ABSTRACT 7th International Symposium on Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management
TITLE:	Model Class Screening Reports for the Development of New Transmission Rights-of-Way on Indian Reserves Throughout Alberta; A Co-operative Development
AUTHOR(S):	Paul McLauchlin - paulmc@sorel.ca Sorel Environmental Sciences Ltd. Calgary, AB, Canada
Sorel Environmental Sciences in co-operation with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), and the Alberta Treaty Nations Environmental Secretariat (ATNES) were involved in the preparation of a CEAA supported model class environmental screening report (MCSR) for the development of new transmission rights-of-way on Indian Reserves throughout Alberta. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) was promulgated in January 1995 and requires that all projects under federal jurisdiction be screened pursuant to the Act. During development of the Act, it was recognized that there was a possibility for a large number of projects that triggered CEAA to be relatively similar in nature or that may result in a predictable and limited range of environmental effects that could usually be minimized or mitigated. The primary objectives of class screening are to: Streamline the screening process by focussing on the issues that are typically associated with the subject class of projects; Streamline the application of the Act by recognizing the local and predictable nature of these projects and their environmental effects; and Streamline the review and decision/approval process for these minor projects. Our presentation will highlight how the application of the MCSR for Transmission Rights-of-Way has allowed for the development of an effective environmental management and mitigation tool on First Nations and Federal Lands. The best management practices and goodwill activities that had developed out of this program have lead to a co-operative relationship among First Nations and proponents that has lead to successfully managed Transmission Right-of-Way projects. Ref#: Abs-1-056