1 Managing Cumulative Impacts SCEK Forum June 10, 2004 Fort St. John

2 Project Phases Phase 1 ( ): Establish a Framework to Assess and Manage Cumulative Effects in Northeast BC Included: –Dual Track Approach to Cumulative Impact Management (CIM) –Identification of Potential Thresholds –Regional Assessment, Hotspot Mapping, Effects Management Options –Development of CIM Screener (CIMS) Concept Phase 2 (2004): Implementation of CIMS

3 Background What are cumulative impacts? –Occur when the impacts of two or more actions overlap What’s happening in NE BC? –High concentration of resource-based industries –Relatively rapid growth and expansion –High non-industry values (e.g., wilderness, traditional use) Why did this study come about? –Concerns about proactively managing the impacts of multiple land uses on a finite land base

4 Regional Land Use (road density)

Project Matrices Effects Management Project-specific and jointly coordinated Cumulative Impacts Screener (CIMS) Project-specific (“Track #1”) Regional (“Track #2”) Immediate Cumulative Impact Management (CIM) Regional Database Steering Committee OGC, OGCAB, WLAP, MSRM, Forests, MKAB, Energy and Mines, Communities, First Nations Regional Assessment Issues Features Hotspots Effects Management Regional coordinated Regional Studies Landscape Conservation VEC Response Future Forecasting Land and Resource Objectives New Thresholds Immediate Long-term Short-term Regional Monitoring Existing Thresholds

6 Benefits of Proactive CIM Provides a reasonable level of information on cumulative effects that will reduce risk of project delay caused by stakeholder demands for detailed regional assessments to manage impacts Provides industry, regulators, stakeholders, and courts with transparent and defensible information on which to judge cumulative impact acceptability, including impact on traditional land use opportunities Encourages oil and gas sector and multi-sector analysis and planning; experience in Alberta indicates that this reduces, not increases, development costs Supports community/aboriginal communications Defined limits of acceptable change (e.g., air and water quality criteria) provide higher certainty to proponents, regulators, and stakeholders

7 CIM at Regional Level What is a regional ‘framework’? –Overarching strategy containing many separate but integrated pieces, some of which are already in place –Considers environmental, social, economic and cultural values –Provides tools and guidance that are appropriate to the region and consistent with other regional initiatives (e.g., LRMPs, pre- tenure plans, etc.) –Slows down the pace of change – "buys" time to make good decisions How does this differ from what is being done now in NE BC? –Emphasizes cumulative impacts in development of resource information and research directions –Provides structure around existing (and future) initiatives and management actions so that decisions are not made in isolation

8 CIM at Regional Level (cont'd) What is included? –Baseline setting (air, soils, aquatic, vegetation, wildlife) –Issues of concern –Valued ecosystem components (or ‘values’) –‘Hotspots’ (i.e., areas of concern for cumulative impacts) –Thresholds –Effects Management How will this be useful for CIM? –Starting point for identifying issues, impacts and ‘limits of acceptable change’ –Coordinated database development –Means of focusing research and management efforts on geographic areas of greatest concern

9 Thresholds Point at which an indicator changes from an acceptable to unacceptable condition Objective, science-based standards –Linked to cumulative impact indicators Clearly define desired outcome and ‘acceptable change’ –Recognize social, economic, and political factors Can be used to evaluate acceptability of both project- specific and regional cumulative impacts Already used in BC: –Air and water quality thresholds Efficient and results-based Tied to enhanced review and management decisions

10 Candidate Thresholds for Northeast BC Land use Indicators –Access density –Stream crossing index Habitat Indicators –Core area –Patch and corridor size

11 Tiered Thresholds Cautionary Thresholds –Early warning –Apply ‘Enhanced protection measures’ and monitoring –Ensures local data available Target Thresholds –Acceptable value or range –Apply ‘Restrictive protection measures’ and monitoring Critical Thresholds –Maximum acceptable value –Impact management designed to keep indicator below this value

12 Impact Management Measures

13 CIM at Project Level How does looking at one application help manage regional cumulative impacts? –Checking and tracking applications as they arise –Slowing down the pace of change What are the challenges to implementing CIM at this level –High volume of applications –OGC commitment to relatively quick reviews –Present lack of thresholds as basis for measuring change What is a Project Screener? –Tool to check for cumulative impacts at application stage –Checklist based –Adaptable for use with thresholds, but useable in interim

14 Simplified CIM Screener Routine Review OGC review begins OGC review continues Expanded Review Conformance check Thresholds check Effects and mitigation check Specification of mitigation Specification of monitoring 1.Initiate Advanced Screener 2.Refer to OGC Advisory Group 3.Implement/continue regional initiatives

15 Implement CIMS as a dual track approach Form a central CIMS Steering Committee Refine and implement thresholds Implement CIM Screener for addressing cumulative impacts at the project review stage by OGC Maintain a regional database Implement various levels of impact management measures – locally and regionally Encourage applied research, especially that which will advance the development and implementation of thresholds Implement monitoring in an adaptive management fashion Phase 1 Recommendations

16 Phase 2: CIM Screener (CIMS) Implementation Make explicit and enhance what the OGC is already doing to address cumulative effects Provide a defensible, consistent and documented (i.e., transparent) process to address cumulative effects Assist OGC Resource Officers in identifying situations that possibly may be of concern Provide a meaningful response to cumulative effects by optimizing selection and reasonable application of effects management options Pilot test summer '04; full implementation anticipated Fall '04

17 Basis of CIMS Approach Uses available information, resources No thresholds included, as none yet available (except Pre-tenure Plans) Paper forms used for pilot program Can be later incorporated into OGC's electronic application-based process One screener for individual projects One screener for GDPs

18 CIMS Attributes Clear linkages to existing OGC application review process Based on a series of steps or “checks” to determine and address the cumulative effects of both routine and complex applications Provides a proportional review response based on the likelihood of effects of concern Form based ("check-lists") Identification and use of various information sources (including a regional data base), most of which are currently available and some of which would become available upon full implementation of the proposed CIM Incorporates thresholds (where and when available) Continues use of referrals (e.g., First Nations, land management agencies) as a means of obtaining broader input Clear guidance: to proponents on information requirements to reviewers to assist them in determining the fate of an application

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