Class environmental assessment

The studies are following the approved environmental planning process for a Group ‘B’ undertaking under the requirements of the Ministry of Transportation’s (MTO) Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways (2024). This includes evaluation and assessment of potential impacts of the project works on the study area and the development of mitigation measures to address environmental concerns.

The studies are being completed as Class EA's through Preliminary and Detail Design (PD and DD):
  • G.W.P. 5133-22-00 – Highway 11 Opasatika/Kapuskasing
  • G.W.P. 5134-22-00 – White River
  • G.W.P. 5135-22-00 – Wawa
  • G.W.P. 5136-22-00 – Highway 17/519 Dubreuilville
  • G.W.P. 5137-22-00 – Highway 101/129 Chapleau
  • G.W.P. 5012-25-00 – Sand Dam Road 
  • G.W.P. 5013-25-00 – Penfold

The Class EA process includes on-going opportunities for public involvement. Comments can be submitted to the project team by telephone or email.  All comments received, with the exception of personal information, will become part of the public record.
CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS
1. Preliminary Design Commencement
2. Perform Field and Inventory Investigations, Review Existing Conditions
3. Public Information Centre
4. Evaluate Alternatives and Identify a Recommended Plan
5. Finalize the Recommended Plan
6. Prepare and Submit TESR for a 30-day Comment Period
7. Preliminary Design Class EA Approved to Proceed to Detail Design
8. Detail Design
9. Refine Technically Preferred Alternative, Project Impacts, and Mitigation Measures
10. Finalize Detail Design
11. Proceed to Construction
Once stakeholder input has been received, the Recommended Plans will be finalized. At the completion of the Preliminary Design, a Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) will be prepared to document the Study for the project including:
  • A summary description of the project;
  • An outline of the Class EA process;
  • A description of significant transportation engineering and environmental issues and how they have been addressed;
  • A summary of stakeholder consultation; and
  • A detailed description of the Recommended Plan, including the proposed mitigation strategy.
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The TESR will be available for a 30-day public comment period. Upon completion of the 30-day public comment period and provided there are no outstanding concerns, the TESR will be available for a 30-day MECP review period. Once complete, the study will be considered to have met the requirements of the MTO's Class EA, and the project can proceed to Detail Design and construction. ​