Water/Effluent Quality Guidelines Working Group

1. Water/Effluent Quality Guidelines Working Group Update on Progress MVLWB meeting December 11, 2008 Kathleen Racher Rick Walbourne Helga Harlander Tyree Mullaney Mark Cliffe-Philips Joan Gordey Kathleen Graham Janna Ward

2. Purpose of Working Group#3 To develop an approach for creating clear and consistent policy and procedures for deriving water/effluent quality criteria for water licences. Policy options for the consistent setting of effluent quality criteria An implementation plan for the policy option chosen by the Board Procedures for setting water/effluent quality criteria for all types of water licences

3. Water and Effluent Quality Criteria Industry Effluent Quality Criteria: the maximum allowable concentrations of contaminants that can be discharged. Effluent Water Quality Criteria: the water quality we are trying to maintain in the receiving water body . Lake Currently, these are set on a case-by-case basis.

4. Why should we develop a policy? • The absence of clear policies and procedures for deriving water and/or effluent quality criteria results in: • Uncertainty for water licence applicants - they don’t know, in advance, how their case will be considered • A constant need for Boards and Board Staff to re-invent (and then defend) a process for each application • External parties are asking for it – for example, the Auditor General and industry • INAC will do it if we don’t

5. Why don’t we just write down what we do now? Federal Legislation & Regulations Land Claims Water Monitoring MVRMA CCME CIMP Policy for deriving water/effluent quality criteria Keepers of the Water, Water Wise NWT Water Strategy Land Use Plans Development Sectors (Industrial, Municipal) Baseline Data WQO (stated in different contexts)

6. Collectively, all these factors define... ...an NWT Water Quality Management System Federal Legislation & Regulations Land Claims MVRMA Water Monitoring CIMP CCME Policy for deriving water/effluent quality criteria NWT Water Strategy Keepers of the Water, Water Wise Land Use Plans Development Sectors (Industrial, Municipal) Baseline Data WQO (stated in different contexts)

7. 1. Describe Water Quality Management in NWT • Describe existing “water quality management structure” of the NWT: • Gather information on existing water quality law, policy and management regime in the NWT through literature review and key interviews • Information presented in terms of an “ideal” management structure

8. An “ideal” management system Way to measure success in achieving goals Strategies, policies describing goals for water quality in the NWT PLAN Assess what to do if goals are not being achieved, then make changes Regulations, procedures, laws etc to implement policies. DO ACT CHECK

9. An orderly description and analysis of ... NWT Water Quality Management System PLAN DO CHECK ACT Water Strategy MVRMA Water monitoring Part 6 Audit LWB Policy CCME guides CIMP etc Etc. Etc. Etc.

10. 1. Analyze Water Quality Management in NWT • Describe existing “water quality management structure” of the NWT: • Gather information on existing water quality law, policy and management regime in the NWT through literature review and key interviews • Information presented in terms of an “ideal” management structure • Gap Analysis: determine what gaps exist that will affect our ability to develop policies and procedures for deriving water/effluent quality criteria • Differentiate gaps that we can fill ourselves versus those that must be filled with others or by others

11. Importance of Gap Analysis: Example Monitor water quality downstream of projects Goal: protect the environment. Define a policy for deriving EQC PLAN If downstream water quality isn’t good, change the policy Set EQC for projects according to a policy DO ACT CHECK

12. Gap Analysis NWT Water Quality Management System PLAN DO CHECK ACT Water Strategy MVRMA INAC water monitoring Part 6 Audit LWB Policy CCME guides CIMP etc Etc. Etc. Etc.

13. 2. Jurisdictional Analysis Describe and evaluate the water quality management structures of other Canadian jurisdictions to see if there are lessons to be learned. Progress? Gap Analysis and Jurisdictional Analysis has been completed – final paper out on October 31, 2008.

14. 3. Policy Discussion Paper • Builds on information already collected and discusses: • Why a water quality policy is necessary • What a water quality policy for the Boards might look like • Any issues or gaps that exist in the Board’s own current processes that would need to be addressed in order to finalize a water quality policy • How a water quality policy, as set by the Board, would fit into and strengthen the larger NWT water quality management system • Issues/gaps in the NWT water quality management system that would hinder the Board’s ability to set and implement a water quality policy Progress: Under review by working group

15. Outline of a Water Quality Policy Purpose Scope Application Guiding Principles Objectives Roles and Responsibilities Establishing Project-Specific Water Quality Objectives How Water Quality Objectives Are Used During Water Licensing Management Review and Accountability

16. Next Steps? • Working Group has not defined these yet...however, we have discussed the following possibilities: • Have a facilitated workshop to fill in the Water Quality Policy outline – what we don’t know yet is who would be invited to the workshop (i.e., Working Group only? Full Board? Working Group and some Board members? All stakeholders?) • Policy would be sent out for review and comment • Have another facilitated workshop to firmly define the linkages of our policy to other factors in the NWT Water Quality Management system – figure out how to work with other organizations to make our policy successful • ?

17. Thanks to: Working Group members Stratos Consulting MVLWB administrative staff for help with logistics and contracts Full Board and Executive Directors for support and encouragement

18. Comments or Questions?