....The Proponent should identify the planning context
for the environmental assessment of the Project. The
need for the environmental assessment under the Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act should be identified.
Policy and planning considerations, such as government
policies, regulations, and land use plans, that have
a bearing on the Project should be discussed. These
should include, but are not limited to:
a)
Red Hill Creek Watershed Action Plan; b) Hamilton
Harbour Remedial Action Plan (HHRAP); c) Great Lakes
Water Quality Agreement (1978; 1987 Protocol); d)
Canada-Ontario Agreement (COA) Respecting the Great
Lakes Basin Ecosystem, 1994; e) Vision 2020; f) Hamilton-Wentworth
Official Plan; g) Hamilton Air Quality Initiative;
h) Niagara Escarpment Plan; i) Ontario Wetlands Policy
Statement (1992); j) The World Biosphere Reserve designation
for the Niagara Escarpment
....The
Proponent should indicate how it has ensured meaningful
public involvement relating to the Project in the
recent past and/or as part of this review. In particular,
the Proponent should discuss how it has consulted
with residents and organizations that are likely to
be affected by the Project, and other parties who
may be interested in the Project. The Proponent should
describe the objectives of these consultations, the
methodology used, the results, and the ways in which
the Proponent intends to address the concerns identified.
The Panel is particularly interested in the Proponent's
response to public comments that were provided as
part of the 1996 Exemption Order.
....The Proponent should provide a detailed description
of the Project. The detailed description should include
a discussion of the following factors:
a)
an explanation of the need and purpose for the expressway
as it relates to the current traffic problems within
the Hamilton-Wentworth area;
....m) an analysis of alternatives to the expressway
including, but not limited to: alternative routes,
the "do nothing" scenario, management of transportation
demand using available infrastructure, improving existing
roadways, or alternative modes of transportation (including
urban transit) and non-highway based facilities to
a level of detail which is sufficient to allow the
Panel and the public to compare the Project with the
alternatives in terms of the economic costs and the
environmental, social and economic benefits;
n) an analysis of alternative means of carrying out
the expressway including, but not limited to, alternative
routings, configurations, and terminal points;
o)
identification of the potential adverse and beneficial
environmental effects of each feasible alternative
means to a level of detail which is sufficient to
allow the Panel and the public to compare the Project
with the alternatives in terms of the environmental,
social and economic costs and benefits;
p)
reasons for selection of the Project as the preferred
alternative, including the reasons for rejection of
other alternatives;
q) the extent to which the Project conforms to publicly
adopted regional, provincial and federal policies
and plans (as identified in section 1.4);
r) a demonstration of how the Proponent has applied
the precautionary principle in its Project design
and management; and
s)
a risk assessment of those conditions (such as lower
population or economic-growth) that might impair thefulfillment
of the Proponent's plans and commitments regarding
the avoidance or mitigation of adverse effects.
....The Proponent should describe .... local microclimate
and regional climate and meteorology;
....location and condition of existing contaminated
sites, including all known landfills and points of
sewage contamination within the study area;
....local
and regional ambient air quality, including air inversion
conditions, and noise levels. This should include
levels in locations directly adjacent to the Project.
The levels should also be characterized to include
both daily averages and high and low peaks. The levels
should also reflect hourly, daily and seasonal fluctuations;
....current
status and role of public transportation;
transportation
growth and traffic trends since circa. 1975, including
a discussion of how induced traffic has affected these
trends. Whenever possible, past traffic studies, including
information pertaining to past traffic forecasts and
accuracy of those predictions, should be used as a
basis for discussion;
up-to-date
transportation studies on current inter- and intra-regional
traffic patterns. Studies should include information
on traffic flows, average speeds, timing of traffic,
origins and destinations, accident rates, induced
traffic and vehicle mix; analysis of current major
transportation problems within the Region of Hamilton-Wentworth
(e.g. with respect to traffic congestion, safety issues,
etc.);
up-to-date
medium (to 2010) and long-term (to 2020) local and
regional transportation demand forecasts (including
probabilities and margins of error);
.... where appropriate, current land ownership and
property values in the Red Hill Creek valley and surrounding
areas should be addressed;
....
protected areas such as parks, sanctuaries or wetlands,
whether established or proposed; level and value of
recreational, educational, scenic and other social
uses of the Project area, (e.g. use of parks, golf
courses, football fields, trails, pedestrian paths,
and open spaces), especially by the young;
an analysis of trends and the current status of greenspace,
parks, and other recreational areas in East Hamilton
and the Region;
health
of the residents of the area most directly impacted
by the Project, particularly the young and the elderly....
