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Toward the development of northern water standards

Toward the development of northern water standards. Kathleen Racher Water Resources Division. presentation to the MVLWB December 5, 2007. Auditor General’s Report 2005. The audit…

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Toward the development of northern water standards

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  1. Toward the development of northern water standards Kathleen Racher Water Resources Division presentation to the MVLWB December 5, 2007

  2. Auditor General’s Report 2005 • The audit… • “examined how well INAC has managed its responsibilities for the process set out in the MVRMA for the development of non-renewable resources in the NWT.” • One recommendation… • “INAC, in consultation with the boards under the MVRMA, should develop standards for water and the Minister should direct the boards to use the standards.”

  3. INAC Response: Providing proponents with greater certainty • Ascertain the information needs of water users (with respect to water standards used by the boards to set licence terms and conditions). • In consultation with the boards, develop water standards and set them out in codes, guidelines, policy, or regulations as best fits the need.

  4. What do we need with respect to water standards and in what form? “Toward the development of northern water standards: review and evaluation of approaches for managing water use in northern Canada” -Macdonald Environmental Sciences Ltd, 2007

  5. Discussion Paper: Towards the development of northern water standards • Evaluate existing approaches to water management in the NWT • Review approaches used by other jurisdictions • Propose several possible options to address Auditor General’s concerns • For each option, outline a process for implementation

  6. Factors considered in setting effluent quality criteria in existing licences • Properties of the water body: • Baseline conditions • Natural animal and plant species • Volume, shape, flow • Properties of the industry: • Volume of waste-water • Contaminant types • Best available treatment technologies Lake Water quality objectives: What residents said they wanted the water quality to be at specific locations

  7. Option 1: Establish Uniform Water Quality Objectives for the NWT 1) 2) Protect drinking water use Protect aquatic life Natural water quality Non-degradation approach Use-protection approach Much more research required

  8. Factors considered in setting effluent quality criteria in existing licences • Properties of the water body: • Baseline conditions • Natural animal and plant species • Volume, shape • Properties of the industry: • Volume of waste-water • Contaminant type • Best available treatment technologies Lake Water quality objectives: What residents said they wanted the water quality to be at specific locations

  9. Option 2: Establish Industry-Specific Effluent Quality Criteria Based on an analysis of the best “practical” treatment technologies of each industry type. e.g., Metal Mining Effluent Regulations • However, this analysis has not yet been done for: • Diamond mining • Quarrying • Oil and gas developments • Municipal developments

  10. Discussion Paper: Towards the development of northern water standards • Option 1: Establishing uniform water quality objectives • Option 2: Establishing industry-specific effluent quality criteria. • Option 3: Establish a process or procedure for defining the above that can be consistently applied but on a case-by-case basis

  11. Option 3: Establish a Framework for Deriving and Applying Project-Specific Effluent Quality Criteria Long Range Vision for Water Quality Water Quality Policy (To clearly articulate what factors will be considered in the final decision making) Best Technology (where “best” is what is possible? feasible? affordable? Water Quality Objective (to protect all aquatic life? drinking water?) (dilution zone?) And/Or

  12. Utility of a Water Quality Policy: Example Best Practices Water quality objectives Protection of Aquatic Life Panel of Industry Experts: what is feasible? National water quality guidelines (e.g., CCME) End of pipe limits

  13. Development of a Water Quality Policy to Guide Decision Making • Water quality objective: • protect aquatic life (at a minimum) • minimize contamination • Best practices and/or treatment technology: • consider what is possible • understand what is feasible • balance cost to proponent with benefit to environment Articulate: the balance we want to strike between economic development and environmental protection

  14. Where to from here? • “In consultation with the boards, develop water standards and set them out in codes, guidelines, policy, or regulations as best fits the need.” • Steps? • Distribute discussion paper • INAC offers to meet with individual Boards to discuss options • Tell us what option(s) you favour • Have a formal collective discussion at next Board forum

  15. Questions? • David Livingstone • Indian and Northern Affairs • NWT-Region • 867-669-2647 • livingstoned@inac.gc.ca

  16. Definition of “water standards” • stand·ard   –noun • - something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison; an approved model • - a rule or principle that is used as a basis for judgment: • an average or normal requirement, quality, quantity, level, grade, etc • .standards, those morals, ethics, habits, etc., established by authority, custom, or an individual as acceptable

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