International and Individual State Environmental Impact Analysis Programs - Environmental Impact Analysis: Process and Methods - page 315

Is there any
involvement of a
federal authority?

Act does not apply
and/or
no environmental
assessment
required

No

Is the project on the
exclusion list or under the
Emergencies Act?

Yes Yes

Is the activity on the inclusion
list?

Does a federal authority provide
financial assistance?

No No

Is the project proposed by
a federal authority?

Is there a trigger?

Yes

Are there federal authority lands
involved?

Is the project on the
comprehensive study list?

Are there federal approvals
under the law list regulations?

No Yes

Prepare a screening or other
form of environmental
assessment

Prepare a comprehensive
study

Referred to mediation
or review panel

FIGURE 8.1
A schematic diagram summarizing the process to determine whether the Canadian Environmental
Assessment Act applies.

TABLE 8.1
Levels of Environmental Analysis for Canada and the United States
Canadian Environmental
Assessment Act

U.S. National Environmental Policy Act

Exclusion List or Emergencies Act Categorical exclusion (see Section 3.6)

Screening and class screening Environmental Assessment (see Section 3.1.4)

Comprehensive study Environmental Impact Statement (see Section 3.1.3)

Also similar to NEPA, Canadian regulations and common practice
encourage coordination of federal and provincial environmental require-
ments. There are a number of federal-provincial/territorial EA cooperation
agreements, federal-aboriginal agreements, and even federal-international
agreements. These agreements set the framework for the cooperation and
coordination between the various levels of government within that province
or territory. These agreements can be found at: http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/
default.asp?lang=En&n=CA03020B-1#fp. In both countries, the processes can