Environmental Impact Assessment

Management Planning

Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan

Parks Canada is responsible for assessing and mitigating the impact of its actions on ecosystems and cultural resources. The “Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals” prepared by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, requires an environmental assessment of all plans and policies submitted to Cabinet or to a minister for approval, including management plans for national historic sites and national parks. Accordingly, a strategic environmental assessment of the goals, programs, guidelines and projects outlined in this management plan was carried out. The objectives of the environmental assessment were:

• To ensure that the strategic directions, objectives, and specific proposals contained within the plan respect and support the commemorative integrity goals and objectives for the national historic site;
• To ensure that the plan adequately addresses the multiple stressors and major concerns threatening the cultural resources at the national historic site;
• To assess the implications of proposals included in the plan to ensure that they enhance positive effects on cultural and natural resources and avoid or mitigate potentially negative effects; and
• To identify the implications of any potential trade-offs of commemorative values against proposed human use enhancements.

The assessment included evaluation of cumulative effects on cultural and natural resources from all proposals. It also considered the full range of potential effects on the cultural and natural resources of the national historic sites, both from ongoing operations and proposed projects.

Relevant federal environmental policies, including those of Parks Canada, were considered in a policy review. The proposed strategic directions outlined in the management plan are consistent with these policies. Implementation of the management direction and the specific actions that are proposed should result in improved commemorative integrity at Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site of Canada.

The challenges facing Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site of Canada are recognized in the direction and initiatives outlined in the plan. Opportunities for public review during the planning process were provided in 2003. Public views and comments, including concerns regarding cultural resources, are reflected in the plan.

The plan proposes several management actions that could result in negative effects on cultural and natural resources. It is expected, however, that these effects can be mitigated once they are examined more closely during project-specific environmental assessments.

The following initiatives will be subject to project-specific environmental assessments:

• Possible expansion of the building (contingent on funding from other parties);
• Installation of new signage on the Trans-Canada Highway (105);
• Expansion of existing parking lot (if deemed inadequate); and
• Installation of permanent washroom facilities at the upper parking lot.

There were no changes made to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan as a result of the strategic environmental assessment.

The strategic direction and specific actions outlined in the management plan are not likely to have any significant adverse effects on cultural and/or natural resources. If the strategic direction is followed and the specific actions are carried out fully; the management plan will have a positive effect on the cultural resources and commemorative integrity of Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site and result in positive socio-economic benefits.