Northeast Cumulative Effects Assessment and Management Pilot Project

Introduction

October 2013

Proposed Agenda

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1. Introductions2. Overview of CEAM3. This year’s operational trial4. Discussion

Project Overview: Key Drivers

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• To assess potential cumulative impacts to natural resource values

• To improve our ability to determine if we are adequately managing to meet provincial government objectives

• To provide increased certainty and stability

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Project Overview

1. What is the problem we are trying to solve?

2. How are we attempting to solve it?

3. What will success look like?

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The Problem

Considering only project or sector- specific effects allows unintended impacts to accumulate over time

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The Solution: A Values Based Approach

1. Assess Cumulative Effects – risk to values

2. Manage Cumulative Effects – consistency, coordination

Time

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Defining Success: Key Shifts

Single sector Multi-sector coordinated, area-based Project-focused Values-focused

Reactive Proactive, focused on desired outcomes

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Defining Success: Key Outcomes

Consistency across sectorsMobilizing force for implementing integrated decision-

makingImproved information up-front for proponentsStreamlined authorization / referral process More proactive, catch issues earlier

Substantially address First Nations and Community CE concerns

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Context

1. Demonstration Projects: Northeast, Northwest, Okanagan

2. Working towards a consistent Provincial Approach

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DawsonCreekLRMPArea

Demonstration Area

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Pilot Project

Last year: Designed the process Developed internal government

structures

This year: Test and then evaluate

Next year: Subject to the outcomes of the evaluation and approval, expand

implementation across Northeast region

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Proposed Process

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Values Foundation

Select Broad Values – others are nested within

Two types:• Resource values• Socio-economic values

Need: • Manageable number• Ability to measure – legal/policy objective• Existing data

Values

Resource Values• Water quantity• Caribou• Old growth forests• Riparian habitat• Priority wildlife habitat• Cultural heritage features

Future• Water quality• Air quality

Socio-Economic Values• Job creation and

retention• Revenue to governments• Private sector investment

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Operational TrialMilestones

Sept 2013 Initial Draft CEA

Oct 2013 Engage to build shared understanding and improve Draft CEA

Nov 2013-Jan 2014

Test CEA with decision-makers

Feb - Mar 2014

Evaluate operational trial Lessons learned to support longer-term implementation

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Opportunities for Collaboration

Based on work-to-date:

• Data for values – existing and through future monitoring

• Trends information • Near-term (3-5 years)• Anticipated pace of change• By watershed

Discussion on other possibilities

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Questions

Cumulative Effects - Defined

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“Changes to environmental, social, and economic values caused by the combined effect of

present, past, and reasonably foreseeable

future actions or events on the land base.”

What it is and What it isn’t

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What It Is

• A consistent framework and better information to support integrated NRS decision-making

• Open & transparent data

• A risk based approach to assessing potential cumulative effects to key values

What it Isn’t≠ Land Use

Planning

≠ A tool/formula that makes decisions

≠ Thresholds to automatically limit development