Transcript Welcome to the International Right of Way Association’s

Welcome to the
International Right of Way Association’s
Course 600
Environmental Awareness
1
600-PT – Revision 2 – 03.21.08.CAN
Introductions
Who we are…
What we do…
Where we do it…
How long we’ve been doing it…
Our goals for the course...
2
Objectives (1)
At the conclusion of the day,
you will be able to...
 Discuss basic environmental science
words, terms and concepts
 Understand better environmental
laws and regulations
3
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
4
 Learn approaches to avoid, minimise
and mitigate project related impacts
on the environment
Housekeeping
5
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
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Identifying Environmental Issues
Schedule (2)
7
1:00 - 3:15
Environmental Compliance
3:15 - 3:45
Right of Way Agents’ Roles
in the EIA Process
3:45 - 4:00
Summary and Review
4:00 - 5:00
Exam
Environment Defined (1)
Canadian Environmental
Assessment Act
Environmental Assessment
and Consultant
Improvement Act
Environmental
Bill of Rights
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Environment Defined (2)
Dictionary
Textbook
9
Environment Defined (3)
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...encompasses the
biophysical (both biotic
and abiotic), economic,
social and cultural
conditions and the
interactions between
and among them. The
essential factors that
contribute to the daily
processes of life.
Environment Defined (4)
Natural environment
Physical environment
Human environment
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Ecosystem Defined
The basic ecological unit, made up of
a community of organisms interacting
with their inanimate environment.
The systems of plants, animals, and
micro-organisms together with the nonliving components of their environment
and related ecological processes.
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Environmental Evolution (1)
1880s: Conservation movement begins
1880s:
19th c.:
1930s:
1940s:
National parks
Nation building
Great Depression
WW II and post WW II
1960s: “The Sixties”
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Environmental Evolution (2)
1970: Canada Water Act
1970: Fisheries Act
1970: International Boundary
Waters Treaty Act
1970: National Energy Board Act
1970: National Parks Act
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Environmental Evolution (3)
1970: Navigable Waters Protection Act
1971: Clean Air Act
1973: Federal Environmental
Assessment and Review Process
(Cabinet directive)
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Environmental Evolution (4)
1974-1975: Environmental
Contaminants Act
1974-1975: Ocean Dumping Control Act
1989:
Canadian Environmental
Protection Act
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Environmental Evolution (5)
Plus provincial and
territorial laws and policies.
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Environmental Legislation Hierarchy
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Environmental Legislation Types
Umbrella Legislation
Specific Pollution Legislation
Specific Industrial Sector Legislation
Land Use Control Legislation
Public Involvement Legislation
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Federal Legislation (1)
Canada Water Act
National Parks Act
Canada Environmental Assessment Act
Canadian Environmental Protection Act
Migratory Birds Convention Act
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Federal Legislation (2)
Pest Control Products Act
National Energy Board Act
Navigable Waters Protection Act
Dangerous Goods Transportation Act
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Exercise No. 3 (1)
Banff National Park created.
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Environmental Bill of Rights.
1885
1994
Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
1999
The term acid rain first appears in print.
1872
Canada Water Act.
1970
British North American Act.
1867
Exercise No. 3 (2)
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First Earth Day celebrated.
1970
Prime Minister Trudeau creates the
Department of the Environment.
2007
Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
signed.
1903
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
1995 first
proclaimed
DDT banned.
1972
Exercise No. 3 (3)
Environmental movement begins.
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St. Basile le Grande PCB fire.
1880s
1988
Canadian Dust Bowl.
1930s
First Canadian oil production.
1857
Silent Springs published.
1962
Rupert ’s Land becomes part of Canada.
1868
Exercise No. 3 (4)
Klondike Gold Rush.
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Transcontinental railroad opened.
1897
1885
St. Lawrence Seaway opens.
1959
Exxon Valdez spill.
1989
Hagarsville tire fire.
1990
Hole in the ozone layer.
1985
Exercise No. 3 (5)
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British Columbia joins the
Confederation.
1871
Lead paint phased out.
1970s
Alyeska pipeline completed.
1977
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. Contamination
Conservation is the care
and preservation of plants,
animals, their habitats and
natural resources.
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Contamination is the
introduction into air, soil or
water of micro-organisms,
chemicals, toxic substances,
waste or wastewater in
a concentration that causes
adverse affects to human
health and the environment.
Exercise No. 4
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Energy Sources (1)
Heat Energy
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Photochemical
Energy
Energy Sources (2)
Heats the earth
Heats the
atmosphere
Heat Energy
Drives the water
cycle
Provides air and
water currents
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Energy Sources (3)
Utilised by plants
in photosynthetesis
Fixed into
carbohydrates
Fuel for organisms
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Photochemical
Energy
Food Chain
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Trophic Levels (1)
Trophic levels are
the 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.
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Decomposers: Release
nutients.
Nitrogen Cycle
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Environmental Impact Assessment (1)
An environmental
impact assessment
represents a systematic
process for integrating
environmental, socioeconomic, cultural and
health considerations in
project planning and
decisionmaking.
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Environmental Impact Assessment (2)
Phase I: Environmental
inventory is conducted within
a 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.
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Provides the public with the
opportunity to participate in
the environmental assessment
process.
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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TDGA
The 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 and
ship 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 two
lanes to four lanes?
• Maintaining an electric transmission corridor?
• Installing a 40-mile long fiber optics cable,
including two navigable river crossings?
46
Objectives (1)
Now, you are able to...
 Discuss basic environmental science
words, terms and concepts
 Understand better environmental laws
and regulations
47
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
48
Thank you!
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600-PT – Revision 2 – 03.21.08.CAN