Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act

Marginal note:Environmental assessment

• 141 (1) In relation to a development that is proposed to be carried out partly in the Mackenzie Valley and partly in a region of the Northwest Territories, Yukon or Nunavut adjacent to the Mackenzie Valley, or partly in a province, as the case may be, the Review Board shall to the extent possible coordinate its environmental assessment functions with the functions of any authority responsible for the examination of environmental effects of the development in that region or province.

• Marginal note:Agreement — cases other than Wekeezhii

  (2) If an environmental impact review is ordered under subparagraph 128(1)(b)(i), paragraph 128(1)(c) or 130(1)(a), subparagraph 130(1)(b)(ii) or paragraph 131(1)(b) in respect of a proposal for a development referred to in subsection (1), other than a development referred to in subsection (3), the Review Board may, with the approval of the federal Minister,

  • (a) enter into an agreement with the Minister of the Environment in accordance with subsection 40(1) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 to provide for an examination by a review panel, if that Act applies in respect of the development in the region or province referred to in subsection (1); and

  • (b) in any other case, enter into an agreement with an authority responsible for the examination of environmental effects of such developments in that region or province to provide for the coordination of their respective examinations of the environmental impact of the development or to provide for the examination of that impact by a joint panel established for that purpose.

• Marginal note:Time limit

  (2.1) An agreement made under paragraph (2)(a), or an agreement made under paragraph (2)(b) that provides for an examination by a joint panel, shall be entered into within three months after the day on which the Review Board is advised, as the case may be,

  • (a) of an order for an environmental impact review made under paragraph 130(1)(a), subparagraph 130(1)(b)(ii) or paragraph 131(1)(b); or

  • (b) in accordance with subsection 130(4.07), that the proposal has not been referred to the Minister of the Environment.

• Marginal note:Extension of time limit by federal Minister

  (2.2) The federal Minister may, at the request of the Review Board, extend the time limit referred to in subsection (2.1) by a maximum of two months to take into account circumstances that are specific to the proposal.

• Marginal note:Extension of time limit by Governor in Council

  (2.3) The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the federal Minister, further extend the time limit extended under subsection (2.2) any number of times.

• Marginal note:Excluded period

  (2.4) If the Review Board requires the person or body that proposes to carry out the development to provide information, or collect information or undertake a study with respect to the development, then the period that is taken by that person or body, in the Review Board’s opinion, to comply with the requirement is not included in the calculation of the time limit under subsection (2.1) or of its extension.

• Marginal note:Environmental impact review

  (2.5) Despite subsections (2.1) to (2.4), if, within the time limit set out in those subsections, an agreement has not been entered into under paragraph (2)(b), a panel of the Review Board shall conduct an environmental impact review of the development, but the review shall be limited to the part of the development to be carried out in the Mackenzie Valley.

• Marginal note:Agreement — Wekeezhii

  (3) If an environmental impact review is ordered under subparagraph 128(1)(b)(i), paragraph 128(1)(c) or 130(1)(a), subparagraph 130(1)(b)(ii) or paragraph 131(1)(b) in respect of a proposal for a development that, as determined by the Review Board, is to be carried out partly outside the Mackenzie Valley and either is to be carried out partly in Wekeezhii or might have an impact on the environment in Wekeezhii, the Review Board shall enter into an agreement for the purpose of jointly establishing a review panel and prescribing the manner of its examination of the impact on the environment of the development

  • (a) with an authority responsible for the examination of environmental effects of the part of the development that is to be carried out outside the Mackenzie Valley; or

  • (b) with the Minister of the Environment if that Minister is authorized under subsection 40(1) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 to enter into such an agreement.

• Marginal note:Where no agreement

  (4) Despite subsection (3), if, within the period fixed by the regulations, an agreement has not been entered into under that subsection, a panel of the Review Board shall conduct an environmental impact review of the development, but the review shall be limited to the part of the development to be carried out in the Mackenzie Valley.

• Marginal note:Report — review panel or joint panel

  (5) Within 15 months after the day on which a review panel or joint panel is established by an agreement referred to in subsection (2) or (3), the panel shall make a report of its examination to

  • (a) the federal Minister, who shall distribute it to every responsible minister;

  • (b) any designated regulatory agency from which a licence, permit or other authorization is required for the carrying out of the development;

  • (c) in the case of a joint panel referred to in paragraph (2)(b) or (3)(a), the minister of the federal, provincial or territorial government having jurisdiction in relation to examinations conducted by the authority referred to in that paragraph; and

  • (d) the Tlicho Government, if the development is to be carried out partly on Tlicho lands.

• Marginal note:Extension of time limit by federal Minister

  (5.1) The federal Minister may, at the request of the review panel or joint panel, extend the time limit referred to in subsection (5) by a maximum of two months to take into account circumstances that are specific to the proposal.

• Marginal note:Extension of time limit by Governor in Council

  (5.2) The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the federal Minister, further extend the time limit extended under subsection (5.1) any number of times.

• Marginal note:Excluded period

  (5.3) If the review panel or joint panel requires the person or body that proposes to carry out the development to provide information, or collect information or undertake a study with respect to the development, then the period that is taken by that person or body, in the panel’s opinion, to comply with the requirement is not included in the calculation of the time limit under subsection (5) or of its extension.

• Marginal note:Provisions applicable

  (6) An examination by a review panel or joint panel referred to in subsection (2) or (3) stands in lieu of an environmental impact review of the proposal referred to in that subsection and paragraphs 134(1)(b), (d) and (e) and sections 135 to 137.2 apply, with such modifications as may be required, in respect of the examination, except that a recommendation of a panel may not be referred back to the panel for further consideration.