Environmental Impact Assessment
Management Planning
Castle Hill National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan
Federal initiatives submitted to Cabinet or to the Minister for consideration require a Strategic Environmental Assessment, which determines their environmental impacts and identifies mitigation measures if a harmful impact is expected. Strategic environmental assessments of draft management plans provide an opportunity to determine the probable broad impacts of proposed programs, and assess the cumulative effects on the environment of multiple projects or activities. The Strategic Environmental Assessment also aids in the identification of other future environmental assessment requirements under theAmended Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) 2003. The environmental assessment was conducted near the final draft stage of the management plan by a Parks Canada resource conservation specialist in accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals.
TheStrategic Environmental Assessment of Castle Hill National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan (2006) found that the plan is “fully consistent with federal policy and legislation governing national historic sites administrated by Parks Canada. The Plan recognizes Parks Canada’s commitment to identifying, protecting and presenting the cultural resources at Castle Hill and working with stakeholders and Mi’kmaq to protect the cultural heritage of the site.”
Most actions are expected to produce only positive effects at the site. However, a number of proposed actions were found to trigger a need for further detailed environmental assessment on implementation, such as removal of vegetation to reinstate viewplanes, relocation of the site’s cannons and undertaking a site assessment to identify species at risk. Actions that will likely trigger a strategic environmental assessment include monitoring programs for site resources.
The Environment Assessment proposed that an Environmental Management System Action Plan for the field unit be prepared to guide environmental gains and efficiencies. This action has been included in this plan.