Notice of Environmental Assessment Determination

Ottawa – March 4, 2013 - The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) has decided that a federal environmental assessment is not required for the Range and Training Area - Thunder Bay Region (the Project) pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012).

In making this determination, the Agency considered the following factors as indicated in section 10 of CEAA 2012:

• the description of the Project provided by the Department of National Defence on January 7, 2013;
• the possibility that the carrying out of the Project may cause adverse environmental effects; and
• comments received within the 20 day comment period.

The Agency is satisfied that the environmental effects of the Project are well understood and adequately characterized in the project description.

The Agency is satisfied that the Project will result in minor environmental effects and that these effects will be adequately addressed.  The Department of National Defence is required to develop and adhere to a site specific Range Standing Order and to implement the Range and Training Area Sustainability System (RTASS).  The RTASS requires Department of National Defence to identify and ensure the implementation of mitigation measures to reduce, minimize or avoid potential adverse impacts that may result from the Project being carried out.

Therefore, the Agency decided that an environmental assessment of the designated Project, as proposed in the description of the Project, is not required under CEAA 2012.