Major Projects and Environmental Assessment
Under the Federal and Provincial OH&S regulations, employers/owners have obligations to protect the health and safety of workers which include:
identifying all known safety hazards at a work site,
bringing those hazards to the attention of workers who may be exposed to them,
establishing safe working procedures to eliminate, control or reduce the hazards,
ensuring workers have appropriate and adequate resources, equipment and tools to undertake work activities in a safe manner,
ensuring workers are trained in the use and limitations of equipment and tools and in the established safe working procedures,
ensuring workers are aware of their responsibilities and duties.
When it comes to proposing major projects it is also the responsibility of the employer to establish appropriate safeguards to protect the environment and the public. All major projects require field work, detailed studies and surveys to be conducted that will take into consideration the impacts to soil, vegetation, wildlife, historical resources, current land use, traditional land use and aquatic resources. The data gathered is used in the development of an Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) to help minimize effects of the project both pre-construction and post-construction.
Under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, a federal environmental assessment may be required for designated projects. A designated project includes one or more physical activities that are listed in the federal Regulations Designating Physical Activities (the Project List). The Project List identifies types of major projects that have the greatest potential for significant adverse environmental effects in areas of federal jurisdiction.
The Environmental Assessment Act and environmental assessment process is important to ensure that major projects meet the goals of environmental, economic and social sustainability.
The assessment process also ensures that the issues and concerns of the public, First Nations, communities and government agencies are considered. The Environmental Assessment Office manages the assessment of all major projects proposed. Major projects are assessed for potentially adverse environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects that may occur during the life cycle of these projects. The process includes opportunities for all interested parties to be involved.
