The Environmental Impact Screening (EISC) and the Environmental Impact Review Board (EIRB) operate exclusively within the scope of the authority set out in the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. The EISC and the EIRB are part of a comprehensive co-management system established through the IFA where the Inuvialuit and the governments of Canada, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon share non-renewable and renewable resource management responsibilities in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.
Where the EISC determines that a development could have significant potential negative impact and is subject to further assessment and review, the Screening Committee will refer the development to the EIRB for a public review (unless the development is subject to a governmental development or environmental impact review process that, the opinion of the Screening Committee, adequately encompasses or will encompass the assessment and review function).
An EIRB public review is conducted by a panel of the Board, composed of the Chairperson and four of the members as stipulated by the IFA. The panel will determine:
- Whether a proposed development should proceed, and if so on what terms and conditions.
- Whether the development proposal should be subject to further review and, if so, the data or information required.
- What mitigative and remedial measures are required and which measures are necessary to minimize any negative impact on wildlife harvesting.
- The Developer’s potential liability (in relation to wildlife harvesting loss) is estimated and determined on a worst case scenario and based on a balance of factors.
While the EIRB will conduct the public review expeditiously as directed by the IFA, there are some steps in the process over which it has limited control.
Process Diagram
