving approval are:

  1. On the basis of the proponent’s Environmental Assessment and the Review, the proponent’s conclusion that, on balance, the advantages of this undertaking outweigh its disadvantages appears to be valid.
  2. No other beneficial alternative method of implementing the undertaking was identified.
  3. Issues raised in the submissions regarding the Park-and-Ride facility are best addressed by the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton.
  4. On the basis of the proponent’s 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).
  5. The Government Review Team has indicated no outstanding concerns that cannot be addressed through conditions of approval. The public review of the Environmental Assessment did not identify any outstanding concerns.
  6. I am not aware of any outstanding issues with respect to this undertaking which suggest that a hearing should be required.

Dated the 6th day of October, 1999 at Toronto

Original signed by:
Minister of Environment
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 12th floor
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5