Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act

Marginal note:Environmental audit

• 148 (1) The federal Minister shall have an environmental audit conducted at least once every five years by a person or body that is independent.

• Marginal note:Terms of reference

  (2) The federal Minister shall, after consulting the Gwich’in First Nation, the Sahtu First Nation and the territorial government, fix the terms of reference of an environmental audit, including the key components of the environment to be examined.

• Marginal note:Content of audit

  (3) An environmental audit shall include

  • (a) an evaluation of information, including information collected or analyzed under section 146, in order to determine trends in environmental quality, potential contributing factors to changes in the environment and the significance of those trends;

  • (b) a review of the effectiveness of methods used for carrying out the functions referred to in section 146;

  • (c) a review of the effectiveness of the regulation of uses of land and water and deposits of waste on the protection of the key components of the environment from significant adverse impact; and

  • (d) a review of the response to any recommendations of previous environmental audits.

• Marginal note:Report of audit

  (4) A report of the environmental audit, which may include recommendations, shall be prepared and submitted to the federal Minister, who shall make the report available to the public.

• Marginal note:Participation by first nations

  (5) The Gwich’in and Sahtu First Nations are entitled to participate in an environmental audit in the manner provided by the regulations.