Notice of Study Completion - Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) for the Durham Street Bridge (Walkerton, Bruce County)

THE PROJECT: The County of Bruce initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) process in February 2021 to address safety concerns associated with the Durham Street Bridge which spans the Saugeen River along Bruce Road 4 in the community of Walkerton, Ontario. Recent inspections of the structure had identified deterioration with several bridge components. Following consideration of various alternatives and significant input from members of the public, repair/rehabilitation of the crossing was selected as the preferred alternative. The required works can be completed using staged construction, which will allow a single lane of traffic to be maintained over the crossing during completion of the work.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS: The planning for this project initially followed the planning process established for Schedule ‘C’ activities under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) document. Schedule ‘C’ projects must complete all five phases of the Class EA. The purpose of the MCEA was to identify any potential environmental impacts associated with the proposal and to plan for appropriate mitigation of any impacts. The process included consultation with the public, stakeholders, Aboriginal communities, and review agencies. Following selection of the preferred alternative, it was determined that the proposed works were a Schedule B activity. The Environmental Report documenting the environmental assessment process conducted is available for public review on the project website at www.walkertonbridgestudy.ca. Hard copies can be made available upon request.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: For further information on this project, please contact the project engineers: B.M. Ross and Associates Ltd., 62 North Street, Goderich, Ontario, N7A 2T4. Telephone (519) 524-2641. Kelly Vader, Environmental Planner (e-mail: kvader@bmross.net). Interested persons may provide written comments to the project team by September 20, 2024. All comments and concerns should be sent directly to Kelly Vader at BMROSS or Ryan Errington, Engineering Manager, County of Bruce. Bruce County Transportation Department, 30 Park Street, P.O. Box 70, Walkerton, ON N0G 2V0. By phone: (519) 881-1291. By email: rerrington@brucecounty.on.ca

A request may be made to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for an order requiring a higher level of study or that conditions be imposed (e.g. require further studies), only because the requested order may prevent, mitigate, or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. Requests on other grounds will not be considered. Requests should include the requester’s contact information, full name, and what kind of order is being requested (a request for conditions or a request for an individual/comprehensive environmental assessment), how an order may prevent, mitigate, or remedy potential adverse impacts on Aboriginal and treaty rights, and any information in support of the statements in the request. The request should be sent in writing or by email to: Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks 777 Bay Street, 5th Floor Toronto ON M7A 2J3 minister.mecp@ontario.ca and Director, Environmental Assessment Branch Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks 135 St. Clair Ave. W, 1st Floor Toronto ON, M4V 1P5 EAB Director@ontario.ca.

Requests should also be copied to the County of Bruce by mail or by email. Please visit the ministry’s website for more information on requests for orders under Section 16 of the Environmental Assessment Act at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/class-environmental-assessments-part-ii-order.

All personal information included in your request is collected under the authority of section 30 of the Environmental Assessment Act and is collected and maintained for the purpose of creating a record that is available to the general public. As this information is collected for the purpose of a public record, the protection of personal information provided in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) does not apply (s.37). Personal information you submit will become part of a public record that is available to the general public unless you request that your personal information remain confidential.

Ryan Errington, Engineering Manager, County of Bruce
This Notice issued August 21, 2024