Notice of Commencement of an Environmental Assessment

Highway 69 Four-Laning from north of Woods Road to north of Harris Lake Road (Project 2)
Harrison; Shawanaga; Wallbridge (ON)

December 14, 2011 (Updated March 28, 2012) -- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and Transport Canada are required to ensure that a screening is conducted pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act commencing on December 9, 2011 in relation to the project: Highway 69 Four-Laning from north of Woods Road to north of Harris Lake Road (Project 2).

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is undertaking a 102 km capacity expansion initiative along Highway 69 from north of Highway 559 to Murdock River. The 102 km initiative as proposed by MTO consists of five separate project phases, each of which is undergoing a separate federal environmental assessment screening. Collectively, the five federal screenings are assessing the entire 102 km initiative. The screening referred to under this Notice of Commencement relates to Project 2 of the Highway 69 initiative, which includes capacity expansion works from north of Woods Road to north of Harris Lake Road (approximately 30 km). This undertaking will primarily involve areas of re-alignment (four new lanes on a new alignment) and widening along the existing route (two new lanes to twin the existing highway). The scope of project includes all aspects of the development proposal related to the construction, operation and modification of Highway 69 from north of Woods Road to north of Harris Lake Road. This includes four-laning of Highway 69 with a combination of twinning and new alignment sections, construction of water crossings, culvert replacements and wildlife passages, works to maintain continuity of snowmobile trails and crossings, construction of new interchanges and service roads, and the construction of a snowmobile crossing, a new highway overpass and rest area. For additional information relating to the screenings of projects 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the Highway 69 initiative, please refer to CEAR numbers 11-01-65457, 11-01-65417, 11-01-65418 and 06-01-22108, respectively. MTO is anticipating that the phases will be constructed in the following sequence: Project 5, Project 1, Project 4, Project 2, Project 3. Since planning for each phase is advancing independently, there may be changes to the construction sequence in the future.

An environmental assessment is required in relation to the project because Fisheries and Oceans Canada may take action in relation to subsection 35(2) of the Fisheries Act; Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada may provide federal lands and Transport Canada may take action in relation to section 5 of the Navigable Waters Protection Act.

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada will act as the Federal Environmental Assessment Coordinator for this environmental assessment.

For further information on this environmental assessment, please contact:
DFO - CEA Registry Office -Central & Arctic Region - Ontario Area
P.O. Box 5050
867 Lakeshore Road
Burlington ON L7R 4A6
Telephone: 905-336-4508
Email: CEARCNAON-RCEERCAON@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

and refer to Registry reference number 11-01-65415