Is it acceptable to construct a winter or all-season crossing of a W2 wetland?
Part 1 – Definitions and Application of the Environmental Protection and Management Regulation (the Regulation) defines “operating area” as a seismic line, wellsite, facility area or pipeline corridor. Part 2 – Permit Considerations and Directions; Division 1 – Government’s Environmental objectives; Section 5 – Riparian Values states: The following objectives with respect to riparian values are prescribed for the purposes of the definition of “government’s environmental objectives” in section 1 (2) of the Act: (a) that operating areas not be located within any of the following: (iii) a wetland with a riparian class of W2, except to facilitate the crossing of the wetland A mitigation strategy is not required notwithstanding Sections 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 20, 23 and any other applicable sections of the Regulation. The Environmental Protection and Management Guidebook Section 5 provides further clarity with regards to wetland classification and crossing methods.
