Panel of the Board

YESAB’s Executive Committee may establish a Panel of the Board to conduct a review of a project.

In general, Panel reviews would be conducted to assess projects which have potential significant adverse effects, are likely to cause significant public concern, involve the use of controversial technology or when other types of YESAA assessment bodies have been unable to come to a recommendation.

Composition of Panels
The composition of Panels depends upon the location of the effects of a project.

If the Executive Committee determines that a project’s effects will likely occur wholly or primarily on settlement land, two-thirds of the members of the Panel will be Board members nominated by the Council of Yukon First Nations. The other one-third of the Panel members will be Board members nominated by the territorial or federal governments.

If the Executive Committee determines that a project’s effects will likely occur wholly or primarily on non-settlement land, one-third of the members of the Panel will be Board members nominated by the Council of Yukon First Nations. The other two-thirds of the Panel members will be Board members nominated by the territorial or federal governments.

In any other case, one half of the members of the panel (other than the chairperson) will be Board members nominated by the Council of Yukon First Nations. The other half of the Panel members will be Board members nominated by the territorial or federal governments.

Joint Panels
The Executive Committee may also enter into an agreement to establish a joint panel with another authority to conduct a review of a project. The agreement must deal with the panel composition, appointment of members and selection of the chairperson. It must also contain the terms of reference and rules that will govern the review.

A joint panel review agreement must specify that the panel must submit a report to the decision bodies for the project and publish the report.

Panel Rules
Panel reviews will be conducted according to a specific set of rules. Those rules are currently under development.