Proponents and Developers
Overview
This page contains important information for Proponents and Developers when preparing submissions to the EISC.
The Preliminary Screening Process:
The first step for a project submission is Preliminary Screening. The preliminary screening function is administrative and is required to determine whether a particular application is a development and whether it needs to go to a screening, or whether it is exempt from screening in accordance with the Exclusion List found in Appendix A of the EISC Guidelines.
Outcomes of Preliminary Screening: The EISC’s Preliminary Screening process can result in three (3) types of decisions:
- A determination that the project does not qualify as a development (Not Development “ND”)
- The project is exempt under the Exclusion List (Exempt)
- The project should go to screening and is therefore required to submit a Project Description (“PD”).
Please consult the EISC Guidelines, EISC’s Rules of Procedure, and Submission Instructions before submitting a project proposal to the EISC. If you have any further questions, please email the EISC Coordinator.
EISC Guidelines & Rules of Procedure:
The main resource for all EISC guidance can be found in the EISC Guidelines and Rules of Procedure . It is critical to review these documents before submitting a project proposal to the EISC.
EISC Registry: All submissions to the EISC happen through the online registry system.
The Environmental Impact Screening Process:
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The Screening Process:
If the EISC determines that the project must go to screening in the preliminary screening process, or the Proponent decides to go directly to screening, the Proponent must first submit a PD in accordance with Appendix C of the EISC Guidelines.
Once the EISC reviews and accepts the PD, the public commenting period begins. This is where community organizations and outside stakeholders can provide comments on the project.
Finally, once the commenting period ends the EISC will make a determination in one of their scheduled meetings and make a decision (See section 11(17) of the IFA for more information).
Click here for more information about the EISC’s Screening Process
Suggested Timelines:
To get through all the stages of the EISC’s screening process, it takes about 65 days between the issuance of a Notice of Proceeding and the scheduled EISC Board Meeting where a screening decision will be made. It is recommended that a PD is sent at least 3 months before the proposed start of the project.
Please note that individual projects vary, project timelines may be longer than 65 days resulting in a later than planned decision.
Submission Instructions
The following instructions will explain how to start a submission to the EISC.
1) To create a new submission, you will need to create an account on the EISC Registry. Once you have created an account, please send an email to eisc@jointsec.nt.ca noting that you have created a new account. The name and contact information for your organization should also be provided in this e-mail. The EISC staff will then finalize the set-up of your account.
2) Once the EISC staff has notified you that your account set up is finalized, you can then proceed with creating a new file submission. To create a new submission, simply log on to the EISC Registry and click on the Project Submission tab. You will see a red “Create New Submission” button on the top right hand corner of the page. Click this button to begin your submission.
3) To request that the EISC review your application to determine if your project meets the requirements for exemption, please check the box that states “please review the proposed project to determine whether it is subject to the environmental screening process, and/or whether it is exempt from screening” in question #3.
If you wish to proceed directly to Screening, please check the box that states “Please proceed directly to phase 2 of the environmental impact screening process. A completed Project Description as per the EISC Guidelines must also be included.”
It should be noted that the EISC does expect that consultation with communities be completed prior to submitting an application. It is recommended that you reach out to the applicable Hunters and Trappers Committee (HTCs) to provide them with the details of your project and ask if they have any comments or concerns. You can copy EISC staff (eisc@jointsec.nt.ca) on this e-mail. Please make sure to include proof of consultation in your application.
Click the following link for HTC contact information.
4) After completing all the necessary questions in the online submission, please click the “submit” button and EISC staff will be notified that a new file has been submitted onto the EISC Registry. You also have the option to save the document as a draft if you are not prepared to submit but want to save your progress.
5) Once you submit the application, the EISC staff will review the document to ensure that all the applicable information has been included prior to sending it to the EISC to render a decision on your file. The EISC aims to issue a decision on Preliminary Screening files within seven days of receiving a complete submission.