Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Results

Overview

EAO Goals

The EAO has established goals, objectives and related strategies that focus on the completeness and thoroughness of environmental assessment reporting and clarity of the environment assessment process. These goals will move the organization toward its vision of excellence in environmental assessment and support its mission to report the outcome of environmental assessments to government.

Linkage to the Five Great Goals

With an expanding economy and public demand for accountability, the work of the EAO is linked to the following Great Goals:

Great Goal 4:

Lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management, bar none.

Linkage to EAO:

• Ensures the thorough and comprehensive review of the effects of major projects on air and water quality and fisheries management issues.
• Works with proponents to develop mitigation strategies to reduce any potential effects on air and water quality and fisheries management to acceptable levels.

Great Goal 2:

Lead the way in North America in healthy living and physical fitness.

Linkage to EAO:

• Evaluates potential health issues associated with major development projects and recommends mitigation strategies.
• Works with proponents to develop public recreational opportunities as part of major project assessments wherever possible.

Great Goal 5:

Create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada.

Linkage to EAO:

• Facilitates economic development and job creation through an environmental assessment process that is predictable and timely.
• Encourages proponents to ensure local communities receive some of the benefits of their projects.

Cross Ministry Initiatives

To help government achieve its Five Great Goals, the EAO is involved in a variety of cross ministry initiatives led by other ministries.

• All Seasons Resorts Strategy. (Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts) The EAO is integrating master development planning and environmental assessment processes for the Juliet Creek project.
• Mountain Pine Beetle. (Ministry of Forests and Range) The EAO is supporting the action plan through the timely review of processing plants that trigger environmental assessment thresholds.
• Asia Pacific Strategy. (Ministry of Economic Development and Ministry of Transportation) The EAO is leading a harmonized federal/provincial review of the Deltaport Expansion project and Pacific Gateway Strategy projects. The EAO is working on a timely review of the South Fraser Perimeter Road and is preparing for the review of the Port Mann Bridge project.
• First Nations. The EAO is aligning the environmental assessment process with the principles of the New Relationship and is ensuring First Nations are actively engaged in environmental assessment reviews.
• The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The EAO provided the timely review of Olympics-related projects such as the Sea-to-Sky Highway and the Whistler Nordic Centre.

Performance Plan

Environmental assessment reports are based on a thorough review of all relevant issues and include representation of the interests of those affected by a proposed project. This provides the basis for balanced decisions by government on whether a project should proceed and results in decisions that also consider the broader public interest.

The EAO and other participants in the review work with proponents to identify the information requirements for the application — the information required to assess the potential for environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects. The EAO also assesses the adequacy of proponents’ proposed plans for consulting the public and First Nations during the application review. These measures help ensure the proponent’s application is complete so the process can proceed in a timely manner.

A thorough and complete environmental assessment application must provide a wide range of detailed information on a project and its potential effects. The EAO ensures that, in advance of applying for an environmental assessment certificate, a proponent develops an acceptable outline of the application and describes the range of data, analyses and reporting it will contain (i.e., Terms of Reference). The EAO convenes multi-disciplinary working groups to assist with this task so that proponents, technical experts, stakeholders and First Nations engage in meaningful discussions to identify potential project issues; set the technical and reporting requirements for the application; determine consultation requirements; and identify any other information required for the future assessment of a project. The Terms of Reference used for an application are approved by the EAO.

The content of each application submitted by a proponent is screened to make sure it is consistent with the approved Terms of Reference. An application must pass this screening process before the EAO will accept the application and have it distributed by proponents to agencies, First Nations and the public for formal and detailed review. Through this screening process, the EAO ensures that applications contain the required technical and scientific information, reflect consultations with stakeholders and First Nations, and include information related to any other issues identified.

Performance Measures

Percentage of application reviews within the 180-day legislated timeframe: The British Columbia environmental assessment process has legislated timelines and the EAO monitors whether these timelines are being met. The EAO is proactive in anticipating and scheduling activities. It also encourages consultation during the pre-application stage to ensure that applications contain all required information and projects stay on track to meet schedules and remain within legislated timelines once they enter the application stage. With a detailed and good quality application, the environmental assessment process can readily identify and address the potential impacts of the project, which assists the EAO in meeting the legislated time limits.

Percentage of environmental assessment reports that identify and consider all potential significant effects: EAO assessment reports for Ministers provide the findings of an environmental assessment, a thorough review of all relevant issues, and the basis for balanced decisions by government on whether a project should proceed. The EAO works with proponents to ensure information to assess a project’s potential environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects is identified, collected, and then shared and reviewed by government, First Nations and the public. Through these steps, the EAO ensures assessment reports describe the range of perspectives and issues on a project along with measures developed by a proponent to mitigate potential adverse effects.

Government has an obligation to consult with First Nations and, where indicated, accommodate established and asserted Aboriginal rights and title. The EAO engages First Nations in the assessment process to fully understand and report on the potential effects of proposed projects on First Nations interests, and propose ways to address those effects. This enhances the quality of reporting and recommendations to government on whether a project should proceed, and supports consistency and procedural certainty.

Under the Environmental Assessment Act, proponents are directed to engage First Nations early and often in the assessment process. This may include, for example, ongoing meetings with First Nations leadership and community members, site tours and funding for Aboriginal interest and use studies and for capacity to help First Nations interpret the extensive technical information associated with the review of a proposed project.

The EAO also requires proponents to present their proposed First Nations consultation program in writing, evaluates the adequacy of the plan and may recommend additional measures where necessary.

The EAO initiates discussions with First Nations governments and their communities to provide information about the environmental assessment process of projects and consults with First Nations to seek input on procedural aspects of specific project reviews. This provides opportunities to incorporate First Nations suggestions on Section 11 procedural orders before they are issued. Discussion between the EAO and First Nations continues throughout the assessment process and includes the opportunity to provide input on proposed baseline studies, the application and draft assessment reports before reports and recommendations are made to government about whether a project should proceed. This open and regular communication facilitates the EAO’s ability to identify, understand and address First Nations issues associated with project reviews and to report on First Nations perspectives. It also ensures proponents are considering the potential effects of their projects on First Nations interests.

Performance Measure

Percentage of project assessments with First Nations engaged in working group(s): A primary tool for ensuring thorough and comprehensive environmental assessments is the establishment of technical “working groups.” These groups consist of representatives of key federal, provincial and local government agencies, and typically seek active representation from First Nations affected by a project. The direct engagement of First Nations in working groups is the most effective way of building relationships, identifying First Nations issues, and initiating processes and project design changes that assist in accommodating First Nations rights, title and other project-related issues. Although the EAO cannot control whether First Nations choose to participate in working groups, the office should make every effort to seek their participation. Thus, the percentage of assessments that have First Nations represented on working groups is a key measure of the EAO’s ability to successfully identify and address First Nations issues.

The process managed by the EAO is continually evaluated and refined to ensure that it is easy for proponents to understand, provides effective tools to assist the development of assessment applications and streamlines regulatory requirements wherever possible.

The EAO seeks to continually improve the environmental assessment process through the development of tools to improve proponents’, First Nations, and the public’s understanding of the process and assist with the preparation of assessment documentation. Efforts are also made to enhance public information about the environmental assessment process and to provide access to information about project reviews as they proceed.

Guidelines related to environmental assessments of proposed mine projects will be developed and tested. These guidelines will consolidate elements of the generic guides on the environmental assessment process and the preparation of Terms of Reference, and will include information that is specific or unique to this sector. Additional sector specific guidelines may be developed where they are needed.

Acting on client survey results, the EAO is developing a guide that sets out all the steps in the environmental assessment process and clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of all of the parties involved in a project review. This guide will be tested and enhanced as proponent feedback is collected.

The EAO continually seeks ways to help increase the public’s awareness of the environmental assessment process and ensure that the public and stakeholders are aware of where to find information and opportunities to comment on projects under review.

Performance Measure

Proponents’ overall level of satisfaction with the assessment process: This measure addresses the level of client satisfaction with the environmental assessment process by asking clients to rate the EAO on its delivery of a timely and effective environmental assessment process. This is measured through the Client Satisfaction Survey by asking proponents to rate their overall experience with the EAO on a scale of 1 to 10, regardless of where they are in the process.

In 2004, British Columbia and Canada renewed the Canada/British Columbia Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation. The agreement is designed to achieve government cooperation, efficient and effective use of public and private resources and procedural certainty for participants in the environmental assessment process. The agreement includes specific measures to minimize costly and time-consuming duplication and overlap when a project is subject to provincial and federal assessment legislation.

The agreement requires the federal and provincial governments to negotiate workplans for each harmonized environmental assessment and meet any resulting timelines. In some cases, federal assessment processes have unique requirements that mean federal decisions might be made after provincial decisions.

Performance Measure

Percentage of harmonized reviews that meet provincial timelines: The EAO and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) try to anticipate and resolve problems through the EAO/CEAA Harmonization Working Group. This performance measure will demonstrate whether the majority of harmonized project reviews are meeting provincial timelines.

Environmental Assessment Office Performance Plan Summary