RE:RE: (Timmins Daily Press – January 12, 2021)It doesn't wheels but it's all part of the environmental assessment that has already been completed. It's just more paperwork.
An environmental assessment supports planning and decision-making. Through the environmental assessment process, the potential adverse environmental effects of a project are identified. Examples of "adverse effects" are:
- the loss or decline of fish, migratory birds, or marine plants
- changes across a border between provinces
- the contamination of foods relied upon by Indigenous peoples
If a project is likely to produce adverse environmental effects, the environmental assessment identifies mitigation measures. Mitigation measures are actions or project design features that help to reduce, eliminate or control a project's adverse effects. The environmental assessment also predicts if a project might cause significant harm to the environment even after mitigation measures are implemented. Where mitigation is not feasible, restitution measures(such as replacement, restoration or compensation) may be identified.
A follow-up program happens after the environmental assessment process. It verifies the accuracy of the assessment, and assesses the effectiveness of the mitigation measures.