Get involved in an environmental assessment
Engagement
Listening to communities is an essential part of the CNSC’s work to understand the effects of a nuclear project on nearby communities. You can participate in many ways:
- Participate in the Commission’s public proceedings
- Apply to the CNSC’s Participant Funding Program to receive support in contributing an intervention (interventions are formal contributions to the Commission, either in writing or by presentation)
- Attend a CNSC webinar or one being hosted by a licensee or applicant to learn about projects and ask your questions
- Consult the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry for information on ongoing environmental assessments (EAs)
- Email your comments to CNSC staff or ask to be added to a mailing list for a specific project
- Create an account on Let’s Talk Nuclear Safety for opportunities to participate in a range of CNSC consultations
- Subscribe to our mailing list to receive news from the CNSC
Indigenous and public participation
The graphics below identify the steps involved in reviewing the potential environmental impacts of nuclear projects under CEAA 2012 and show how we involve indigenous communities and the public in the process.
Figure 1 - Text version
Indigenous participation
CNSC engages with Indigenous groups and communities throughout the environmental assessment process
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Environmental assessment determination
- Early engagement
- Proponent submits project description
- CNSC accepts project description or
- Requests more information
- CNSC determines whether an environmental assessment is required
- CNSC issues notice of commencement
-
Indigenous participation opportunity
- Early notification of proposed project via engagement with public and communities
-
Project description
- Notice of commencement
- Comment period on project description (formal participation opportunity)
- Response to comments
- Commission decision on environmental assessment scope
- Participant Funding Program available
-
Public participation opportunities
- Comment on project description
- Notification letters and follow-up with groups and communities
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Environmental impact statement technical review
- Proponent submits environmental impact statement
- Technical review of draft environmental impact statement
- Comment period on draft environmental impact statement (formal participation opportunity)
-
Indigenous participation opportunities
- Comment on draft environmental impact statement
- Face-to-face meetings, workshops and teleconferences with groups and communities
-
Environmental assessment report
- CNSC drafts environmental assessment report
- Environmental assessment report provides recommendations to the Commission
- Draft environmental assessment report posted for public review and comment via interventions in the Commission public hearing (formal participation opportunity)
-
Indigenous participation opportunities
- Review draft environmental assessment report
- Additional meetings and workshops, as required
- Summary of consultation activities including concerns raised, proposed mitigation, accommodation measures
-
Hearing and decision
- Commission hearing on environmental assessment report (formal participation opportunity)
- Oral and written interventions
- Commission publishes environmental assessment decision with detailed reasons
- Participation Funding Program available
-
Participation opportunities
- Intervene in public hearing
- Raise issues with decision-maker
- Hearings may be held in communities
- Decision letters sent to groups and communities
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Ongoing oversight, monitoring and compliance
- Compliance verification activities
- Reviews of reports on environmental monitoring and follow-up programs
- Reports to Commission on the status of ongoing monitoring and compliance throughout lifecycle
-
Indigenous participation opportunities
- Continue long-term relationships with public and communities
Figure 2 - Text version
Public participation
CNSC provides regular updates throughout the environmental assessment process on public registry and through mailing lists
-
Environmental assessment determination
- Early engagement
- Proponent submits project description
- CNSC accepts project description or
- Requests more information
- CNSC determines whether an environmental assessment is required
- CNSC issues notice of commencement
-
Public participation opportunity
- Early notification of proposed project via engagement with public and communities
-
Project description
- Notice of commencement
- Comment period on project description (formal participation opportunity)
- Response to comments
- Commission decision on environmental assessment scope
- Participant Funding Program available
-
Public participation opportunity
- Comment on project description
-
Environmental impact statement technical review
- Proponent submits environmental impact statement
- Technical review of draft environmental impact statement
- Comment period on draft environmental impact statement (formal participation opportunity)
-
Public participation opportunities
- Comment on draft environmental impact statement
- Informal activities (open houses, workshops, seminars)
-
Environmental assessment report
- CNSC drafts environmental assessment report
- Environmental assessment report provides recommendations to the Commission
- Draft environmental assessment report posted for public review and comment via interventions in the Commission public hearing (formal participation opportunity)
-
Public participation opportunities
- Review draft environmental assessment report
- Additional meetings and workshops, as required
- Summary of consultation activities including concerns raised, proposed mitigation, accommodation measures
-
Hearing and decision
- Commission hearing on environmental assessment report (formal participation opportunity)
- Oral and written interventions
- Commission publishes environmental assessment decision with detailed reasons
- Participation Funding Program available
-
Public participation opportunities
- Intervene in public hearing
- Raise issues with decision-maker
- Hearings may be held in communities
- Decision posted and shared
-
Ongoing oversight, monitoring and compliance
- Compliance verification activities
- Reviews of reports on environmental monitoring and follow-up programs
- Reports to Commission on the status of ongoing monitoring and compliance throughout lifecycle
-
Public participation opportunities
- Continue long-term relationships with public and communities
More information
If you or your community would like to know more about the CNSC’s work to protect people and the environment, you can contact us by:
Email: ea-ee@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
Phone: 1-800-668-5284
Fax: 613-995-5086
Mail:
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Environmental Assessment Division
280 Slater Street
P.O. Box 1046
Station B
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5S9
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