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AEMERA Principles

AEMERA Principles. January 16, 2014. Agenda. Drivers for Change and Creation of AEMERA Background Value-based principles Function-based principles Program-based principles Appendix AEMERA-ESRD Agreements To Date Ambient Environmental Monitoring Definitions AEMERA’s Purpose.

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AEMERA Principles

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  1. AEMERA Principles January 16, 2014

  2. Agenda • Drivers for Change and Creation of AEMERA • Background • Value-based principles • Function-based principles • Program-based principles • Appendix • AEMERA-ESRD Agreements To Date • Ambient Environmental Monitoring Definitions • AEMERA’s Purpose

  3. Drivers for Change and Creation of AEMERA Public controversy over environmental monitoring in the oil sands area increased following publication of two scientific papers from University of Alberta research teams.1 Both the provincial and federal ministers of environment convened expert panels to assess current environmental monitoring in the oil sands region and develop recommendations on how such monitoring could be improved.2 Acting on the scientific and governance advice in these panel reports, former ESRD Minister McQueen directed a GoA policy response which included: • Defining direction for creation of an arms-length entity responsible for ambient environmental monitoring (two Ministers Reports); • Creating the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency (AEMERA) (Bill 31); and • Providing funding to AEMERA for operations in the oil sands region (regulation under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA)). 1. Kelly et al., 2009 and Kelly et al., 2010 2. Dowdeswellet al., 2010, Alberta Environmental Monitoring Panel, 2011; Alberta Working Group on Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting 2012

  4. Background • Integrated Resource Management System (IRMS) was introduced as a policy goal in late 2011.  Subsequent developments have clarified that IRMS includes policy (ESRD), policy assurance (AER) and monitoring and evaluation (AEMERA).   • The three-way partitioning of responsibilities has created some confusion and ESRD and AEMERA formed a transition team to clearly define and delineate roles and responsibilities.   • An IRMS Transition Team report was delivered on Oct 30, 2013 that outlined an approach and a progress update from Dec indicated MER areas where transition was agreed upon.  Several areas remain under discussion and others may yet be identified for consideration(see Appendix 1 for more details). • The principles below were developed to help provide clarity and facilitate decision making between ESRD and AEMERA such that AEMERA can go live on April 1, 2014 with a clear set of responsibilities.   Value-based • AEMERA’s principles have been broken down into three categories: • Value-based:  overarching values identified at the outset of the AEMERA initiative • Function-based:  key activities identified through the functional model outlined other AEMERA documentation • Program based: practical considerations for ensuring transition is effective and manageable. Function-based Program-based

  5. Value-based principles • Legitimacy: • The MER system must be seen as legitimate in the eyes of diverse stakeholders (including the Aboriginal community). • It must respect stakeholder values and be fair in its treatment of opposing views and interests. • A clear separation of environmental monitoring from the policy development and regulatory functions of government is essential. • Credibility: • Science must drive the design and execution of MER programs. • Data and information provided by the AEM system must be seen as scientifically sound, free of bias or perceived bias, and uncontrolled by any stakeholders. (including openness and transparency) • Relevance: • Information provided by the MER system must meet the needs of many stakeholders. • AEMERA must have a clear commitment to communicating with stakeholders and responding to their needs. • Operational Excellence: • AEMERA must demonstrate excellence in environmental monitoring, and deliver the best possible information in a timely, efficient and accountable manner. Function-based Program-based Value-based

  6. Function-based principles • AEMERA is defined based on GoAlegislation, regulations and other decisions summarized in Summary of Decision Reports RE: AEMERA. • AEMERA is accountable for all ambient environmental monitoring (including baseline and effects monitoring), evaluation and reporting in Alberta.1 • AEMERA and ESRD agree to support their transition discussions with common definitions and terms summarized in the Appendix. • AEMERA and all partners recognize their roles and responsibilities and will work collaboratively in delivering their mandate within IRMS. 1. July 2012 Cabinet Decision – World-Leading Environmental System Beginning in Lower Athabasca Region Function-based Program-based Value-based

  7. Program-based principles • Resources are used efficiently (e.g. duplication is minimized) • Division of responsibilities will be simple and understandable • Single source of information is accessible to a wide range of audiences • IRMS partners will continue to receive information • Existing process are used, where possible • Responsibility and resources are considered together • Commitment to communication of results and trends • Standardization of approach (a clear understanding of mandate and application of appropriate standards throughout) Function-based Program-based Value-based

  8. Appendix

  9. Appendix 1 – AEMERA-ESRD Agreements To Date Agreement in Principle Oct 20131 Agreement to Evaluate Dec 20132 • Key functions/assets to reside in AEMERA: • Hydrometric (Water Quantity) • Surface Water Quality • Air • Meteorological • Other Meteorological • Groundwater • Land • Labs, workshops, storage facilities, boats, safety equipment and misc. monitoring equipment • Budget $8.5M • Key functions/assets to reside in AEMERA: • Monitoring (Monitoring management team and monitoring field staff) • Data management • Science Assurance (Geospatial) • Business application support and database management • Evaluation & Reporting • Flow forecasting • Weather office/ meteorological * The evaluation and reporting function has been linked to a variety of programs. 1 GOA Integrated Resource Management System 2 Transitioning Environmental MER (AEMERA-ESRD)

  10. Appendix 2 – Ambient Environmental Monitoring Definitions • Ambient Environmental Monitoring is a term used to describe baseline and effects-based monitoring. It does not include compliance monitoring. • Baseline Monitoring describes the state of the environment and its natural variability. Baseline monitoring establishes the benchmark against which sites that are affected by development can be compared. • Effects or Effects-based Monitoring describes monitoring activities undertaken to determine the status or trend of specific environmental attributes or indicators that reflect the current state of the environment. It focuses on changes in the environment resulting from various anthropogenic activities but is also able to detect changes due to natural causes such as climate variation. • Compliance Monitoring or Performance-basedMonitoring describes monitoring activities undertaken to determine if a particular facility is complying with its operating approval(s) and related licencing or permitting conditions. Such monitoring focuses on understanding and managing pressures on the environment (e.g., end of pipe or top of stack emissions) but may include condition indicators for environmental media under the care and control of the operator (e.g., soil, groundwater). Definitions derived from AEMP Report p. 12-13

  11. Appendix 2 – Environmental Monitoring Definitions • Monitoring is the repeated or continuous observation of an indicator or variable through time. • Monitoring is normally undertaken to understand or manage a process or system, so evaluation of the observations (i.e., data) and reporting must occur for understanding to increase or a management action to be formulated or taken. • Environmental Monitoring involves observations of indicators of environmental condition (e.g., river flow, abundance or health of living things, quality of air or water, nature and extent of habitat etc.) or pressures on the condition of the environment (e.g., rate of release of toxic substances to air, water or land, rate of conversion of land use, greenhouse gas emission rates etc.). • Monitoring uses a variety of techniques to makes observations including sampling and analysis of air, water, landscapes, soil, vegetation, fish and wildlife. Definitions derived from AEMP Report p. 12-13

  12. Appendix 2– Evaluation and Reporting Definitions • Evaluation involves assessing the monitoring data to determine what is happening to the environment and why. • This requires integration of scientific insight, statistical analysis, treatment of uncertainty, and may involve process-based modeling. • Evaluation seeks to determine the existence and significance or relationships between pressures on the environment and the impacts those pressures may be having on the environment. • Reporting is the dissemination and publication of monitoring data and evaluation results to a variety of audiences. • A general objective of GoA and IRMS/AEMERA in particular is to move to an open data concept where primary data and information are available to all for purposes both known and not yet defined. • Nevertheless, a key objective of environmental monitoring reporting is to communicate information that supports policy development and informs environmental management decision making. Definitions derived from AEMP Report p. 12-13

  13. Appendix 3 - AEMERA’s Purpose1 The purposes of the Agency are: • To obtain credible and relevant scientific data and other information regarding the condition of the environment in Alberta, • To ensure the data and other information are available and reported to the public in an open and transparent manner, and • Any other purpose prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council In carrying out its purposes, the Agency shall: • Plan, co-ordinate and conduct environmental monitoring, • Collect, store, manage, analyze and evaluate environmental monitoring data, • Report on the status and trends related to the condition of the environment on the basis of the evaluation of the data collected, • Make environmental monitoring data and related evaluations and assessments publicly available, • Develop standards respecting environmental monitoring, • Establish advisory committees or panels respecting environmental monitoring, and • Carry out other activities determined by the Minister. The Agency may charge fees on a cost-recovery basis for requested services provided by the Agency in carrying out its purposes. 1. Bill 31: Protecting Alberta’s Environment Act

  14. Practical example highlighting the challenge to delineate compliance and ambient monitoring Compliance Monitoring Ambient Monitoring Air stack emissions Monitoring stations

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