Environmental Approvals
On December 22, 2009, the Ontario Minister of the Environment provided Environmental Assessment Approval for the Bruce to Milton Transmission Reinforcement Project. Read the letter from the Minister and the Notice of Approval.
The Process
This project is subject to the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act (EA) and an Individual Environmental Assessment will be completed.
There are four key phases of the EA process:
1. EA Terms of Reference Preparation
2. EA Terms of Reference Review and Approval
3. EA Study Preparation
4. EA Study Review and Approval
A Terms of Reference establishes the framework for the preparation and review of the EA. It outlines how the EA will be conducted and helps ensure that the public, Aboriginal peoples and government agencies know what will be considered. The Terms of Reference is subject to approval by the Minister of the Environment.
This EA Study will focus on the transmission route from Bruce to Milton. It will consider design alternatives (e.g., tower types and locations on the corridor and access route locations), measures to avoid and minimize effects and identify advantages, disadvantages, and net effects of the project.
The Environmental Assessment Report (EA Report) was submitted on December 5, 2008 (to the Ministry of the Environment). The EA Report was available for an 8-week period, allowing for public, stakeholder, First Nations and Métis review and comment.
The review period ended on January 30, 2009 and the Environmental Assessment Approvals Branch at the Ministry of the Environment will now coordinate a review of the EA Report. The Ministry Review will aid the Minister of the Environment in making a decision regarding the EA. It will assess whether the proponent, in this case, Hydro One, has provided the following:
- sufficient information to enable a decision,
- required components of the EAA and approved Terms of Reference,
- a technical overview of the Project, and
- sufficient public consultation with interested persons and stakeholders.
The Ministry Review will also indicate whether there are any outstanding concerns or deficiencies within the EA. Upon the completion of the Ministry Review, a Notice of Completion will be issued informing the public, stakeholder,
First Nations and Métis about the start of the review period of this document. The review period of this document usually extends for five weeks.
Information specifically related to the EA process may be found on the following pages of the MOE website:
Download the Final EA Report with Appendices (PDF format - Adobe Reader required) for the proposed Bruce to Milton transmission line below.
You can also obtain the report and appendices on CD by calling our toll-free Project Hotline at 1-877-345-6799.
Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) Report
Download the Draft EA Report with Appendices (PDF format - Adobe Reader required) for the proposed Bruce to Milton transmission line below: