CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Schedules help identify the type of Class EA that will need to be conducted before a project can be implemented. Depending on the nature of a project, a schedule will help outline the level of activities and expectations on a proposed project.

Class EA Schedules are as follows:

Schedule A: Pre-approved activities

Schedule “A” activities are pre-approved. These activities generally include normal or emergency operational and maintenance activities where the environmental effects are usually minimal and, therefore, these projects are pre-approved.

Examples include:

• Maintenance and operational activities such as snow plowing or roadside ditch cleaning

• Bike lane and sidewalk installations

• Adding traffic control signals

• Emergency improvements such as emergency road repairs…

• Repairing water main breaks

• Cleaning sanitary sewers

Schedule A+: Pre-approved activities

Introduced in 2007 and similar to Schedule “A”, Schedule “A+” activities are pre-approved; however, the public is to be advised prior to project implementation in a manner that is appropriate.

Examples include: 

• Re-designation of existing lanes

• Minor road improvements such as road resurfacing 

• Addition of turning lanes at intersections 

• Emergency improvements such as emergency culvert repairs

• Corridor reconstruction with no change in the number of lanes

• Installation of sewers within an existing road allowance 

• Refurbishing a water or wastewater facility

Schedule B: Activities subject to the screening process

This includes improvements and minor expansions to existing facilities where there is the potential for some unfavourable environmental impacts. The municipality is required to undertake a screening process in consultation with those directly affected and relevant review agencies.

Examples include: 

• Minor road improvements (such as…) road improvements with a cost under $2.4M or an expansion
• Road intersection improvements such as traffic safety projects with a cost of over $2.4M  
• Neighbourhood improvements
• Minor modifications to existing facilities such as initial stockpiling of de-icing material at existing service facilities Increasing the depth of a municipal well
• Retiring a water pollution control plant

Schedule C – Proceed through the EA planning process

Generally, this includes the construction of new facilities and major expansions to existing facilities with significant environmental effects; these projects proceed through a five-phased EA planning process. In a Schedule C project, information and findings must be presented in an Environmental Study Report (ESR), which must be made available for review by the public and regulatory review agencies.

Examples include: 

• New facilities or infrastructure
• Major modifications to existing facilities such as bridge widening 
• Significant road widening and realignment
• Expanding an existing water pollution control plant beyond its rated capacity

Public consultation is a vital part of the EA process. York Region strives to go beyond the minimum consultation requirement in the Class EA process by working with the public and stakeholders through advertisement, correspondence, Public Consultation Centres (PCCs), commonly called Open Houses, as well as consulting directly with local municipal councils, review agencies, interest groups, Indigenous communities and property and business owners.

We encourage you to contact the project team directly if you wish to be placed on the mailing list for updates on specific projects. The Class Environmental Assessment Study web page also lists the current and completed road, water and wastewater EA studies conducted within York Region. An online feedback form is available on each study page, which can be filled out during the EA study.

The duration of an EA depends on the schedules, type of projects, the potential impacts and the degree of consultation required. Typically, a Schedule “C” EA takes up to 18 to 24 months or more.

You can request to be placed on the project mailing list at any point during a Class EA Study by contacting:

York Region Transportation, Public Works
Phone: 1-877-464-9675 ext. 75000 
TTY: 1-866-512-6228 
Email: @email

All EA studies are posted in local newspapers, online at york.ca and mailed to property owners affected by the Study. We also encourage you to attend our Public Consultation Centres (commonly called Open Houses) to provide your input on our studies.

We encourage you to check the study web page periodically for project updates and public consultation opportunities. Notices are mailed to those residing in the study area, property owners and stakeholders on the mailing list. If you have any project-related inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact: 

York Region Transportation, Public Works
Phone: 1-877-464-9675 ext. 75000 
TTY: 1-866-512-6228 
Email: @email

Input from the public, review agencies and stakeholders will be examined and considered throughout the EA process. Comments will be evaluated along with other criteria, such as the needs, opportunities, environmental impacts, costs, road operations, technical standards and social impacts.

With the exception of any personal information, all comments received during the EA will be documented and included as part of the EA Study. 

After an EA has been approved, the project will proceed to the implementation phase, which includes the detailed design and construction phases of the project.

EA Process flow chart