Where
did YESAA originate?
When the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act
(YESAA) was passed by Parliament in May 2003, it was the culmination
of years of work by the Yukon Government, the federal government,
Yukon First Nations and a variety of stakeholders. The legislation
establishes a process to assess effects of projects and other
activities in the Yukon, or that might have effects in the Yukon.
The Act is a requirement of the Umbrella Final Agreement and Yukon
First Nation final agreements.
What are the key features of YESAA?
YESAA brings about a single assessment process for all projects
– it applies throughout the Yukon and to the federal,
territorial and Yukon First Nation governments.
- Government departments no longer carry out “self-assessments”
of projects.
- There will be broader consideration of socio-economic factors
in assessments. Traditional and local knowledge are also expressly
listed as factors to be considered.
First
Nations have guaranteed opportunities for participation, and there are provisions
for public participation at all stages of assessments.- There will be increased certainty through mandatory timelines
for both assessment and decision-making stages.
- YESAA provides for a high level of transparency – decisions
and actions will include written reasons, which will be made
available in a public registry.
- Both positive and negative effects of projects will be considered.
What is YESAB?
YESAB is the acronym for the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic
Assessment Board. The Board is an independent arms-length entity,
separate from all decision bodies. Its role under YESAA is to
administer the assessment process. In some cases, members of the
Board will be directly involved in assessments.
Who are the Board members?
- Stephen Mills| Chair
& Executive Committee Member
- Ken McKinnon | Executive
Committee Member
- Dave Keenan | Executive
Committee Member
- Tara Christie | Board
Member
- Vacant | Board
Member
- Ross Leef | Board Member
- Carl Sidney | Board Member
When will YESAA be fully implemented?
As of November 28, 2005 YESAA is in full effect and YESAB is open for business.
How
will the YESAA assessment process work?
In general, assessors will look at the potential environmental
and socio-economic effects of proposed activities and recommend
whether the activities should proceed, proceed with terms and
conditions, or not proceed. When assessments are complete, recommendations
with reasons will be forwarded to the relevant decision bodies.
The federal government, territorial government or First Nations,
as decision bodies for the activities, will receive the recommendations
from the assessor with all relevant 
project
information. The decision body (or bodies) will then decide whether
to accept, reject or vary the recommendations of the assessor,
and will issue a decision document.
The large majority of assessments, approximately 90 per cent,
will be done in the six community-based Designated Offices located
in Dawson City, Haines Junction, Mayo, Teslin, Watson Lake and
Whitehorse.
The Executive Committee of the Board will assess larger projects
that come to it directly, or are referred by a Designated Office.
At times, Panels of the Board will be established to assess projects
which have potential significant adverse effects, are likely to
cause significant public concern, or involve the use of controversial
technology.
Proponents, regulators and the public will also be able to participate in the assessment process through the YESAB Online Registry.
