Class EA for Transmission Facilities

Class EA Amendments

THE GOVERNMENT HAS EXTENDED THE 45-DAY REVIEW PERIOD FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES UNTIL SEPTEMBER 22, 2020.

MECP

Director, Environmental Assessment Branch
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
135 St. Clair Ave. West, 1st Floor, Toronto ON M4V 1P5
Attention: Sasha McLeod, sasha.mcleod@ontario.ca and Shannon Gauthier, shannon.gauthier@ontario.ca

Submit Comments

The review period from July 8 to August 22, 2020 has now ended, however, the government has extended the review period for Indigenous communities until September 22, 2020. The purpose of the review period is to provide an opportunity for input by interested parties, including the public, Indigenous communities, government agencies, municipalities and associations, local distribution companies, transmitters, and mining companies.

We thank you for your input!

Class Environmental Assessment for Transmission Facilities

A Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) is an environmental planning process approved under Ontario's Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) for certain classes (groups) of projects that have predictable and manageable environmental effects. A proponent who receives approval for a project planned in accordance with a Class EA (provided the project is eligible to follow that process) does not need to obtain separate approval under the EAA.

The Class EA for Transmission Facilities applies to certain transmission facilities (lines and stations, other than those associated with certain listed generation facilities) and was originally developed by the former Ontario Hydro and approved under the EAA by Order-in-Council in 1980. It has undergone several revisions since that time. The current version of the document approved by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, is the Class EA for Transmission Facilities (February 2024).

Class EA Amendment Process

On February 16, 2024, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks approved amendments to the Class EA for Minor Transmission Facilities (renamed Class Environmental Assessment for Transmission Facilities). Read the Minister's Notice of Approval, February 16, 2024.

Monitoring the effectiveness of the class ea process

Hydro One is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of the Class EA Process by ensuring that the document remains relevant and current. As noted in Section 5.5 of the Class EA Document, Hydro One will produce a consolidated annual monitoring report including information provided by all project proponents who use the Class EA in that calendar year.

The 2023 Annual Monitoring Report was filed with the MECP on March 28, 2024.

All project proponents are required to provide their information for the annual monitoring report to Hydro One by the end of February each year using the required reporting format provided in Appendix H of the Class EA document. Project proponents may submit their information by email to: ClassEA.AnnualMonitoringReport@HydroOne.com.

In addition, Hydro One will undertake a review of the Class EA Document every five years as noted in Section 5.6. This process will ensure that the Class EA Document remains compliant with applicable legislation (incl. the EAA), regulations and policies.

Contact Us

If you have questions about the Class EA for Minor Transmission Facilities, please contact:

HYDRO ONE COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Telephone:1-877-345-6799

Community.Relations@HydroOne.com