Changes to the Watercourse Alteration Program
for currently certified individuals:
What’s new in training and certification?
Please note: Currently certified individuals are those who have received a certification from
Nova Scotia Environment since January 2008.
The amended Activities Designation Regulations come into effect October 2014 and prescribe
watercourse alteration activities that require the involvement of certified Watercourse
Alteration Sizers and Watercourse Alteration Installers.
In order for someone to submit a notification for a culvert (on a watercourse slope below or
equal to 0.5%) or bridge, the structure must be planned by a Watercourse Alteration Sizer or a
professional engineer. In accordance with subsection (5) of the amended Activities
Designation Regulations, individuals who are currently certified can perform the activities
required to be performed by a Watercourse Alteration Sizer until Sept. 30, 2019.
Amendments to the regulations also require a Watercourse Alteration Installer to conduct the
work or directly supervise the work for most watercourse alterations after October 2016,
whether under an approval or notification. In accordance with subsection (5) of the amended
Activities Designation Regulations, individuals who are currently certified can perform the
activities required to be performed by a Watercourse Alteration Installer until Sept. 30, 2019.
Please see the Nova Scotia Environment website for more information on the types of activities
that are eligible for notification and that require certified people to be involved
(http://novascotia.ca/nse/ ).
Four ways to keep you current on changes to the watercourse
alteration program:
Learn More
Although you are not required to retake the training to become a Watercourse Alteration Sizer or
Installer until 2019, we would like to emphasize that, as of Oct. 1, there will be significant changes to the
watercourse alteration program. You will be required to understand and comply with the new
requirements.
There are several ways for you to learn about the new requirements:
1. Nova Scotia Environment (NSE) will post materials on its website in Sept. 2014.
2. NSE staff will be meeting with groups to explain and discuss program changes (see below).
3. Courses are available through the Maritime College of Forest Technology. New training sessions
on Watercourse Alteration Sizing and Watercourse Alteration Installing will be offered fall 2014.
If you wish to maintain your certification for watercourse alterations past Sept. 2019, you will need to
decide whether you want to be a Sizer or an Installer, or both, and take the relevant and approved
training course(s). These new certifications will expire 10 years from the date they are issued, unless
cancelled or suspended earlier.
Complete the following forms. 
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Please return this form to:
Nova Scotia Environment
c/o K. Garroway
P.O. Box 442, Halifax,
Nova Scotia, B3J 2P8
or
garrowkg@gov.ns.ca
Please include the words “Certification List” in subject line.
Sign Up for Information Sessions
Nova Scotia Environment will host information sessions this Winter and Spring 2015 on the new
regulatory requirements for the Watercourse Alteration Program. If you would like us to send you
information about the upcoming sessions, please provide us with an email address below.
 Yes, please contact me about upcoming information sessions on the new regulatory
requirements for watercourse alterations.
Email address: _______________________________________________________________
Confirm Our Records are Up to Date
Nova Scotia Environment is updating its records so that we can provide you with important information
about program changes, new requirements, etc. Please review the information we currently have
on file:
My contact information has changed; please update your records from the form below:
Company/ Organization/ Municipality
First Name
Phone
Home (
)
Mailing Address
County
Province
Fax (
)
Middle Initial
Business (
)
City/Town
Postal Code
Email
ext.
Last Name
Other (
)
ext.
Country
Signature: _________________________________ Date:_____________________________
Get on the list on the NS Environment website
If you would like to have your name and contact information featured on a public list of Watercourse
Alteration Sizers and Watercourse Alteration Installers, please complete the following section. The
public list will be posted on the Nova Scotia Environment website
*Information in red is required.
Company/ Organization/ Municipality
First Name*
Middle Initial
Phone* (
)
Mailing or Location Address*
County
City/Town
Province
Postal Code
Email
Last Name*
Country
Signature: __________________________________ Date:______________________________
Important Note: If you do not complete the “Get on the list” form and return it to us, your name and
contact information will not be posted on our website list provided to the public. However, we will
maintain your name and contact information on our internal list of certified Watercourse Alteration
Sizers and Installers.
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