Process, timeline and benefits

An Environmental Impact Assessment is a method used to identify and evaluate the potential environmental effects of a proposed project early in the planning stage. It helps to find ways to prevent a negative impact on the environment or reduce them to acceptable levels before they happen. 

The importance of the reviews:

• ensures that potential environmental, socioeconomic and human health impacts have been addressed
• enhances transparency of the provincial government’s decision-making process
• results in a more sustainable project design

Individuals, companies, or public sector agencies proposing a project listed in the EIA Regulation Clean Environment Act. Examples: waste disposal, mineral extraction, electric power generation facility, offshore drilling, causeways, bridges and highway projects.

Reviews take, on average, six months but can take as little as three months. Complex projects can take longer to review.

For those undertaking development, this will include:

• Screening: contact the Department of Environment and Local Government as early as possible to learn if the proposed work requires an EIA review.
• Registration: submit a registration document that describes the location, activity, existing environment, potential impact and proposed avoidance or mitigation measures for the proposed work.
• Review: the submitted registration document is reviewed by a Technical Review Committee.
• Engagement: proponents must undertake engagement activities (and registration documents are posted on the provincial government’s EIA website so the public, stakeholders and First Nations community members can review and provide feedback. From there, project-related feedback is addressed by the developer.
• Outcome: an EIA review has three possible outcomes:
  • the proposed project can proceed, subject to conditions
  • the proposed project requires a more in-depth Comprehensive EIA review (fewer than 1% of completed EIA reviews are subject to comprehensive reviews)
  • the proposed project is denied (fewer than 0.5% of completed EIA reviews are denied)

The Environmental Impact Assessment reviews identify potential harmful effects of development projects early on and suggest actions to avoid or reduce these effects to acceptable levels before they occur.

In New Brunswick, EIA reviews have protected: 

• human health by identifying water quality and quantity issues and identifying required treatment to ensure safe drinking water
• human safety by identifying potential areas at risk of flooding and incorporating mitigation measures
• wetlands through the redesign of developments to avoid or mitigate impacts
• road safety through traffic studies that identify needed lane, signage or traffic flow modifications
• habitat through the management of mine tailings
• fish populations by managing the introduction of non-native fish species to New Brunswick
• air quality through management of emissions from projects
• archaeological artifacts through the identification and avoidance of archaeologically significant areas

These types of reviews are now one of the most widely used environmental management tools in the world.

The Department of Environment and Local Government’s Environmental Impact Assessment registration process is being modernized through the development of an online portal. Before submitting registration documents, please contact the Environmental Impact Assessment Branch at [email protected] or 506-444-5382 for assistance.  

• Download the printable format of the guide to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process (PDF 858 KB)
• Download the printable format of the Benefits of Environmental Impact Assessment (4.6 MB)