Canadian minister sends CN yard proposal to environmental review panel

Leona Aglukkaq, minister of the environment for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Arctic Council, has referred an environmental assessment of a proposed CN yard to an independent review panel.

CN is proposing to build and operate a yard in Milton, Ontario, about 30 miles west of Toronto. The Class I plans to build the facility on 400 acres of CN-owned land. The project includes the construction of a six-track hub, realignment/extension of existing mainlines and about 15 miles of new track. The facility is projected to initially transfer about 350,000 containers at the start of operation, and then 450,000 containers at full operation.

Aglukkaq referred the proposal after considering the facility's potential to cause significant adverse environmental effects, and some concerns expressed by the public and Aboriginal groups in relation to those effects, according to a press release issued by the minister's office.

The panel will be established within five months, then have 14 months to review the project and issue recommendations. The minister has five months to review the report.

Project information is available via the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry.