Fisheries and Oceans Canada Update on Environmental Process Modernization Plan EPMP Meeting with Non

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Fisheries and Oceans Canada Update on
Environmental Process Modernization
Plan(EPMP) Meeting with Non-Governmental
Organizations October 12, 2005Ottawa
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Overview
Background EPMP Progress Discussion

• Background
• Progress on Implementing the EPMP
• Discussion

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EPMP Background
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• Environmental Process Modernization Plan (EPMP)
  a comprehensive continuous improvement plan
  launched in 2004 to make the Habitat Management
  Program more
• Effective in the conservation and protection of
  fish habitat
• Efficient, transparent and predictable in
  delivery of its services
• Integrated with the priorities of governments and
  partners
• Initial focus on five elements
• Risk Management Framework (RMF)
• Streamlining Regulatory Reviews
• Coherent and Predictable Decision-Making
• New Management Model for Major Projects and
  Environmental Assessments
• Enhanced Partnering
• EPMP represents a significant contribution to
  Smart Regulation agenda
• Provinces, territories, industry, NGOs and
  Aboriginals consulted on the EPMP

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1. Risk Management Framework
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• A science-based approach to the delivery of DFOs
  regulatory responsibilities for managing habitat
  referrals under the Fisheries Act based on risk
• Recognizes that not all habitats are of equal
  importance to the production of fish and
  clarifies the rules of the game, allowing DFO
  to focus on projects that pose the highest risk
  to fish habitat.
• The RMF has two components
• Pathways of Effects (PoE) PoEs show, at a
  glance, the effects to fish habitat caused by a
  given development activity, and how these effects
  can be mitigated. (See Annex 1 for list and an
  example.)
• Risk Matrix allows activities to be classified
  based on severity of impact on, and sensitivity
  of, given fish habitat and identify appropriate
  management tools to protect fish habitat based on
  risk.

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Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes
RMF Risk Matrix
MEDIUM RISK
Streamlined review processes, class
authorizations, etc.
Low Risk Operational Statements, guidelines,
Best Management Practices
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EPMP Progress Risk Management Framework
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• Developed 23 Pathways of Effects (PoEs) to
  clarify cause and effect for most activities
  (See Annex 1)
• Established a Risk Matrix to provide guidance on
  establishing risks to fish habitat and the
  management tools to apply to low, medium and high
  risk activities
• Developed guidance on applying risk management
  for staff (e.g. Guide on Risk Management)

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2. Streamlining Regulatory Reviews
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• Clarify the rules of the game for all
  concerned, allowing proponents and other
  jurisdictions to incorporate DFO requirements
  into their guidelines, codes of practice and
  permitting processes
• Focus in 2004 2005 has been on streamlining
  reviews of low risk projects and developing
  single window delivery with partners.

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EPMP Progress Streamlining Regulatory Reviews
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• Tools developed to streamline low risk projects
• 13 Operational Statements to date, with 5 more
  nearing completion, See Annex 2
• Discussions on one-window delivery of low risk
  projects underway with Provinces, further to
  CCFAM direction
• Working with national industry associations on
  integrating Risk Management Framework, PoEs and
  Operational Statements in industry Best
  Management Practices (BMPs)
• Also working with a coalition of national
  conservation NGOs, the Federation of Canadian
  Municipalities (FCM) and Aboriginal groups
  through the Aboriginal Inland Habitat Program
  (AIHP)

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3. Coherent and Predictable Decision-Making
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• National coherence and predictability in decision
  making are critical for program fairness and
  credibility
• Number of internal measures now in place to
  improve predictability of outcomes across the
  program
• Mandatory Training for all staff
• Strengthened Governance structure
• National Operating Policies

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4. New Management Model for Major Projects and
Environmental Assessments
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• Pressure from a variety of external sources, and
  growing recognition internally, that our EA
  process needed improvement, and that major
  projects needed to be managed differently than
  routine projects
• DFO approved governance, organizational and
  policy changes to provide for more effective and
  timely EAs for Major Projects.

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EPMP Progress New Management Model for Major
Projects and Environmental Assessments
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• Organizational
• New organizational structure and positions for
  environmental assessments for major projects
• Management
• Accountabilities clarified and strengthened
  through sign-off protocols for major projects
• Policy
• Early CEAA triggering policy and broader
  scoping policy

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5. Enhanced Partnering
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• Overlapping responsibilities/interests with
  provinces, and interest from NGOs, Aboriginals,
  Industry Associations and others to work with DFO
  to address fish habitat issues
• Requires a collaborative approach to align
  efforts, clarify roles, maximize use of
  resources, and better serve Canadians.
• EPMP serving as a strong basis upon which DFO is
  constructively engaging partners

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EPMP Progress Enhanced Partnering
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• MOUs with NS, PEI, Manitoba and BC
• Aboriginal Inland Habitat Program (AIHP)
• Agreements with Canadian Electricity Association
  (CEA) and with seven National Resource Industry
  Associations (NRIA)
• Discussions with Coalition of Conservation NGOs,
  Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM),
  Transportation Association of Canada (TAC),
  AAFC/PFRA (National Agri-Environmental Service)

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6. Habitat Compliance Modernization
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• A new, sixth element of the EPMP - Habitat
  Compliance Modernization (HCM) - recognizes and
  resources a modern approach to compliance
• Focus of HCM is to improve level of compliance
  by
• Promoting compliance through a spectrum of
  activities from education to enforcement now
  that the rules of the game have been clarified
• Strengthening monitoring and auditing compliance
  with, and effectiveness of, mitigation and
  compensation measures and
• Addressing non-compliance through a number of
  mechanisms including laying of charges under the
  Fisheries Act where necessary and mapped against
  a Risk Management Framework.

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Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes
Habitat Compliance Framework
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EPMP Progress Change Management Strategy
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• Nature, volume and pace of EPMP implementation
  represents significant change for employees
• A Change Management Strategy is being implemented
  that focuses on
• A Renewed Vision
• Communications
• National and regional implementation plans

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HMP and NGOs
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes

• Long standing formal and informal collaboration
  with local and regional NGOs across Canada
• Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund established to
  support priority voluntary initiatives
• Atlantic Salmon Endowment Fund announced in
  Budget 2005
• 4 Voluntary Sector initiatives funded, one of
  which resulted in emerging National Watershed
  Stewardship Coalition
• Significant support to establish Stewardship
  Canada Portal
• Working with a Coalition of 7 national/regional
  NGOs to establish a framework for collaboration
  (ASF, DUC, NC, NCC, TUC, WHC, PSF)

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Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes
EPMP Progress Partnering with NGO Coalition

• Draft Framework Arising From May 2005 National
  Workshop
• Stewardship
• Common definition Identify gaps in stewardship
  portals
• Integrated Planning
• Status report on watershed planning initiatives
  Identify watersheds at risk and assign priorities
  in each jurisdiction for integrated watershed
  management plans
• Regulatory
• Hold DFO-NGO regional workshops to foster
  cooperative initiatives Hold an EPMP update
  meeting
• Education and Awareness
• Article about DFO-NGO coalition initiative in the
  7 membership newsletters to strengthen awareness,
  collaboration, financial support and regional
  buy-in
• Governance Membership
• Invite CWF and WWF to join Prepare draft
  agreement of cooperation along lines of NRIA for
  signature by Minister and NGO Presidents

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Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes
DISCUSSION
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Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes
ANNEXES
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Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes
Annex 1 Pathways of Effects

• Land-based activities
• Vegetation Clearing
• Grading
• Excavation
• Industrial Equipment
• Use of Explosives
• Cleaning or Maintenance of Bridges or Other
  Structures
• Riparian Planting
• Streamside Livestock Grazing
• In Water Activities
• Marine Seismic Surveys
• Industrial Equipment
• Use of Explosives
• Placement of Material or Structures in Water
• Addition or Removal of Aquatic Vegetation
• Change in Timing, Duration and Frequency of Flow
• Fish Passage Issues
• Structure Removal

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RMF Example Pathway of Effects
Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes
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Background EPMP Progress Discussion Annexes
Annex 2 Operational Statements

• Aquatic Vegetation Removal
• Beach Creation
• Beach Maintenance (draft)
• Beaver Dam Removal
• Bridge Maintenance
• Clear-Span Bridges
• Culvert Maintenance
• Culvert Replacement (draft)
• Directional Drilling
• Dock Construction
• Ice Bridges
• Isolated Pond Construction
• Log Salvage (draft)
• Maintenance of Riparian Vegetation in
  Right-of-ways (draft)
• Moorings (draft)
• Routine Maintenance Dredging
• Overhead Line Construction
• Underwater Cables