The purposes of the Act were set out as follows: (1) to achieve sustainable development that conserves environmental quality by integrating environmental factors into planning and decision-making process, (2) exercise leadership within Canada and internationally, and (3) to provide access to information and to facilitating public participation.
The Regulations Designating Physical Activities document (RDPA) describes the projects covered by the new Act.
Under the previous Act, other federal departments were not allowed to issue licenses and permits until any required environmental assessment was complete.
The agency issued a project-specific comprehensive study guideline within 90 days of receipt of the project application.
The new Act decreases initial input from biologists and accelerates the movement of the project to the legal hearing stage.
The legal meaning of "directly affected" in this context refers generally to persons who own property within one kilometer of the project.
For projects that went to formal review, the participation was open to all parties with an interest that was "neither frivolous nor vexatious" Both the old and new Act require an assessment report within 12 months.
Although the new law allows some extensions, the effect of a review panel failing to hear all testimony within the required time is that the Minister must reject the project application.
Under CEAA 2012, responsible authorities can be the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the National Energy Board or the Agency.
Federal departments and agencies with specific expertise are required to provide information and advice that support the conduct of environmental assessments by responsible authorities.
This also applies if the Governor in Council has decided the project's significant adverse environmental effects are justified in the circumstances.
Information with respect to environmental assessments conducted by the National Energy Board or Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission may be found on their websites.
Upon acceptance of a complete project description, the Agency has 45 calendar days, including a 20-day public comment period, to determine whether a federal environmental assessment is required.
The Minister of the Environment may refer a project to a review panel within 60 days of the notice of commencement of an environmental assessment.
This timeline starts when the proposed project is referred to a review panel and ends when the Minister of the Environment issues the environmental assessment decision statement.