Stephanie Allen & Deneen Brigham,
Environmental Scientists
OFNTSC Southern Tribal Council, Large & Unaffiliated First OFNTSC Southern Tribal Council, Large & Unaffiliated First Nations Meeting, Oct. 24-25, 2012Nations Meeting, Oct. 24-25, 2012
Environment Unit UpdateEnvironment Unit Update
Environment Program Mandate
OFNTSC will work closely with its clients in providing a wide range of Environmental advisory services to support the increasing demand to build technical capacity and a sustainable environment
Clients:•Tribal Councils•Large First Nations•Unaffiliated First Nations including OFNTSC staff directly serving these FNs
Corporate:•Support to various committees e.g. COO, NOFNEC•OFNTSC Board & Management e.g. briefing notes, proposals
Environment Program Services Types of Services:
• Advisory – provision of information such as generic TOR, BMPs, guidance material, AANDC process, forms, policy & legislation, funding
• Technical – scientific / technical project reviews, support to project committees
• Training – dependent on client needs and available funding
• Special Projects – based on need, time, and funding availability
Environment Program
• Managed by Brian Staats, Operations Manager
• 2 Environmental ScientistsStephanie Allen– Toronto office– Directly serves southern region First
Nations & Tribal CouncilsDeneen Brigham – Thunder Bay office– Directly serves northern region First
Nations & Tribal Councils• Environment Intern: Trevor Wells
Solid Waste Management & DiversionEnvironmental AssessmentSpills & Environmental EmergenciesWater Quality & Source Water ProtectionContaminated Site Assessment & RemediationCommunity Sustainability & PlanningEnergy Efficiency & ConservationEnvironmental Education and AwarenessEnvironmental Legislation & RegulationsEnvironment Funding Opportunities
Solid Waste Management
New & Noteworthy• Waste Diversion Opportunities: ongoing
advisory services and assistance related to Blue Box, Waste Electronics, Tires, and Household Hazardous Wastes
• OFNTSC First Nations Landfill Operations & Maintenance and Waste Diversion Training 2-day Course
• Completed the Sudbury Area FNs Recycling Evaluation Project and associated professional waste audit. 21 First Nations participated in this project.
• Next steps: 4-season waste audit
•Solid Waste Management Planning•Source Reduction & Diversion including waste auditing•Landfill Operations & Maintenance Best Practices•Siting Studies•Bird Hazard Studies•Capital Project Planning•Special Wastes•Legislation & Policy•Funding
First Nations Natural Attenuation Landfill Operations & Maintenance Course
• 2-day course developed by OFNTSC with the assistance of Stantec and through generous funding from AANDC
• Designed for FNs Public Works and Landfill Managers
• Participants develop a Landfill Operations & Maintenance Manual for their site during the course
• 3 offerings to date: Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout, Rama FN
• Course being planned for this FY,funding dependent
Environmental Assessment
New & Noteworthy• CEAA 2012 eliminates most environmental
assessments for on-reserve capital projects however provision in the Act requires AANDC to continue to ensure environmental protection of federal and reserve lands
• New AANDC environmental assessment process and forms
• OFNTSC ongoing provision of advisory and technical assistance in relation to environmental assessments for on-reserve capital infrastructure projects
•CEAA triggers & process•AANDC forms and approvals process•Federal and Regulatory Authorities•Harmonization with provincial EA processes•Project Descriptions and Scoping•Alternatives & Mitigation•Determining Significance•Legislation & Policy
88
Proponent prepares Project Description Form (PD) as early as possible
Detailed Environmental
Review
Simple Environmental Review
CEAA 2012 Designated Projects List
EA overseen by Agency /NEB/CNSC
Proponent completes a
Simple Environmental Review form
Proponent prepares Environmental Review
report in accordance with the Terms of Reference / Detailed Environmental Review Template and
submits to AANDC
Proponent Tool BoxFlowchart (this document)Project Description Form - FillableSimple Environmental Review formTerms of Reference/Detailed Environmental Review TemplateEnvironmental Compliance Form
Proponent provides Environmental
Compliance form t o AANDC as part of
completion documentation
Report is approved.
Project may proceed
Project on AANDC Minor Project List
AANDC completes last page of PD and provides
advice on any Environmental Best
Practices
Environmental Best Practices , mitigation
measures incorporated into permits, leases,
funding agreements
AANDC reviews PD , determines level of Environmental Review
Required.
Legend
Proponent Responsibility
AANDC Responsibility
Available Tool E.g. Form)
Designated Project – Outside
AANDC’s role
AANDC reviews report and proposed
mitigation
Are significant adverse
environmental effects likely?
Project cannot proceed Or
Refer to Governor in Council to determine if
effects are justifiedYesNo
Source Water Protection & Water Quality
New & Noteworthy• Well Aware for First Nations Project has wrapped
up. The project involved development of a First Nations specific booklet and fact sheets
• First Nations Dedicated Children’s Water Festival Trailer plus a second trailer has been provided a home in Dryden – mini Children’s Water Festival held at OFNTSC Water Symposium
• Source Protection Planning Toolkit Project – in development, currently looking for funding
• Source Water Protection Planning Workshops – NOFNEC, upcoming HC mtg
•Source Protection Planning•Individual Household Wells•Water Quality Standards/Objectives•Legislation & Policy•Funding
Contaminated Site Assessment and Remediation
Typical services provided:• advisory and technical assistance on
remediation projects, and contaminated site assessments including Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Processes;
• assistance with developing TOR for retaining professional project managers and consultants to complete assessment and remediation work
•Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments•Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessments•Human Health Risk Assessment•Ecological Risk Assessment•Remediation and Risk Management•Innovative Remediation Technologies•Legislation & Policy•Funding
Fuel Storage Tank Systems, Spills & Environmental Emergency Response
New & Noteworthy• Ongoing support in response to
First Nations’ fuel tank spills and clean-up projects
• Currently developing a Small Tank Project to provide First Nations with a Guide and training
• AANDC Phase 2 Fuel Tank Assessment Project: work was completed, currently individual projects are advancing
•Capital Project Planning•Operation & Maintenance Codes of Practice•Emergency Response Planning•Legislation & Regulations•Funding
Other Areas of Activity
• Advisory services related to:• Environmental Legislation &
Regulation• Energy Efficiency & Conservation• Community Sustainability Planning
• Funding Opportunities and other environment updates regularly posted to OFNTSC Forum
• Environmental Education and Awareness: workshops and presentations
OFNTSC ENVIRONMENT CONTACTS
Stephanie AllenEnvironmental ScientistOFNTSC111 Peter St., Suite 606Toronto, ONM5V 2H1Tel. (416) 651-1443 ext. [email protected]
Deneen BrighamEnvironmental ScientistOFNTSC200 South Syndicate Ave.Thunder Bay, ONP7E 1C9Tel. (807) [email protected]
