First draft speaking notes

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Experience with Implementing Environmental
Management Plans PIBC Conference - April 21, 2005
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Outline of session

• Overview of BIEAP FREMP
• Environmental management plans
• Our experience in Plan implementation
• What it means on the ground
• Lessons learned
• Other perspectives
• Q A

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(No Transcript)
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• Burrard Inlet is
• tidal salt water ecosystem
• home to large urbanized population and Port of
  Vancouver

• The Fraser River estuary is
• critical habitat for migratory birds and
  largest salmon run in Southern BC
• home to two major ports and large population

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BIEAP FREMP

• Intergovernmental partnership programs to
  coordinate the environmental management of the
  Fraser River estuary and Burrard Inlet
• FREMP established 1985
• BIEAP established 1991

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Partners in BIEAP FREMP

• Federal government
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Environment Canada
• Provincial government
• Water, Land and Air Protection
• Port Authorities
• Fraser River Port Authority (FREMP)
• North Fraser Port Authority (FREMP)
• Vancouver Port Authority (BIEAP)
• Regional Government
• Greater Vancouver Regional District

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Structure Operations

• Established through Memoranda of Understanding
  (MOUs)
• Since 1996, BIEAP and FREMP have been jointly
  administered
• Secretariat office based in Burnaby
• Two-level management structure
• Steering Committee comprising principals of
  signing partners meets annually
• Management Committee meets quarterly to deal with
  overall management and policy issues

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Two Main Roles

• 1. Policy Coordination
• Estuary Management Plan, 2003
• Consolidated Environmental Management Plan for
  Burrard Inlet, 2002
• 2. Coordinated Project Review
• One-window environmental review of physical works
  in riparian area
• Environmental Review Committees

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• FREMP Vision
• A sustainable Fraser River estuary characterized
  by a healthy ecosystem, economic development
  opportunities and continued quality of life in
  and around the estuary.
• BIEAP Vision
• A thriving port and urban community co-existing
  with a healthy environment.

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Estuary Management Plan (EMP), 2003

• Vision A living, working river
• Goals
• Action Programs

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EMP Development

• Original EMP developed in 1994 with significant
  public input
• Reports on progress (website, flyer, EQ report,
  indicators monitoring report)
• Plan update process 2002-2003 (local and regional
  workshops, flyer, meetings, open houses)
• Revised Plan approved 2003
• Seeking municipal endorsements

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EMP Action Programs

• Integration (features and functions)
• Water Sediment Quality
• Fish Wildlife Habitat
• Navigation Dredging
• Log Management
• Industrial Urban Development
• Recreation

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Burrard Inlet Plan (CEMP), 2002

• What is being done
• Shared goals and objectives
• For Burrard Inlet
• For 6 sub-basins
• 21 recommended actions
• Implementation measures

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CEMP Development

• BIEAP research and studies 1991-2000
• Public outreach and education
• Plan development began in 1999
• Public input and workshops
• CEMP approved by partners in 2002
• Municipal endorsements

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CEMP Actions

• Water Quality Waste Management
• Air Quality
• Historically Contaminated Lands Sediments
• Healthy Ecosystems and Biodiversity

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Plan Implementation

• Advisory committees guide Plan implementation
• Report to BIEAP-FREMP Management Committee
• Membership
• Partner agency staff
• Municipal planners
• First Nation representatives
• Others (e.g. YVR)

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Plan Implementation Committee Role

• Advisory Committees (WLUC and PIC)
• Develop annual workplans with priority projects
• Meet quarterly to review progress
• Guide implementation
• Ad-hoc working groups where needed

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Plan Implementation - Funding

• Project funding part of annual workplan
  development
• Look for partnership opportunities
• Plan Implementation Fund
• Approvals by Management Committee

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Monitoring Reporting

• Success measures (actions taken)
• Annual Reports, website, CEMP tracking report
• Indicators (broader environmental quality)
• Measure progress in implementing Plans
• FREMP monitoring reports 2001 and 2006
• BIEAP monitoring report under development
• Iterative process monitoring informs updates

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• What does Plan implementation
• look like on the ground,
• for shorelines along
• the estuary and Inlet?

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FREMP implementation tools

• Habitat inventory
• Habitat classification (colour codes)
• Area designations with municipalities
• Coordinated Project Review
• One-window agency environmental review of
  physical works along shoreline
• Data sets and project information available on
  www.bieapfremp.org

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Environmental Review Committee
Environmental Recommendations
To Lead Agency for Authorization/Permitting
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2. Fraser River Trifurcation
Inventory
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3. Tilbury Slough Workable compromise
Inventory
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BIEAP implementation tools

• Coordinated Project Review
• One-window agency environmental review of
  physical works along shoreline
• Shoreline development guidelines
• Cumulative impacts in Burrard Inlet
• Environmental review/policy links
• Partnership opportunity for funding

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BIEAP implementation

• Water quality monitoring
• Task of coordinating monitoring efforts
• Help track who is doing what in Inlet
• Sharing information through website
• Links to Biodiversity Strategy
• Collaborative process for outfalls approvals

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Successes

• Balance of interests and issues
• Identified and updated key deliverables
• Developed Plans with broad input
• Municipal involvement to link foreshore/upland
  planning

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Challenges

• Broader dialogue on issues as a partnership
• Public support and awareness
• Additional stakeholder involvement
• Limited project funding

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Lessons Learned - General

• Value of inter-agency coordination while
  respecting mandates
• Ongoing partner support for programs
• Need effective communication between and within
  partner agencies
• Secretariat can be effective facilitator

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Lessons Learned Plans

• Provide focus on common goals for Fraser River
  estuary and Burrard Inlet ecosystems
• Plans are main policy coordination tool for BIEAP
  and FREMP
• Plan updates required to address emerging issues
  and ensure the Plans remain a useful tool
• Monitoring/updating iterative process

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Lessons Learned Implementation

• Must show progress on key projects
• Reporting reinforces commitment to Plan
• Multi-interest advisory committees key
• Staff guiding Plan implementation provide
  feedback to senior managers
• Annual workplans provide focus and help
  prioritize with limited resources

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www.bieapfremp.org