Environmental Assessment is a planning and decision-making tool used to provide sustainable development by protecting and conserving the environment.  It is an information gathering process used to identify and assess the potential environmental effects of undertakings prior to their development.  It is also a process that provides the public with an opportunity to contribute to decision making.

Any person or firm planning an undertaking that is listed in Schedule A [See Additional Information, below.]

For further information, see the Environmental Assessment Regulations and Part IV of the Environment Act.

Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change

Environmental Assessment Branch
Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change

Phone:  902-424-3230
Fax:  902-424-0501
e-mail:  ea@gov.ns.ca

There is no application form.  A registration document must be prepared and submitted to the Environmental Assessment Branch.  Please contact the Environmental Assessment Branch for further details.

Class I Registration: 50 calendar days
Class II Registration: 275 calendar days (approx.)
EA Report Approval: 275 calendar days (approx.)
Focus Report Approval: 108 calendar days
More information addendum: 50 calendar days
(all times are total government processing time as part of back and forth process with applicant)
Provided that all the items that must accompany the application have been received

This approval does not expire.

Category I Environmental Assessment Registration $16,747.95
Category II Environmental Assessment Registration $10,821.75
Category III Environmental Assessment Registration $6,183.85
Approval Transfer $643.55
Focus Report $6,441.50
Environmental Assessment Report $16,747.95
Additional Information 1/2 Registration Fee

*Refer to Information Bulletin on the Fee Schedule for Environmental Assessment for a description of the categories.

Depending on the project, the environmental assessment information will be referred to the following for review:

Nova Scotia Government Departments & Agencies:

• Aboriginal Affairs
• Agriculture
• Tourism Nova Scotia
• Energy
• Environment
• Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Health and Wellness
• Natural Resources
• Service Nova Scotia
• Communities, Culture and Heritage
• Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal

Federal Government Departments:

• Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
• Environment Canada
• Fisheries and Oceans, Canada
• Health Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• Transport Canada

Local Municipal Office

Aboriginal Groups

• Mi'Kmaq rights Initiative (KMK)
• Native Council of Nova Scotia
• The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq
• Union of Nova Scotia Indians

Non-Government Organizations

• Ecology Action Centre
• Clean Nova Scotia
• Nova Scotia Environmental Network

General Public

Please see Schedule "A" - Class I and Class II Undertakings of the Environmental Assessment Regulations.

Environment Act, Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1994-95, Chapter 1, Environmental Assessment Regulations