This notice is about a decision that was not subject to the normal consultation process. Learn more about the types of notices on the Environmental Registry of Ontario.
Why consultation isn't required
The ministry is posting this exception notice pursuant to section 30 (2) of the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) because the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is of the opinion, pursuant to section 30 (1) (a) of the EBR, that the environmentally significant aspects of this regulatory amendment that adds the former forest reserve to Mellon Lake Conservation Reserve (‘the amendment’) have been considered in an equivalent process of public participation under the EBR.
The Minister’s opinion that the environmentally significant aspects of the amendment have been considered in an equivalent public participation process is based on the following:
- Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy, released in July 1999, resulted from comprehensive land use planning with extensive public engagement from 1997 to 1999.
- In March 1999, a notice was posted on the Environmental Registry inviting comment on a proposed land use strategy which proposed numerous new protected areas for regulation, including a new conservation reserve in the Mellon Lake area.
Exception details
- Mellon Lake Conservation Reserve was recommended through the approved land use strategy and was regulated in 2001. Two adjacent parcels of Crown land intended as part of the conservation reserve had overlapping mining tenure and were designated as the Mellon Lake Forest Reserve. As per the Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy, when a mining claim or lease is retired through normal processes, the lands will be added to the conservation reserve.
- Subsequent boundary refinement for Mellon Lake included additional focused consultation with provincial interest and environmental groups and organizations, local Indigenous communities, stakeholders and interested public between September and October 2000. This additional consultation helped refine boundaries of Mellon Lake Conservation Reserve and the adjacent forest reserve.
- Mining tenure has lapsed and boundary regulation work to add the former forest reserve to Mellon Lake Conservation Reserve was undertaken through 2023.
- Local Indigenous communities were sent letters in May 2023 informing of the intent to add the forest reserve to the Mellon Lake Conservation Reserve.
- Public engagement for protection of the Mellon Lake area exceeded EBR public notice requirements.
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300 Water Street
4th Floor North
Peterborough,
ON
K9J 3C7
Canada
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Lisa Roach
300 Water Street
4th Floor North
Peterborough,
ON
K9J 3C7
Canada