Navigable waters protection update
A few months ago we posted about the Ministerial Order under the federal Navigable Waters Protection Act (“Are Canadian Waterways Subject to Public Rights”) where we noted that this seemed to be a step away from treating all waterways equally in Alberta and Canada. Recently Transport Canada (the responsible authority for the Act) created a Navigable Waters Protection “weblog” on the Transport Canada Website.
Transport Canada has recently (March and April 2010) identified changes that it may make to the Order before the Order is converted into regulations as follows, with drafting of the new regulation for publication in the Canada Gazette to follow:
Overview of Key Proposed Changes
Changes identified
- Additional Minor Works,
- Minor Changes to criteria of existing Minor Works,
- Clarification of existing wording,
- Analysis document available for review.
Development of a Maintenance and Repair Policy
- Exempt common repairs with a minor impact on navigation from the approval process under the NWPA.
- Additional Minor Works added (Mooring Buoys, Outfalls, Boat Ramps, Swim Areas),
- Temporary Works while the waterway is frozen or dry considered to be Minor Works,
- Significant changes to Pipeline Crossings as a minor work,
- Pipelines regulated under the National Energy Board Act may be a Minor Work,
- Trenchless methods permitted under more scenarios.
- Minor Navigable Waters can be up to 5 meters wide, but works on these waters cannot prevent access.
Project Manager: NWPA Regulatory Development
E-mail: Kenneth.Hahn@tc.gc.ca
Telephone: (613) 998-6442
Fax: (613) 998-0637
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