The EA application process is a process.
They ask people for any impacts they can imagine from the creation of a mine. Go around and ask the public and stakeholders about any of the concerns they have. Eventually after they believe they have received and addressed all of the concerns they make the application for the certificate.
The government administers the process and it is somewhat a dialogue between the company and the administrator as to what issues get focus and not.
IE. You can claim the mine plan impacts your alien landing strip because thew tailing impoundment is being built on the strip. The administrator and CUU will have a discussion of the concern and CUU will provide a managment plan based on the perceived risk involved. Then during the approval phase (after submission) the review pannel will review the plan and decide on the merit of the plan in light of the significance (risk) of the effected resource and provide a recommendation. Finally the gov't will make a decision based on all the information if issuing the certificate is in the best interest of the Province.
Morrison is a case where the gov't decided issuing a certificate was not in the best interest of the Province (despite Booker clearing all other hurdles). Prosperity for Taseko is a case where the province approved a plan that the scientific pannel did not back.
The EA is a political process as much as anything. Booker is a small company not much respected or trusted by the province. Taseko is part of Hunter Dickenson, a large company trusted by gov't.
Companies like Seabridge and Copper Fox have invested years getting to know stakeholders and decision makers in order to make sure they have the political support to go with their managment plan.
