Update from Alberta Environment
and Sustainable Resource
Development
Calgary Regional Airshed Zone
Annual General Meeting
26 March 2014
Overview
• IRMS
– Intent and Approach
– Current Priorities and Status
o Regional Planning
o Regulatory Enhancement
o Environmental Monitoring
o Clarifying and Strengthening Relationships
• Working with others in IRMS
• Implementation of key initiatives
– AQMS
– Air Quality Management Frameworks
IRMS – Intent and Approach
Integrated Resource Management
• The IRM System is the means by which Alberta will
achieve responsible resource stewardship.
• The System is broadly defined, incorporating the
management, conservation and wise use of all
resources.
• It is founded upon principles of cumulative effects
management:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Knowledge based
Outcomes driven
Future focused
Comprehensive implementation
Place based flexibility
Collaboration
Adaptation and Continuous Improvement
Integrated Resource Management
Why pursue an IRMS?
THEN
 Project-by-project
regulation and allocation
 Management of
incremental effects
 Focus on preventing
adverse impact
NOW
 Continued economic and
population growth
 Need to manage cumulative
effects
 Heightened need for integration
and resource optimization
 Growing expectations of public
and stakeholders
 Regulation and allocation
considers overall capacity of air shed,
watershed, land base
 Focus on achieving desired
outcomes based on public input
 Establishment of limits for total
impacts on water, air, land, wildlife
Program delivery; Authorizations; Compliance assurance; etc
Fully Functional IRMS
 Integrated and aligned natural resource and
environmental policies
 Clear social, economic and environmental
outcomes that provide common goals
 Effective and efficient policy assurance program
 Robust performance measurement program
 Strong relationships with partners and stakeholders
 Continuous improvement of the System
 Systematic and timely adaptation
Current Status & Priorities
Priorities: Regional Planning
(Clear outcomes that provide common goals)
• LARP effective Sept 2012
• SSRP – targeting fall 2014 to come
into effect
o Public review of the draft plan ended on
February 28.
o Includes air management framework with
triggers and limits for NO2 PM2.5 and O3.
o NSRP – first phase of consultation
announced
Priorities: Regulatory Enhancement
(Effective and efficient policy assurance)
• Responsible Energy Development Act (Dec/12)
• Alberta Energy Regulator established (June/13)
o Mandate: Provide for the efficient, safe, orderly and
environmentally responsible development of Alberta’s
energy resources
o Relevant functions under Public Lands Act and Mines and
Mineral Act transferred (Nov/13)
o Relevant functions under EPEA and Water Act to be
transferred (Mar/14)
• Policy Management Office established (Fall/12)
o Integration processes/supports and other enabling
mechanisms under development
Priorities: Environmental Monitoring
(Robust performance measurement)
• Redesigning provincial ambient monitoring
o Centrally coordinated by arms-length organization
o Integrated amongst media – air, land, water, biodiversity
o Science based, open and transparent
• Canada-Alberta Joint Oil Sands Monitoring
Program (implementation underway)
• Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and
Reporting Agency
o Protecting Alberta’s Environment Act (Dec/13)
o Chair and Vice-Chair recruited; recruitment for Board of
Directors complete
o AEMERA officially kicked off May 22, 2014
o Recruitment of permanent staff Fall 2014
o 2014/15 to constitute transition year
Priorities: Aboriginal Consultation
(Strengthening relationships)
• Optimizing the use of partnerships and expertise
within the stakeholder community
• IRMS offers opportunity to participate in the system
at earlier, more strategic stages
• GoA is committed to consulting and engaging First
Nations and Aboriginal peoples across Alberta
o Respecting First Nations’ Treaty rights and traditional land uses
o Accessing the unique perspective of First Nations based on
close connection to land and ecosystems
o Collaborating with communities to conduct studies, collect data,
identify traditional areas, and monitor environmental changes
o Aboriginal Consultation Office established (Nov/13)
Working with Others in IRMS
Priorities: Clarifying Roles & Responsibilities
(Strengthening relationships)
IRMS Acknowledges the Need for…
Strong relationships with partners and
stakeholders:
• Government will build and maintain strong
relationships with key partners and
stakeholders to enable the successful
implementation of the IRMS. This will include
early and meaningful engagement of partners
and stakeholders (including Albertans).
Multi-stakeholder Organization Review
•
This project is about starting to describe what
it means to build strong relationships and
engage with others in integrated resource
management, and how we can enable this in
a deliberate way that respects the
Government’s commitment to be as effective,
efficient and relevant as possible in all of the
work we do.
•
Drivers:
•
•
•
Integrated Resource Management
Results Based Budgeting
CEMA Review
Priorities: Clarifying Roles & Responsibilities
(Strengthening relationships)
Multi-Stakeholder Organization Review
Phase I
(March/April)
Phase II
(May/June)
Phase III
(July/August)
• Planning and preparation
• Confirmation of purpose & principles
•
•
•
•
Current state assessment
Need for multi-stakeholder orgs within IRMS
Gap Analysis
Process led by GoA, stakeholder engagement
• Application of PhII recommendations to CEMA
• Third party contractor to conduct review on
behalf of GoA
• Review finalized by Sept 2014
AQMS and Air Management Frameworks
Policy Context: Alberta’s Renewed
Clean Air Strategy
The well-being of
Alberta’s population
is supported by
effective ambient air
quality management
Air quality will
maintain, protect
and sustain healthy
ecosystems
Ambient air quality
management
supports economic
sustainability
19
Policy Context: National Air Quality
Management System
Draft South Saskatchewan Regional Plan
Outcome 3
Objective
Strategy
Air Quality is
managed to
support
healthy
ecosystems
and human
needs
through
shared
stewardship.
Releases
from various
point and
non-point
sources are
managed so
they do not
collectively
result in
unacceptable
air quality.
Implement
the Air
Quality
Management
Framework
for the South
Saskatchewan
Region
Continue to
support the
Encourage
implementation
industry and
the public to
be proactive
in addressing
air quality
issues
through
voluntary
programs &
initiatives.
municipalities,
of the
Calgary
Region
Airshed Zone
Particulate
Matter and
Ozone
Management
Plan
21
Environmental Management Frameworks –
Regional Approach to Cumulative Effects

Indicators,
Thresholds

Environmental Indicators
are chosen
Thresholds (Triggers,
limits, targets) are set
Monitoring
and
Modeling
 Monitor and assess actual
conditions relative to triggers
and limits
Management  Action taken at
Response and
triggers and limits
Reporting
 Results reported
Air Quality Management
Framework: Management Response
“What does the
data/science
say?”
Verification
“What does it
mean?”
Investigation
“What are we
going
to do about it?”
“Were we
successful?”
Preliminary Assessment
Mitigative Management Actions
Oversight/Delivery
Assess Implementation
Effectiveness
Communication
AQMF Implementation – GOA Roles
and Responsibilities
Annual review and
assessment of ambient
data to determine levels
Initiate management
response when required
based on the
assessment data and
other approaches
Identify the role of
stakeholders and
aboriginal people for
management planning
and actions
Assess management
actions implemented
through other
frameworks or initiatives
Define timelines and
select or recommend
management
approaches and tools
Ensure management
approaches are
implemented
Communicate to
stakeholders and
aboriginal people the
implementation status
Maintain and support
collaborative
partnerships
Collaboration and engagement of stakeholders and aboriginal people remain
key to the overall management intent
24
Thank You!
Lisa Sadownik, ESRD
lisa.sadownik@gov.ab.ca
(780) 427-9563