Ambitious and restrictive scoping: Case studies from Northern Canada

This paper reviews the experience of environmental assessment (EA) in Northern Canada, with particular emphasis on the scoping phase. The experience and influence of relatively ambitious and restrictive approaches to scoping are discussed. Two principal case studies are compared in detail. Characteristic process deficiencies and progressive, innovative practices are noted. It is concluded that process development — improvements in practice through the sharing of lessons from one case to the next — tends to occur unevenly. Approaches taken to scoping vary considerably by case. When used creatively, scoping may be highly influential in shaping the overall success of the EA process.