Notice of Termination

• Although it would not be possible to confirm the specific regulatory requirements until the project reached a more advanced stage of design, Transport Canada (TC) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) participated in the environmental assessment on an anticipatory basis, so that federal and provincial environmental assessment processes could be more effectively coordinated.
• On July 6, 2012, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) came into force, replacing the former CEA Act. Changes in this legislation resulted in the termination of most ongoing screening level assessments. However, the Minister of the Environment designated the Bala North Dam Waterpower project under subsections 14(2) and 124(2) of CEAA 2012, thereby requiring that the screening of the project be continued and completed under the provisions of the former CEAA.
• Upon further review of the project DFO determined that the project would not require regulatory approval under the Fisheries Act, and therefore DFO would not be a responsible authority for the purposes of the environmental assessment. TC's Navigable Waters Protection Program determined that an approval would be required, but that the type of approval does not trigger the need for an environmental assessment under CEAA.

As a result the environmental assessment process has been terminated.