Physical Activities Regulations
SCHEDULE(Section 2)Physical Activities
National Parks and Protected Areas
1 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment in a wildlife area, as defined in section 2 of the Wildlife Area Regulations, a migratory bird sanctuary, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations or a protected marine area established under subsection 4.1(1) of the Canada Wildlife Act, of one of the following:
(a) a new electrical generating facility or electrical transmission line;
(b) a new structure for the diversion of water, including a new dam, dyke or reservoir;
(c) a new oil or gas facility or oil and gas pipeline;
(d) a new mine or mill;
(e) a new industrial facility;
(f) a new canal or lock;
(g) a new marine terminal;
(h) a new railway line;
(i) a new public road or parkway that is intended for the passage of motor vehicles;
(j) a new aerodrome or runway;
(k) a new waste management facility;
(l) a new aquaculture facility.
2 The construction, in a national marine conservation area, of a new physical work if the construction is contrary to the management plan for that area tabled in or laid before each House of Parliament under subsection 9(1) of the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act or subsection 9(1) of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park Act.
3 The disposal at sea, in a national marine conservation area, of waste or other matter as defined in subsection 122(1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 at a new disposal at sea site or a new part of an existing disposal at sea site.
4 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment, in a national marine conservation area, of a new pipeline for carrying a substance other than water.
5 The construction, on land that is managed or administered by the Parks Canada Agency, of a new physical work, if the construction is
(a) contrary to the management plan for that land that is tabled in each House of Parliament under subsection 32(1) of the Parks Canada Agency Act, subsection 11(1) of the Canada National Parks Act, or subsection 9(1) of the Rouge National Urban Park Act, or to a similar plan for the land that is approved by the Minister responsible for the Parks Canada Agency; or
(b) contrary to one of the following guidelines that is published by the Parks Canada Agency and that applies to that land:
(i) the Marmot Basin Ski Area Site Guidelines for Development and Use dated February 2008,
(ii) the Mt. Norquay Ski Area Site Guidelines for Development and Use dated July 2011,
(iii) the Lake Louise Ski Area Site Guidelines for Development and Use dated July 2015,
(iv) the Site Guidelines for Development and Use, Sunshine Village Ski Resort dated December 14, 2018.
6 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment, in a national park, of a new dam or structure for the diversion of water for the purpose of supplying water outside the park, of recreation or of electrical power generation.
7 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment, in a national park, of a structure that is required to implement a new agreement made under paragraph 10(2)(b) of the Canada National Parks Act.
8 The expansion, in a national park, of the water supply capacity of a structure that was constructed to implement an agreement made under paragraph 10(2)(b) of the Canada National Parks Act by more than 20%.
9 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment, in Yoho National Park of Canada, Kootenay National Park of Canada, Banff National Park of Canada or Jasper National Park of Canada, outside of a commercial ski area referred to in Schedule 5 to the Canada National Parks Act and of a park community, of a new commercial development that requires the disposal or occupation of land that was not previously disposed of for the purpose of a commercial development with the same or a similar purpose or occupied by such a commercial development, if that new commercial development has not been subject to strategic environmental assessment and public review as part of the park management plan tabled in each House of Parliament under subsection 11(1) of the Canada National Parks Act.
10 The expansion, in Yoho National Park of Canada, Kootenay National Park of Canada, Banff National Park of Canada or Jasper National Park of Canada, outside of a commercial ski area referred to in Schedule 5 to the Canada National Parks Act and of a park community, of an existing commercial development that requires the disposal or occupation of land that was not previously disposed of for the purpose of a commercial development with the same or a similar purpose or occupied by such a commercial development, if that existing commercial development has not been subject to strategic environmental assessment and public review as part of a park management plan tabled in each House of Parliament under subsection 11(1) of the Canada National Parks Act.
11 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment, in a national park, of either of the following:
(a) a new railway line;
(b) a new public road or parkway that is intended for the passage of motor vehicles.
Defence
12 The low-level flying of military fixed-wing jet aircraft, for more than 150 days in a calendar year, as part of a training program, at an altitude below 330 m above ground level on a route or in an area that was not established before October 7, 1994 by or under the authority of the Minister of National Defence or the Chief of the Defence Staff as a route or area set aside for low-level flying training.
13 The construction and operation of a new military base or military station that is established for more than 12 consecutive months.
14 The expansion of an existing military base or military station, if the expansion would result in an increase in the area of the military base or military station of 50% or more.
15 The decommissioning and abandonment of an existing military base or military station.
16 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment, outside an existing military base, of a new military training area, range or test establishment for training or weapons testing that is established for more than 12 consecutive months.
17 The testing of military weapons for more than five days in a calendar year in an area other than a training area, range or test establishment established before October 7, 1994 by or under the authority of the Minister of National Defence for the testing of weapons.
Mines and Metal Mills
18 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of one of the following:
(a) a new coal mine with a coal production capacity of 5 000 t/day or more;
(b) a new diamond mine with an ore production capacity of 5 000 t/day or more;
(c) a new metal mine, other than a rare earth element mine, placer mine or uranium mine, with an ore production capacity of 5 000 t/day or more;
(d) a new metal mill, other than a uranium mill, with an ore input capacity of 5 000 t/day or more;
(e) a new rare earth element mine with an ore production capacity of 2 500 t/day or more;
(f) a new stone quarry or sand or gravel pit with a production capacity of 3 500 000 t/year or more.
19 The expansion of an existing mine, mill, quarry or sand or gravel pit in one of the following circumstances:
(a) in the case of an existing coal mine, if the expansion would result in an increase in the area of mining operations of 50% or more and the total coal production capacity would be 5 000 t/day or more after the expansion;
(b) in the case of an existing diamond mine if the expansion would result in an increase in the area of mining operations of 50% or more and the total ore production capacity would be 5 000 t/day or more after the expansion;
(c) in the case of an existing metal mine, other than a rare earth element mine, placer mine or uranium mine, if the expansion would result in an increase in the area of mining operations of 50% or more and the total ore production capacity would be 5 000 t/day or more after the expansion;
(d) in the case of an existing metal mill, other than a uranium mill, if the expansion would result in an increase in the area of mining operations of 50% or more and the total ore input capacity would be 5 000 t/day or more after the expansion;
(e) in the case of an existing rare earth element mine if the expansion would result in an increase in the area of mining operations of 50% or more and the total ore production capacity would be 2 500 t/day or more after the expansion;
(f) in the case of an existing stone quarry or sand or gravel pit if the expansion would result in an increase in the area of mining operations of 50% or more and the total production capacity would be 3 500 000 t/year or more after the expansion.
20 The construction, operation and decommissioning, outside the licensed boundaries of an existing uranium mine, of a new uranium mine with an ore production capacity of 2 500 t/day or more.
21 The expansion of an existing uranium mine, if the expansion would result in an increase in the area of mining operations of 50% or more and the total ore production capacity would be 2500 t/day or more after the expansion.
22 The construction, operation and decommissioning, outside the licensed boundaries of an existing uranium mill, of a new uranium mill with an ore input capacity of 2 500 t/day or more.
23 The expansion of an existing uranium mill, if the expansion would result in an increase in the area of mining operations of 50% or more and the total ore input capacity would be 2 500 t/day or more after the expansion.
24 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new oil sands mine with a bitumen production capacity of 10 000 m3/day or more.
25 The expansion of an existing oil sands mine, if the expansion would result in an increase in the area of mining operations of 50% or more and the total bitumen production capacity would be 10 000 m3/day or more after the expansion.
Nuclear Facilities, Including Certain Storage and Long-term Management or Disposal Facilities
26 The construction, operation and decommissioning of one of the following:
(a) a new facility for the processing, reprocessing or separation of isotopes of uranium, thorium, or plutonium, with a production capacity of 100 t/year or more;
(b) a new facility for the manufacture of a product derived from uranium, thorium or plutonium, with a production capacity of 100 t/year or more;
(c) a new facility for the processing or use, in a quantity greater than 1015 Bq per calendar year, of nuclear substances with a half-life greater than one year, other than uranium, thorium or plutonium.
27 The site preparation for, and the construction, operation and decommissioning of, one or more new nuclear fission or fusion reactors if
(a) that activity is located within the licensed boundaries of an existing Class IA nuclear facility and the new reactors have a combined thermal capacity of more than 900 MWth; or
(b) that activity is not located within the licensed boundaries of an existing Class IA nuclear facility and the new reactors have a combined thermal capacity of more than 200 MWth.
28 The construction and operation of either of the following:
(a) a new facility for the storage of irradiated nuclear fuel or nuclear waste, outside the licensed boundaries of an existing nuclear facility, as defined in section 2 of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, other than a facility for the on-site storage of irradiated nuclear fuel or nuclear waste associated with one or more new fission or fusion reactors that have a combined thermal capacity of less than 200 MWth;
(b) a new facility for the long-term management or disposal of irradiated nuclear fuel or nuclear waste.
29 The expansion of an existing facility for the long-term management or disposal of irradiated nuclear fuel or nuclear waste, if the expansion would result in an increase in the area of the facility, at ground level, of 50% or more.
Oil, Gas and Other Fossil Fuels
30 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new fossil fuel-fired power generating facility with a production capacity of 200 MW or more.
31 The expansion of an existing fossil fuel-fired power generating facility, if the expansion would result in an increase in production capacity of 50% or more and a total production capacity of 200 MW or more.
32 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new in situ oil sands extraction facility that has a bitumen production capacity of 2 000 m3/day or more and that is
(a) not within a province in which provincial legislation is in force to limit the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by oil sands sites in the province; or
(b) within a province in which provincial legislation is in force to limit the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by oil sands sites in the province and that limit has been reached.
33 The expansion of an existing in situ oil sands extraction facility, if the expansion would result in an increase in bitumen production capacity of 50% or more and a total bitumen production capacity of 2 000 m3/day or more, if the facility is
(a) not within a province in which provincial legislation is in force to limit the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by oil sands sites in the province; or
(b) within a province in which provincial legislation is in force to limit the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by oil sands sites in the province and that limit has been reached.
34 The drilling, testing and abandonment, in an area set out in one or more exploration licences issued in accordance with the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act or the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act, of offshore exploratory wells in the first drilling program, as defined in subsection 1(1) of the Canada Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-315.
35 The construction, installation and operation of a new offshore floating or fixed platform, vessel or artificial island used for the production of oil or gas.
36 The decommissioning and abandonment of an existing offshore floating or fixed platform, vessel or artificial island used for the production of oil or gas that is proposed to be disposed of or abandoned offshore or converted on site to another role.
37 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of one of the following:
(a) a new oil refinery, including a heavy oil upgrader, with an input capacity of 10 000 m3/day or more;
(b) a new facility for the production of liquid petroleum products from coal with a production capacity of 2 000 m3/day or more;
(c) a new sour gas processing facility with a sulphur inlet capacity of 2 000 t/day or more;
(d) a new facility for the liquefaction, storage or regasification of liquefied natural gas, with a liquefied natural gas processing capacity of 3 000 t/day or more or a liquefied natural gas storage capacity of 136 000 m3 or more;
(e) a new petroleum storage facility with a storage capacity of 500 000 m3 or more;
(f) a new natural gas liquids storage facility with a storage capacity of 100 000 m3 or more.
38 The expansion of one of the following:
(a) an existing oil refinery, including a heavy oil upgrader, if the expansion would result in an increase in input capacity of 50% or more and a total input capacity of 10 000 m3/day or more;
(b) an existing facility for the production of liquid petroleum products from coal, if the expansion would result in an increase in production capacity of 50% or more and a total production capacity of 2 000 m3/day or more;
(c) an existing sour gas processing facility, if the expansion would result in an increase in sulphur inlet capacity of 50% or more and a total sulphur inlet capacity of 2 000 t/day or more;
(d) an existing facility for the liquefaction, storage or regasification of liquefied natural gas, if the expansion would result in an increase in the liquefied natural gas processing or storage capacity of 50% or more and a total liquefied natural gas processing capacity of 3 000 t/day or more or a total liquefied natural gas storage capacity of 136 000 m3 or more, as the case may be;
(e) an existing petroleum storage facility, if the expansion would result in an increase in storage capacity of 50% or more and a total storage capacity of 500 000 m3 or more;
(f) an existing natural gas liquids storage facility, if the expansion would result in an increase in storage capacity of 50% or more and a total storage capacity of 100 000 m3 or more.
Electrical Transmission Lines and Pipelines
39 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of either of the following:
(a) a new international electrical transmission line with a voltage of 345 kV or more that requires a total of 75 km or more of new right of way;
(b) a new interprovincial power line designated by an order under section 261 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act.
40 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new offshore oil and gas pipeline, other than a flowline as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations.
41 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new pipeline, as defined in section 2 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, other than an offshore pipeline, that requires a total of 75 km or more of new right of way.
Renewable Energy
42 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of one of the following:
(a) a new hydroelectric generating facility with a production capacity of 200 MW or more;
(b) a new in-stream tidal power generating facility with a production capacity of 15 MW or more;
(c) a new tidal power generating facility that is not an in-stream tidal power generating facility.
43 The expansion of one of the following:
(a) an existing hydroelectric generating facility if the expansion would result in an increase in production capacity of 50% or more and a total production capacity of 200 MW or more;
(b) an existing in-stream tidal power generating facility, if the expansion would result in an increase in production capacity of 50% or more and a total production capacity of 15 MW or more;
(c) an existing tidal power generating facility that is not an in-stream tidal power generating facility, if the expansion would result in an increase in production capacity of 50% or more.
44 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment in an offshore area or in boundary water of a new wind power generating facility that has 10 or more wind turbines.
45 The expansion in an offshore area or in boundary water of an existing wind power generating facility, if the expansion would result in an increase in production capacity of 50% or more and a total number of wind turbines of 10 or more.
Transport
46 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of one of the following:
(a) a new aerodrome with a runway length of 1 000 m or more;
(b) a new aerodrome that is capable of serving aircraft of Aircraft Group Number IIIA or higher;
(c) a new runway at an existing aerodrome with a length of 1 000 m or more.
47 The operation of an existing runway
(a) that was not capable of serving aircraft of Aircraft Group Number IIIA and becomes capable of serving aircraft of Aircraft Group Number IIIA or higher; or
(b) that was capable of serving aircraft of an Aircraft Group Number IIIA or higher and becomes capable of serving aircraft of any higher Aircraft Group Number.
48 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of either of the following:
(a) a new international or interprovincial bridge or tunnel;
(b) a new bridge over the St. Lawrence Seaway.
49 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of either of the following:
(a) a new canal;
(b) a new lock or associated structure that controls water levels in navigable water.
50 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new permanent causeway with a continuous length of 400 m or more through navigable water.
51 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new all-season public highway that requires a total of 75 km or more of new right of way.
52 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new marine terminal designed to handle ships larger than 25 000 DWT.
53 The expansion of an existing marine terminal, if the expansion requires the construction of a new berth designed to handle ships larger than 25 000 DWT and, if the berth is not a permanent structure in the water, the construction of a new permanent structure in the water.
54 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of either of the following:
(a) a new railway line that is capable of carrying freight or of carrying passengers between cities and requires a total of 50 km or more of new right of way;
(b) a new railway yard with a total area of 50 ha or more.
55 The expansion of an existing railway yard, if the expansion would result in an increase of its total area by 50% or more and a total area of 50 ha or more.
Hazardous Waste
56 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new facility that is not more than 500 m from a natural water body and is used exclusively for the treatment, incineration, disposal or recycling of hazardous waste.
57 The expansion of an existing facility that is not more than 500 m from a natural water body and is used exclusively for the treatment, incineration, disposal or recycling of hazardous waste, if the expansion would result in an increase in hazardous waste input capacity of 50% or more.
Water Projects
58 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new dam or dyke on a natural water body, if the new dam or dyke would result in the creation of a reservoir with a surface area that would exceed the annual mean surface area of the natural water body by 1 500 ha or more.
59 The expansion of an existing dam or dyke on a natural water body, if the expansion would result in an increase in the surface area of the existing reservoir of 50% or more and an increase of 1 500 ha or more in the annual mean surface area of that reservoir.
60 The construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of a new structure for the diversion of 10 000 000 m3/year or more of water from a natural water body into another natural water body.
61 The expansion of an existing structure for the diversion of water from a natural water body into another natural water body, if the expansion would result in an increase in diversion capacity of 50% or more and a total diversion capacity of 10 000 000 m3/year or more.
- SOR/2023-60, s. 1(F)
- Date modified: