environmental appeals board hearing - yyccares · in dr. david locky’s report en

EnvironmentalAppealsBoardHearing

PartIII

JeffBrookman

Oct23,2017

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2.WasthedecisiontoissuetheApprovalappropriatehavingregardtothepoten6alenvironmentalimpactsoftheworkauthorizedbytheApproval?c.theimpactofdisturbingthewetlandsspecifiedintheApprovalinthecontextofallofthewetlandsimpactedbythedevelopmentoftheSouthwestCalgaryRingRoad.

Prof.BlairFeltmate,ChairoftheFederalGovernment’sExpertPanelonClimateChangeAdapta<onandResilienceResultswasthecoauthorofthisJuly2017reporten<tled“WhentheBigStormHits”.FromtheDiscussion&Conclusion-Thisstudyconfirmsthatwetlandsconserva<oncanbeapowerfulmeanstoreduceflooddamagesrelatedtoriverineflooding.Asillustrated,simplymaintainingwetlandsintheirnaturalstatecanresultinfinancialcostsavingof29and38percentinruralandurbanseLngs,respecMvely,undercondiMonsofsevereprecipitaMon. 3

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Source:hYp://www.aipa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Tracy-ScoY.pdf

“TheRoleofWetlandsinFloodARenuaMon”AlbertaIrrigaMonProjectsAssociaMon2013Conference

8Source:hYp://www.aipa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Tracy-ScoY.pdf

“TheRoleofWetlandsinFloodARenuaMon”AlbertaIrrigaMonProjectsAssociaMon2013Conference

9Source:hYp://www.capf.ca/pdfs/Wetlands%20in%20Alberta.pdf

InaleYerfromRandyPoon(Director)toDianeS<nsondatedAugust10,2017.InthisleYertheDirectorstates,“The24wetlandswithinthisapplica<onarebothisolatedwetlandbasinsandhydrologicallyconnected”

HydrologicallyConnected

DavidLocky,PhD,PWS,PBiolGrantMacEwanUniversity

10Source:hYp://www.capf.ca/pdfs/Wetlands%20in%20Alberta.pdf

InDr.DavidLocky’sreporten<tled“WetlandsinAlberta:ChallengesandOpportuni<es”,includesthefollowingtwoslidesthatillustratehydrologicalconnec<vityofthewetlandstotheaquifer.ThefirstisgenericbutthesecondrelatestoastudyonthewestsideofEdmonton.Thisisbeingincludedtoillustratethattheproponentdidnotincludethiscri<calpieceofinforma<onwiththeirsubmission.

RegionalContext-HydrologicallyConnected

DavidLocky,PhD,PWS,PBiolGrantMacEwanUniversity

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Tab33oftheDirector’sReport:“WC01feedstothebeaverpondintheWeaselhead”Tab33page106of184inanemaildatedAugust3,2017fromAlana-RoseLynes(AEP)toMaYhewWilson(AEP)“Wetland9isconnectedtoWC01.HowwillWC01beimpactedbythelossofW09andhowwillhydrologybemaintained?”emailfromMaYhewWilsontoAlana-RoseLynesdatedJuly31,2017(Tab33page107of184)Theproponentdoesnothaveanygroundwatermonitoringwellssoonecandeterminethepre-construc<onandpostconstruc<onimpactsonthewatertable.TheDirectorshouldhaverequestedthesewells?Safetycomesfirst.

RegionalContext-HydrologicallyConnected

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Director’sRecord

Note:Giventhatwetlandsarehydrologicallyconnected,whywasn’tthe“hydrology”sec<oncheckedforreferral.ThisisaseriousbreachoftheAPEGA“DutyofCare”provisionintheCodeofConduct.

13Source:hYp://www.capf.ca/pdfs/Wetlands%20in%20Alberta.pdf

DavidLocky,PhD,PWS,PBiolGrantMacEwanUniversity

14Source:hYp://www.capf.ca/pdfs/Wetlands%20in%20Alberta.pdf

DavidLocky,PhD,PWS,PBiolGrantMacEwanUniversity

15Source:hYp://www.capf.ca/pdfs/Wetlands%20in%20Alberta.pdf

DavidLocky,PhD,PWS,PBiolGrantMacEwanUniversity

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OverlandFlooding

W011–11.7ha(28.9Acres)43.35millionU.S.gallons(164millionlitres)ofstoragecapacity

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45.6mofroadallowanceshiiedtothewestofthewetlandallowsoneto“avoid”thewetland

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Source:hYp://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/g10.pdf

TUCandRDA

•  TheTransporta<onU<lityCorridor(“TUC”)receivesitsauthorityundertheRestrictedDevelopmentArea(“RDA”)provisionofthetheGovernmentOrganiza<onAct(“GOA”).

•  TheauthorityfortheTUCcomesfromSchedule5Sec<on4(1)(e)

•  However,Schedule5isallabouttheEnvironmentandthepreven<onofharm

•  Plus4(1)(e)cannotbetakeninisola<onand4(1)(a)and4(1)(b)withtheprotec<onofanynaturalresourceofwatershedadjacenttotheAreamustbetakenintoaccount.

•  TheTUCprogramisa“policy”justliketheWetlandPolicybutitdoesnothavepriority.

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•  AEPhasstatedthatwewillbechargedwithtrespassingifweusetheTUC

•  However,theCrowninrightofAlbertaasrepresentedbyINFRASownsalmostalltheTUClands

•  ThismeansthattheselandsareownedbyAlbertans

•  Further,theonlyreasonthatonecannotaccesstheTUCduringtheconstruc<onperiodisforHealthandSafetyreasons

AEPhasimpliedthattheTUCisaStatewithinaState

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•  Theproponenthastriedtostatethattheseregulatorydelaysarepulngtheircomple<onscheduleatriskwhichthenputsatrisktheTTNLandTransferAgreementwheretheSWCRRhastobecompletedonoraboutMay15,2022.

•  WenotethattheawardwinningNEStoneyTrail(“NEST”),21kminlength,wascompletedin18months

TTNLandTransferAgreement

•  TheNESTteamapproachedAlbertaEnvironmentwithamethodtocompensatewetlandsthroughnaturalizedstormwaterpondslinkedthroughwidened,naturalizedditchingandrestora<onofuplandswithna<vegrass.

•  TheprojectusedanexternalpanelofprofessionalstoprovideaPeerReview,expedi<ngtheprocessfromwhatwouldtypicallyhavebeenoverayearto5months.

•  Theprocesswaswellreceivedbyallregulatorybodies.

•  Theproponents<llhas4.5-yearstocompletetheSWCRR

•  IftheproponenthademulatedtheawardwinningNESTbestprac<cethenmaybewewouldn’tbehere

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In1993wewereabletodothefollowingac<vi<es:•  BringyourwaterboYleonanairplane

•  Smokeinpublicplacesincludingrestaurants,barsandairplanes

•  ShootfireworksoffinCitylimitswithoutapermit

•  BuyrefrigeratorswithFreon

•  Etc.

Regula<onschangeandweHAVEtoadapt

AdapMngtoChange

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•  In1993ClimateChangewasnotamajorsocietalissue

•  TodaywehavetheParisClimateAgreement

•  WealsohavetheAlbertaClimateLeadershipPlan

•  Wealsohavecarbontaxesthatencourageusalltoreducegreenhousegas(“GHG”)emissions

•  Theproponent’sapplica<ondidnotincludeanythingrelatedtolifecycleGHGemissionsandtheimpactoffillingin24wetlands.ThisnolongerworksundertheCanadianEnvironmentalAssessmentAgencyprocess,justaskTCPL.

AlbertatransportaMonandtheproponenthavetolearntoadapt.Roaddesignhastoworkwithnature,theenvironmentandwetlandsandnottheotherwayaround.

SocietynowdemandsavoidanceasthepriceoffillinginourhighestfuncMonallandsistoohigh.

AdapMngtoChange

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•  AstheHansoncasehasdemonstrated,regardlessofwhatpolicytheDirectorused,theBoardinmakingitsdecisionhastousecurrentpolicywhichistheAlbertaWetlandsPolicy(2013)

•  Inmakingthedecisionregarding52statementsofconcern,theDirectorwasrequiredtouseAdministra<vePolicyESRDN0.5,2014andnotAPPC-2008-01.Thiserrorhasdeniedtherightsofpublicpar<cipa<on.

•  Legislatedregulatorylaw,policies,procedures,guide,plans,etc.takeprecedentoverthetermsancondi<onsinaconstruc<onagreementandnottheotherwayaround

•  TheAMECEAcannotbeusedforjus<fica<onfortheInterimWetlandPolicy(1993)becausetheAMECEAdidnotinclude14outof24oftheimpactedwetlandsandW11thelargestwetlandswasmisclassified.

•  ThefieldworkfortheWetlandImpactAssessment(WIA)hascompletedinOctober2016andtheGolderAssociates(Dec2016)WIAistheonlyreportwithall24ofthewetlandsintheproponent’sWaterActapplica<on

SummaryandRecommendaMon

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•  Theimplementa<onscheduleforthenewWetlandPolicyisveryclear,allapplica<onswherefieldworkiscompletedaierMay31,2015havetousethenewAlbertaWetlandPolicy(2013)

•  UnderthePolicytheproponenthastocompletetherequisiteop<onsanalysisto“avoid”wetlandsandor“minimize”theimpactstowetlands.

•  ThisisalsoarequirementoftheProvincialWetlandRestora<on/Compensa<onGuidebutitwasignored

•  ThisisarequirementinSchedule18oftheproponent’scontract,i.e.whereisthesuppor<ngtechnicalinforma<onforwhytheycouldn’tavoidand/orminimizetheimpacttowetlands

•  TheOnusisontheproponenttocompletethisop<onsanalysisandthecostbenefitanalysiswheretheop<onsarefairlyevaluatedagainstenvironmental,socialandeconomiccriteria.However,thisanalysisisalsomissingfromtheDirector’sRecord.

SummaryandRecommendaMon

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•  TheonusisalsoontheDirectortoensurethattheapplica<onconsidertheregionalcontextandastheevidencehasshown,thehydrologyboxwasn’tevenchecked.

•  Thisregionalcontextmustincludethecumula<veimpactsonthelossof24wetlandsandtheirfloodstorageandaquiferrechargecapabili<es.

•  22.16ha(54.76acres)hastheabilitytostoreupto82.14millionU.S.gallonsoffloodwater(311millionlitres)

•  HomesalongtheTUCcorridorwerefloodedbyoverlandwaterin2005,

wherewillthiswaternowgoandwhereistheproponentsstormwatermanagementplan?

•  Theproponenthasn’tconsideredtheimpactofthelossof24wetlandsonCalgary’sdrinkingwatersupply–theonusisontheproponenttodothisassessmentnotus

SummaryandRecommendaMon

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•  TheproponenthasnotonlytakenshortcutswiththisWaterActapplica<on,theyhavenotfiledaWaterActapplica<ontofillinwatercourseWC01

•  Theproponenthasviolatedtheirownripariansetbackandusedmachinesnothandtoolstoclearvegeta<onnexttothewetlands

•  Evenwitha“stay”theproponentiswithin5mofW06and10mofW07•  Theproponentalsodestroyedtreesandvegeta<onintheprotected

WeaselheadPark

•  ThedammingofthewaterinWC01hascausedirreparableharmtotheeastsideoftheBeaverPond(W06)

•  TheshortcutsalsoincludethefailuretoapplyforaWaterActapprovalforthe“causeway”thatisbeingbuiltintheElbowRiverValley

•  TheGuideforCodeofPrac<ceforWatercourseCrossingsclearlystatesthataWaterActapprovalisrequiredforacauseway

SummaryandRecommendaMon

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•  TheproponentandtheDirectorstatetherighttodoalmostanythingintheTUCisprovidedunderGOASchedule5,Sec<on4(1)

•  Thisistheenvironmentalprotec<onsec<onoftheGOA

•  4(1)(e)cannotbetakeninisola<onandmustincludethecontextoftherestof4(1)where4(1)(a)statesthatonecannotcauseharmto“adjacent”naturalresourcesand4(1)(b)statesthatonecannotdoharmto“adjacent”watersheds.

•  TheTUCisCrownlandandassuchisownedbythepeopleofAlberta.

•  ThePublicLandsActdoesn’tapplywithinaTUCastheselandsareundertheadministra<vecontroloftheMinisterofInfrastructureandnottheMinisterofEnvironmentandParks

•  Allotherlegisla<onapplieswithinaTUC

•  TheonlyreasonthepubliccannotentertheTUCisforhealthandsafetyreasons,i.e.itsanac<veconstruc<onzone

SummaryandRecommendaMon

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•  Theproponentmakestheargumentthattheappellantsarejeopardizingthecomple<onschedulefortheProjectandthattheTTNLandTransferAgreementmaybeatrisk

•  WehaveshownthatasimilarPublic,PrivatePartnership(“PPP”or“3P”)project,NEStoneyTrail(“NEST”),wascompletedwithin18monthsandtheproponenthas4.5yearsbeforetheTTNLandTransferAgreementmaybeatrisk

•  WehavealsoshownthattheawardwinningNESTprojectusedinnova<vemethodstosecurequickapprovals,buttheproponenthasnotincorporatedthelessonslearnedfromthisprojectortheirbestprac<ces

•  Societyoiendemandschangeandeveryci<zenhastolearntoadapttochangeandAlbertaTransporta<on,theProponentandtheDirectorarenotexemptfromthesechanges

SummaryandRecommendaMon

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•  Albertatransporta<onandtheproponenthavetolearntoadapt.Roaddesignhastoworkwithnature,theenvironmentandwetlandsandnottheotherwayaround

•  Societynowdemandsavoidanceofwetlandsasthepriceoffillinginourhighestfunc<onallandsistoohigh

•  IftheBoardconcursthatanapplicantcansimplystate“wetriedtoavoidandwetriedtominimizetheimpacttowetlands”withoutanysuppor<ngevidenceandthenmovedirectlytocompensate,thenyouareopeningthefloodgates,i.e.

•  Everyoil&gascompany,forestrycompany,developer,etc.willdothesamethingandtheAlbertaWetlandsPolicy(2013)willberenderedmeaningless

•  TheappellantsarecomplyingwiththeircivicresponsibilityunderAEP’sWaterforLifesustainabilitystrategyandtheAlbertaWetlandPolicy(2013)whereweareencouragedtobestewardstoprotectthewatershedsandwetlands.

SummaryandRecommendaMon

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•  TheAppellantshavedemonstratedthatitspossibletoavoidmanyofthewetlandsandthattheimpacttootherwetlandscanbeminimized

•  TheAppellantshavealsoshownthatmostoftheissuesrelatedtothisroadwayareassociatedwithnoncompliancewiththeMinisterofTransporta<onsJune14,2017direc<veontheOuterRingRoad

•  TheAppellantshavealsodemonstratedthatregardlessofwhatissaidontheproponentswebsitetheyareinfactbuildinga16-18lanehighway

•  Wehavealsoshownthata16-lanehighwaycanfitinthe100mmedianandwitha285mTUCtheproponenthasplentyofop<onsto“avoid”wetlands.

•  Furtherwehaveprovedthatscalingbackthebuildto6-8lanesprovidedmul<pledesignop<onstoavoidand/orminimizetheimpacttothese24wetlands

SummaryandRecommendaMon

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RecommendaMon

1.   TheappellantsrequestthatBoardmakearecommendaMontotheMinisterofEnvironment&Parks(the“Minister”)toreversetheapprovaloftheDirector

2.   WealsorequestthatthewetlandsberestoredtotheiroriginalcondiMon

3.   WefurtherrequestthattheBoardadvisetheMinisterthatAEPshouldnotconsideranyfurtherWaterActapplicaMonswheretherequisiteopMonsanalysisandcostbenefitanalysishasnotbeensubmiRedorpassesanAEPpeerreview.

SummaryandRecommendaMon