On August 5, 2011, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) released the Natural Heritage Assessment Guide for Renewable Energy Projects under the Environmental Protection Act. The guide provides evaluation criteria and procedural guidance for completing natural heritage assessments (NHAs) and preparing environmental impact studies under O. Reg. 359/09. Proponents of most commercial-scale renewable energy projects must complete NHAs and, in some cases, environmental impact studies in preparing their applications for renewable energy approvals.
The guide, among other things, clarifies the required methodology for delineating significant wildlife habitats.
For further information, please see the Environmental Registry posting at this link and the guide at this link .
— Excerpted with permission from Torys LLP bulletin on Environmental, Health and Safety, September 2011.