1

Welcome to the

International Right of Way Association’s

Course 600Environmental Awareness

600-PT – Revision 2 – 03.21.08.CAN

2

Introductions

Who we are…What we do…

Where we do it…

How long we’ve been doing it…

Our goals for the course...

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Objectives (1) At the conclusion of the day,

you will be able to...

Discuss basic environmental science words, terms and concepts

Understand better environmentallaws and regulations

4

Objectives (2) At the conclusion of the day,

you will be able to...

Recognise both the adverse and beneficial impacts of projects on the environment

Learn approaches to avoid, minimise and mitigate project related impacts on the environment

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Housekeeping

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Schedule (1)

8:00 - 8:30 Introductions, Etc.

8:30 - 9:15 Environmental Overview

9:15 - 10:00 Environmental Conservation

v. Environmental Contamination

10:15 - 10:45 Environmental Biology

10:45 - 11:30 Environmental Impact Assessment

Process

11:30 - 12:00 Identifying Environmental Issues

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Schedule (2)

1:00 - 3:15 Environmental Compliance

3:15 - 3:45 Right of Way Agents’ Rolesin the EIA Process

3:45 - 4:00 Summary and Review

4:00 - 5:00 Exam

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Environment Defined (1)

 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

Environmental Assessmentand Consultant

Improvement Act

EnvironmentalBill of Rights

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Environment Defined (2)

Dictionary

Textbook

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Environment Defined (3)

...encompasses the biophysical (both biotic and abiotic), economic, social and cultural conditions and the interactions betweenand among them. The essential factors that contribute to the daily processes of life.

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Environment Defined (4)

Natural environmentPhysical environmentHuman environment

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Ecosystem Defined

The basic ecological unit, made up ofa community of organisms interacting with their inanimate environment.

The systems of plants, animals, and micro-organisms together with the non-living components of their environment and related ecological processes.

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Environmental Evolution (1)

1880s: Conservation movement begins

1880s: National parks

19th c.: Nation building

1930s: Great Depression

1940s: WW II and post WW II

1960s: “The Sixties”

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Environmental Evolution (2)

1970: Canada Water Act1970: Fisheries Act1970: International Boundary Waters Treaty Act1970: National Energy Board Act1970: National Parks Act

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Environmental Evolution (3)

1970: Navigable Waters Protection Act1971: Clean Air Act1973: Federal Environmental

Assessment and Review Process (Cabinet directive)

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Environmental Evolution (4)

1974-1975: Environmental Contaminants

Act1974-1975: Ocean Dumping Control Act1989: Canadian

EnvironmentalProtection Act

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Environmental Evolution (5)

Plus provincial andterritorial laws and policies.

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Environmental Legislation Hierarchy

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Environmental Legislation Types

Umbrella LegislationSpecific Pollution Legislation

Specific Industrial Sector LegislationLand Use Control Legislation

Public Involvement Legislation

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Federal Legislation (1)

Canada Water ActNational Parks ActCanada Environmental Assessment ActCanadian Environmental Protection ActMigratory Birds Convention Act

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Federal Legislation (2)

Pest Control Products ActNational Energy Board ActNavigable Waters Protection ActDangerous Goods Transportation Act

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Exercise No. 3 (1)

Banff National Park created.

Environmental Bill of Rights.

Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

The term acid rain first appears in print.

Canada Water Act.

British North American Act.

1885

1994

1999

1872

1970

1867

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Exercise No. 3 (2)

First Earth Day celebrated.

Prime Minister Trudeau creates the Department of the Environment.

Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement signed.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

DDT banned.

1970

2007

1903

1995 first proclaimed

1972

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Exercise No. 3 (3)

Environmental movement begins.

St. Basile le Grande PCB fire.

Canadian Dust Bowl.

First Canadian oil production.

Silent Springs published.

Rupert ’s Land becomes part of Canada.

1880s

1988

1930s

1857

1962

1868

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Exercise No. 3 (4)

Klondike Gold Rush.

Transcontinental railroad opened.

St. Lawrence Seaway opens.

Exxon Valdez spill.

Hagarsville tire fire.

Hole in the ozone layer.

1897

1885

1959

1989

1990

1985

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Exercise No. 3 (5)

British Columbia joins the Confederation.

Lead paint phased out.

Alyeska pipeline completed.

1871

1970s

1977

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Provincial Environmental Impact Assessment Processes: General Similarities

Legal Basis for Assessment

Lead Agency and Coordinated Approach

Screening Mechanisms

Public Participation

Environmental Impact Statements

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Conservation v. ContaminationConservation is the careand preservation of plants, animals, their habitats and natural resources.

Contamination is the introduction into air, soil or water of micro-organisms, chemicals, toxic substances, waste or wastewater ina concentration that causes adverse affects to humanhealth and the environment.

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Exercise No. 4

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Energy Sources (1)

Heat Energy Photochemical Energy

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Energy Sources (2)

Heat Energy

Heats the earth

Heats theatmosphere

Drives the water cycle

Provides air and water currents

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Energy Sources (3)

Photochemical Energy

Utilised by plantsin photosynthetesis

Fixed into carbohydrates

Fuel for organisms

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Food Chain

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Trophic Levels (1)

Trophic levels arethe feeding position in a food chain (i.e., primary producers, herbivores, primary carnivores, etc.).

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Trophic Levels (2)

Omnivores: Feed at variuos trophic levels and feed on both plant and animal tissue.

Carnivores: Flesh eaters with their main energy source being herbivores.

Herbivores: Feed on plants.

Decomposers: Release nutients.

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Nitrogen Cycle

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Environmental Impact Assessment (1)

An environmental impact assessment represents a systematic process for integrating environmental, socio-economic, cultural and health considerations in project planning and decisionmaking.

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Environmental Impact Assessment (2)

Phase I: Environmental inventory is conducted withina prescribed study area.

Phase II: Generates alternative routes and the selection of a preferred route.

Phase III: Detailed environmental survey of the preferred route. Preparation of the EIS.

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Exercise No. 5

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(EIA) Lessons Learned

Involve the public

Consider all issues

Provide adequate time

Consider monitoring data

Consider public interest concerns

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Case Study

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CEAA

Legislative basis for the federal practice of environmental assessment.

Ensures that projects are federally reviewed to ensure that they do not cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Provides the public with the opportunity to participate in the environmental assessment process.

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CEPA

Legislative concerned primarily with federal air quality objectives, emissions guidelines and emissions standards.

Takes a multidimensional approach to the control of all toxic chemicals.

Establishes a "cradle-to-grave” responsibility.

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TDGAThe Act promotes public safety and protects the environment during the transportation of dangerous goods, including hazardous wastes.

The statutes apply to those who transport dangerous goods and to those who manufacture, package andship the containment materials.

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Provinces and Territories

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Exercise No. 6

What environmental issues might arise due to:

• Widening a 10-mile road section from twolanes to four lanes?

• Maintaining an electric transmission corridor?

• Installing a 40-mile long fiber optics cable, including two navigable river crossings?

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Objectives (1) Now, you are able to...

Discuss basic environmental sciencewords, terms and concepts

Understand better environmental laws and regulations

48

Objectives (2) Now, you are able to...

Recognise both the adverse and beneficial impacts of projects on the environment

Learn approaches to avoid, minimise and mitigate project related impacts on the environment

49

Thank you!

600-PT – Revision 2 – 03.21.08.CAN