Letter of Advice
A Letter of Advice (LOA) is a document produced by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for projects that do not result in Harmful Alteration, Desruption, or Destruction of Fish Habitat (HADD). They are typically smaller projects than those that require a Fisheries Act Authorization.
The LOA prescribes Best Management Practices (BMP's) that should be followed on a project. The LOA states that if the BMP's are followed, the project will not result in a HADD.
To obtain a LOA, a project proponent must ask DFO to review their project. Typically DFO will require as a minimum:
1. A biophysical survey
2. An environmental impact assessment
3. Compensation for lost habitats and temporal effects
4. Environmental monitoring
LOA's typically take 6 months to secure with costs varying depending on the level of complexity of the project.
LOA's do not trigger the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.