Detailed Impact Assessment (DIA)

About the DIA Process

The City of Kingston is committed to smart and livable 21st Century city underpinned with its long-term community and environmental sustainability strategies. It is imperative for the city to remain accountable to its citizens, and to the provincial and federal governments when planning, building and maintaining sustainable transportation infrastructure.

In 2013 the provincial Environmental Assessment regulatory requirements were completed and approved by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

The City has now posted the final report on environmental considerations for the Third Crossing project. The final ‘Detailed Impact Assessment’ (DIA) report is the conclusion of the City’s work with federal departments and agencies over the last year on the environmental components of the bridge.

For the Third Crossing Bridge Project, it was vital to satisfy the federal regulatory environmental requirements, along with the provincial and municipal requirements, in planning and implementing the new bridge both on land and in the Cataraqui River.

A DIA is the most intensive form required through the regulatory process and was the process selected to show the environmental considerations, impacts and proposed mitigation strategies for the project and recognizes:

• The considerations to ensure the bridge infrastructure is well designed to avoid or reduce adverse effects; and
• The planned strategies and mitigation efforts to protect the environment and to foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment.

Steps that were taken to satisfy the DIA Requirements for the Third Crossing Bridge Project

The DIA steps are summarized below, which includes the progress to date:

1. Development and submission of a project description – completed
2. Federal partners and agencies review of the project description – completed
3. Selection of the appropriate EIA pathway – completed 
4. Preparation of the DIA – Ongoing through 2018/2019 
5. Federal partners and agencies review of the DIA and determination of the significance of effects
6. Federal partners and agencies decisions on the effects and mitigation of the project
7. Project implementation and follow-up
8. Public review
9. DIA approval received

The Detailed Impact Assessment final report is available to read and download on the Third Crossing site under 'Detailed Impact Assessment'.

Background

In 2013 the provincial Environmental Assessment regulatory requirements for the Third Crossing across the Cataraqui River were completed and approved by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for the Third Crossing. A detailed impact analysis is also vital to satisfy the federal regulatory requirements, along with the provincial and municipal requirements, in planning and building the bridge both on land and in the Cataraqui River. Please find the 2013 Environmental Assessment with the other documents on the page.