Schedule
Environmental Assessment / Impact Assessment Process Milestones Timeline*
We are now in a coordinated Environmental Assessment (EA) / Impact Assessment (IA) process.
*Timeline is tentative and subject to change.
Late Winter to Spring 2019
- A Notice of Commencement of the Terms of Reference was published and distributed on March 6, 2019 (view the English or French Notice of Commencement)
- A Notice of Public Information Centres #1 was published and distributed on April 16, 2019 (view the English or French Notice of Public Information Centres)
- Public Information Centre #1
- Ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities
Summer 2019
- Initial Project Description submitted to the federal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency)
- Field studies conducted on alternative routes throughout Summer into 2020
- Ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities
Fall 2019
- Detailed Project Description to be submitted under the Federal Impact Assessment Act on November 9, 2019
- Field studies continue
- A Notice of Public Information Centres #2 was published and distributed on November 26, 2019
- A Notice of Impact Assessment Decision was published by the Agency stating that a federal IA is required on November 29, 2019
- Ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities
Winter 2019/2020
- Public Information Centre #2
- Draft Terms of Reference released for review by Indigenous communities, agencies, the public, and other stakeholders on December 4, 2019
- A Notice of Commencement of the IA was published by the Agency on February 24, 2020
- Ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities
2020
- Field studies continue
- Terms of Reference was submitted (Fall 2020)
- Decision on Terms of Reference is expected in Winter 2021
- Ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities
2021
- Introduction of the Assessment Phase of the EA / IA Process
- The Terms of Reference was approved on October 8, 2021 with amendments
- The Notice of Commencement of Environmental Assessment was issued on October 29, 2021
- Field studies continue
- Ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities
2022
- Studies carried out to establish current conditions for water, air, land, social, cultural and economic conditions
- Indigenous Knowledge Program continues
- Fine tune Preferred Route Selection Approach
- Hosted Public Information Centre #3 for Indigenous people and the public.
- Milestone: Effects Assessment Methodology (Fall 2022)
- Ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities and the public including Public Information Centre #4 and IK / ATRI, Built Heritage and Climate Change Workshops (Late 2022 or Early 2023)
2023
- Field studies continue
- Share ATRI effects assessment information and host mitigation discussions
- Identification of final route and rationale for the Community Access Road (end of 2023)
- Milestone: Identification of Preferred Route (Fall 2023)
2024
- Cumulative effects assessment and sustainability assessment
- Field studies continue
- Rightsholder and stakeholder review of Draft Environmental Assessment / Impact Statement (EA / IS)
- Milestone: Review of Draft EA / IS (Summer 2024)
2025
- Milestone: Review of Final EA / IS (Spring 2025)
- Review of Final EA / IS reflecting comments received and includes new field data
- Submit EA / IS
