The Environmental Assessment (EA) is proposed to be undertaken to address the Town’s future residual waste management needs for a 40-year planning period. The Town will generate an estimated 330,000 tonnes of residual waste requiring disposal during this period.

The EA process is designed to examine potential alternatives to take care of this future demand. In other words, the planning process is designed to examine all alternatives that have the potential to satisfy the purpose of the project. Within the Draft Proposed Terms of Reference (ToR), the Town has identified potential options for the future management of the Town’s residual waste and then undertaken a preliminary review (i.e., screening) of the alternatives. The alternatives identified for this Waste Management Project include the following:

1. Do Nothing (This is intended to serve as a baseline against which alternatives can be compared)
2. Optimization of Capacity at the Town’s Existing Southampton Landfill Site
3. Establishment of a New Landfill Site within the Town
4. Alternative Waste Management Technologies (i.e., Incineration)
5. Third Party: Export of Waste

The ‘screening’ of ‘Alternative 3: Establish a New Landfill Site’ and ‘Alternative 4: Alternative Waste Management Technologies’ was described and assessed in two supporting documents completed to support the ToR. The screening reports are technical and are posted on this project website. The findings of these assessments are generally as follows:

• Alternative waste management technologies (i.e., incineration) are not feasible for the Town due to cost, operational complexities, and risks associated with agreements (i.e., partnerships) and approvals.
• While the preliminary desktop review identified several areas as locations that could potentially support a landfill at an alternate location, when the alternative to establish a new landfill is compared to landfill optimization, it is recommended that the continued use of the Town’s existing Southampton Landfill Site be recognized as the Town’s preferred landfill alternative (i.e., site location).

Based on the screening reports, it is being recommended that Alternative 3 and Alternative 4 be eliminated and not advanced into the next phase of the EA. This is referred to as a “focused” Environmental Assessment. Therefore, the ToR recommends that, in addition to the ‘Do Nothing’ alternative, alternatives to be carried forward into the EA be limited to ‘Alternative 2: Landfill Optimization’ and ‘Alternative 5: Third-Party Removal’.

With support both from the Town and ultimately from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), via authorization of the proposed limited range of alternatives in the Proposed ToR, the new landfill site alternative and/or alternative technologies (i.e., incineration) will not be further pursued. It is anticipated that the Proposed ToR will be submitted to the MECP in early 2025. The Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks may either approve the ToR, approve the ToR with amendments, or reject the ToR.

Preparation and Development of the Terms of Reference

The Environmental Assessment Act (EA Act) defines the process necessary to secure additional landfill capacity at the Town’s existing Southampton Landfill Site. Under the EA Act, in order to move the landfill optimization project forward, the project requires the completion of a Comprehensive Environmental Assessment (EA). This two-step planning process ensures the project scope and goals are clearly identified, and alternative options of addressing the problem and/or opportunity are considered.

The first step in the Environmental Assessment (EA) process is the preparation of a Terms of Reference (ToR). The ToR outlines the detailed workplan for how the EA will be prepared and what will be studied. An important part of this first step is the requirement to identify the project scope and to consider a range of alternatives. Once the ToR is approved by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), the Town can proceed to the second step of the process and carry out the Environmental Assessment.

The ToR is being developed with extensive community engagement and consultation with the Government Review Team and Indigenous communities. Community engagement includes open houses, public meetings, newspaper and social media postings, and the establishment of a project webpage. The steps involved in preparing the ToR are as follows.

Spring 2024: Notice of Commencement of ToR and Public Information Centre (PIC) No.1

The first step of the planning process, the Terms of Reference (ToR), was initiated in April 2024. The Preliminary Draft Proposed ToR and associated supporting documentation was made available for review by the public, the Government Review Team (i.e., agencies and ministries), and Indigenous Communities. In addition, a questionnaire was posted on the project website to help the Town understand public sentiment while reviewing the alternatives during the initial ToR stage of the EA process.

Fall 2024: Notice of Draft Proposed ToR and PIC No.2

Feedback received in association with the first comment period (i.e., Spring 2024) was incorporated into the Draft Proposed Terms of Reference and associated supporting documentation, which has been made available for review by the public, the Government Review Team, and Indigenous Communities. We ask that comments be provided by November 22, 2024. Following the review period, the reports will be updated to address comments received and will be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). The Minister may either approve the ToR, approve the ToR with amendments, or reject the ToR.

Next Steps: Notice of Submission of Proposed ToR and Government Review

Following the review period, the reports will be updated to address comments received. It is expected that the Proposed ToR, including all supporting documentation, will be brought forward to Council for approval in early 2025. Following approval by Council, a formal submission of the Proposed Terms of Reference will be made to the MECP. The Town will seek Ministry support via authorization of the proposed limited range of alternatives, to eliminate consideration for a new landfill site and/or alternative treatment technologies from the Environmental Assessment.

It is noted that following the issuance of the Notice of Submission of Proposed ToR, thirty days is given for ToR review by members of the public, the Government Review Team and Indigenous communities. Comments at this step of the process are to be made directly to the Project Officer (MECP- Environmental Approvals Branch).

Ministry Decision

It is anticipated that MECP review of the Proposed ToR may take up to 6 months to complete. The Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks may either approve the ToR, approve the ToR with amendments, or reject the ToR. The Town may proceed with carrying out the EA following MECP approval of the ToR.