Minister Brown announced today that the Environmental Impact Assessment guidelines have been amended to include three new requirements:

• Any proposed wind turbine project must include an approved power transmission corridor. Projects that don’t include a corridor will not be considered for an EIA approval.

• EIA review will be required for the construction of transmission lines with a voltage of 69 kilovolts or greater, and for major maintenance work on these lines. “Distribution” lines – those under 69 kilovolts – will not require an Environmental Impact Assessment.

• Public notification requirements will be amended so that Environmental Impact Assessment eligible projects must be advertised publicly for six consecutive days. Current guidelines call for at least one day of advertising, though several days of advertising have normally been required from proponents.

“These changes expand the requirement for public notification and input and make sure that the full impact of wind power projects and power transmission is taken into account when they are proposed. We are making sure government and regulators have a clear picture of these projects as they come up for review,” said Minister Brown.