Re:    Notification of the Planning Phase and Request for Comments on the Initial Project Description on the Marten Falls Community Access Road Project in the Ring of Fire Area

On August 28, 2019, the Impact Assessment Act (IAA) came into force, repealing the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012). As of August 28, 2019, the Project Description that was accepted under CEAA 2012 is deemed to be the Initial Project Description under IAA as per the transitional provision in section 180 of IAA. The Initial Project Description is available on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry Internet site at https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80184.

To provide an opportunity for Indigenous groups, government bodies, other jurisdictions and the public to identify all relevant issues given the transition of the Project to IAA, the Agency is conducting a 20-day comment period from September 11, 2019, to October 1, 2019. All comments received during the comment period held from August 9, 2019, to August 29, 2019, will also be considered. All comments that will inform the Summary of Issues[1] with respect to the Project will be provided to the proponent as per subsection 14(1) of IAA.

Request for comments – Due October 1, 2019

All comments should be submitted via the Submit a Comment feature available on the Project’s Canadian Impact Assessment Registry page (Reference #80184 at https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/80184). Letters can be uploaded using this feature. Please submit your comments by no later than October 1, 2019.

Important note: All records produced, collected or received in relation to the impact assessment of the Project – unless prohibited under the Access to Information Act – will be considered public and will be posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry Internet site (Reference #80184). Should you wish to provide any comments or documents that contain confidential or sensitive information that you believe should be protected from release to the public, please contact the Agency before submitting the information. Information marked as confidential will not be accepted without prior contact made with the Agency.

Notice to members of the public

In addition to the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry, the Agency uses print, web, radio and social media to advertise public comment periods. We would appreciate your support in making others of relevance aware of the Agency’s comment period. If you routinely send notices to citizens, the Agency would appreciate it if you would use the same mechanism to notify citizens by posting or forwarding the following message:

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is holding a 20-day public comment period from September 11, 2019 to October 1, 2019, on the proposed Marten Falls Community Access Road Project, located near Marten Falls, Ontario. The Project could also become part of a future all-season road network connecting Marten Falls First Nation and the Ring of Fire area to the provincial highway system in Nakina. Information is available on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry and comments can be submitted via the submit a comment feature available on the Project’s registry page (Reference #80184 at https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/80184). Letters can be uploaded using this feature. If you have any difficulties submitting this way, contact the Agency using the “contacts” information provided on the Project’s Canadian Impact Assessment Registry page for assistance on or before October 1, 2019.

Information about impact assessment

The Agency has released a number of documents to support participation in assessment processes. Please visit the following links for more information:

• Act, Regulations and FAQs: https://www.canada.ca/en/impact-assessment-agency/corporate/acts-regulations/legislation-regulations.html

• Process Overview: https://www.canada.ca/en/impact-assessment-agency/services/policy-guidance/impact-assessment-process-overview.html

• Practitioners Guide: https://www.canada.ca/en/impact-assessment-agency/services/policy-guidance/practitioners-guide-impact-assessment-act.html

• Policy and Guidance: https://www.canada.ca/en/impact-assessment-agency/services/policy-guidance.html

Inclusion in the Agency’s distribution list

Please indicate if you would like to stop receiving communications from the Agency regarding the Project. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at 416-476-5476 or email: [email protected].  

Kind Regards,

Caitlin Cafaro

Crown Consultation Coordinator