Niagara Region. Niagara shall perform and be responsible for the following:
Niagara Region. 6.2.1 The Region will provide planning application review and technical clearance services as identified in Tables 1, 2 and 3, to ensure consistency with the Regional Official Plan, Provincial Policies, Provincial Plans, the Provincial Policy Statement (except Section 3.1 Natural Hazards policies 3.1.1 to 3.1.7), and matters of Provincial Interest.
6.2.2 The Region shall circulate to the NPCA for planning application review and/or technical clearance, all Regionally led planning applications, studies or Environmental Assessments that are located in or adjacent to a NPCA property or within a regulated feature/area.
6.2.3 The Region in its review of Planning Act and Escarpment Planning and Development Act applications and Environmental Assessments will comment on stormwater management, as identified in Table 3, in accordance with MOECC Stormwater Management Guidelines as well as the NPCA Stormwater Management Guidelines until such time as new stormwater management guidelines are approved by the Region.
6.2.4 The Region will review NPCA-initiated studies and projects without fee to the NPCA.
6.2.5 The Region will actively participate in formal preconsultation meetings with developers and landowners. To help ensure a consistent planning application review and a coordinated message, the NPCA and Region, together with the local municipality, will participate in preconsultation at the same time with the proponents.
6.2.6 Prior to a formal pre-consultation meeting, the Region will work to scope the complete application requirements related to environmental features by identifying environmental features that will be need to be addressed in an Environment Impact Study3 (EIS). Where the NPCA, Region and/or local municipality have identified interests, the Lead Agency (see Table 2) will consult with those parties on the review of the EIS Terms of Reference.
6.2.7 Where the Region is identified as the Lead Agency on Table 1, the Region will provide Technical Clearance on EIS with respect to those environmental features.
6.2.8 Nothing in this Protocol shall limit the Niagara Region from independently appealing a decision or lack of a decision to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) or other tribunal.
6.2.9 The Region will be responsible for preparation and maintenance of a comprehensive natural environment screening map, incorporating the NPCA Regulatory screening map as provided and updated by the NPCA.
