Declaration order

Having received a request from the Ministry of Natural Resources that, pursuant to section 3.2 of the Environmental Assessment Act (Act, the Act be declared not to apply to an undertaking, namely:

the construction of an Ecology Learning Centre in Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park

Having been advised by the Ministry of Natural Resources that if the undertaking is subject to the application of the Act, the following injury, damage or interference with the persons and property indicated will occur:

  1. The Ministry of Natural Resources, and the public will be damaged by the unnecessary delay and expense of having to prepare and submit an Environmental Assessment for an activity which is expected to have minimal negative impacts on the environment.
  2. The public will be damaged by the loss of anticipated benefits associated with learning and outdoor recreation opportunities, and associated tourism benefits derived from the construction of the Ecology Learning Centre.

Having weighed such injury, damage, or interference against the betterment of the people of the whole or any part of Ontario by the protection, conservation, and wise management in Ontario of the environment which would result from the undertaking being subject to the application of the Act;

The undersigned is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to declare and declares that the undertaking is not subject to the application of Section 5 of the Act for the following reasons:

  1. The Public has had several opportunities to review and provide input to the planning for an Ecology Learning Centre, including the 1997/98 review of a proposed amendment to the 1990 Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park Management Plan, as well as posting on the Environmental Bill of Rights registry. No concerns were expressed opposing approval of the Centre;
  2. The Ecology Learning Centre will provide important learning, recreation, and tourism benefits;
  3. The Ministry of Natural Resources will ensure that construction of the Centre occurs in a manner consistent with the Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park Management Plan and amendments to minimize any potential negative impacts on the environment;
  4. The Ministry of Natural Resources will follow Ontario Parks approved site planning guidelines and processes to identify and minimize any potential negative impacts on the environment;
  5. The purpose of this Order is to exempt a capital construction project costing in excess of $2,000,000 which, except for the cost, would otherwise be exempt by Ontario Regulation 83/94.

This Declaration Order is subject to the following conditions:

  1. Where any activity which under this order would be declared not subject to the Act, is being carried out as, or is part of, an undertaking for which an environmental assessment has been accepted and approval to proceed received, the activity shall be carried out in accordance with any terms and conditions in the approval to proceed as well as the conditions of this order.
  2. Where any activity which is the subject of this order, is being carried out as, or is part of, another undertaking which is the subject of a declaration or exemption order under the Act, the activity exempt under this order shall be carried out in accordance with any terms and conditions in the other declaration or exemption order, as well as the conditions in this order.
  3. The activities which are the subject of this order shall be carried out in accordance with the conditions of Exemption Order Ontario Regulation 83/94 other than conditions 1(b) and 16
  4. The Ministry of Natural Resources will ensure that studies are conducted as necessary to determine the preferred method of providing sewer and water services to the proposed facility.
  5. The Ministry of Natural Resources will require that the design and construction of the Centre complies with provincial park standards prior to the commencement of construction.
  6. Copies of the project plans related to sewage and water, disposal of wastes, and design and construction drawings for the Centre will be available for public inspection on request at the Samuel de Champlain Park office in advance of and during construction.
  7. This Declaration Order expires December 31, 1999, unless the construction of the Centre commences prior to that date, in which event it shall continue to apply until the project is completed.
  8. The Ministry of Natural Resources is required to inform the Director of the Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch, in writing, at the conclusion of the construction of the Centre.

Original signed by:
Minister of the Environment

Approved by O.C. number: 2238/98
Environmental assessment file number: NR-AA-04