Environmental Assessment and Referral Review Workshop

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Environmental Assessment and Referral Review
Workshop
For Alberta First Nations
Sherry Nugent, SARA Coordinator Sheena
Majewski, Partnering Coordinator, Edmonton, AB
February 24-26, 2009
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Course Overview

• Part 1
• What is a fish and fish habitat?
• How does DFO manage fish habitat?
• Referral Review Process
• Part 2
• Role of the Canadian Environmental Assessment
  Agency
• Role of the Species at Risk Act
• Part 3
• Role of Pathways of Effects
• Risk Matrix
• Part 4
• Compensation
• Case Studies

We want the next three days to be very informal
and casual. Please ask lots of questions!!
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What is a fish?

• All life stages of fish, shellfish, crustaceans
  and marine mammals

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In Alberta Approximately 68 species of fish 31
forage fish species 24 sport fish species
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• The physical, chemical and biological attributes
  fish need to carry out their life processes
• spawning
• nursery
• rearing
• feeding
• overwintering
• migrating

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Fish Habitat Varies in Alberta
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July 2002
Fish Habitat??
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April 2003
Fish Habitat??
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We have fish habitat, now what?

• Contact DFO
• If the works are in-stream or near-stream and
  the activity does not fall under corresponding
  Operational Statements
• You are unsure if the project will impact fish or
  fish habitat
• Works will likely result in the Harmful
  Alteration, Disruption, or Destruction (HADD) of
  fish habitat

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(No Transcript)
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What happens to my project at DFO

• A biologist does an assessment of the project
  and determines if the information provided is
  complete. The file, during review, is often
  termed a REFERRAL.
• As a part of the review process, the biologist
  may contact the applicant (often termed the
  proponent), go on site visits, try to negotiate
  the works to be done, determine if a Fisheries
  Act Authorization is required, engage in
  consultation, get additional technical advice
  (e.g. engineering), and further review the data
  as received.

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EPMP

• Environmental Process Modernization Plan
• DFO Deputy Minister commitment to modernize and
  streamline regulatory programs
• 6-Point EPMP Action Plan
• Risk Management Framework
• Streamlining of Referral Process
• Improved Coherence and Predictability
• Emphasis on Partnership
• New Governance Models for EAs and Major Projects
• Compliance Modernization

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EPMP

• Outline
• Risk Management
• Pathways of Effects
• Risk Matrix
• Streamlining Referral Process
• Operational Statements
• Overview of Clear Span Bridge OS
• Trenchless Pipeline Crossing

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Operational Statements

• Developed with input from partners and
  stakeholders across Canada.
• There are regional operational statements to
  allow for tailoring to area specific needs.
• These have been developed for known low risk
  projects

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Alberta Operational Statements

• Beaver dam removal
• Bridge maintenance
• Clear-Span bridges
• Culvert maintenance
• High-Pressure Directional Drilling
• Ice bridges and Snow Fills
• Isolated or Dry Open-cut Stream Crossings
• Isolated Pond Construction

• Maintenance of Riparian Vegetation in Existing
  Right-of-Way
• Moorings
• Overhead Line Construction
• Punch Bore Crossings
• Routine Maintenance Dredging
• Submerged Log Salvage
• Temporary Stream Crossing
• Underwater Cables
• Notification Form

http//www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/regions/central/habitat/o
s-eo/provinces-territories-territoires/ab/index-en
g.htm
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Risk Management

• Risk is assessed using PoE
• Tools being developed for risk categories
• Low Risk
• Operational Statements, interpretation bulletins,
  guidelines
• partnerships, certification
• Medium Risk
• Regulations, Class Authorizations, etc.
• High Risk
• Standardization of Authorization conditions
• innovative approaches to compensation

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Referral Biologist

• What does a Fisheries and Oceans Referral
  Biologist do?
• Nothing?
• Push paper?
• Count fish
• Search for the ocean on the prairies?

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A day in the life of Sherry Nugent!