Hydro One has initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study in accordance with the Class Environmental Assessment for Minor Transmission Facilities.
The Class EA process falls under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act and is an effective way of ensuring that transmission projects that have a predictable range of effects are planned and carried out in a manner which is environmentally acceptable.
Following a consultation process with members of the public, government agencies and municipalities, a draft Environmental Study Report (ESR) is made available for stakeholder review and comment for a specific period of time (usually 30 or 60 days). If no concerns are expressed during the review period, the project is considered to be acceptable. The final ESR is filed with the Ministry of the Environment and approval is granted.
If concerns are expressed during the public review period, Hydro One will attempt to resolve them to complete the EA process. If Hydro One cannot satisfy all of the concerns, a stakeholder may submit a "bump-up" request for an Individual Environmental Assessment of the proposed undertaking. Hydro One would then consider whether a re-designation of the project is appropriate, and send its response, the draft ESR and the individual's bump-up request to the Minister of the Environment for a decision as to whether or not the project requires an Individual EA or if the project should be approved as proposed.