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:

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.

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.

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 participating in a variety of cross ministry initiatives.

• Mountain Pine Beetle: Projections indicate the mountain pine beetle infestation could kill 80 per cent of the pine forest in British Columbia by 2013. Pine forests dominate the interior of B.C., and their loss has significant implications to the forest environment, economy and the communities that depend on those forests for sustainability. The B.C. government, through coordination by the Ministry of Forests and Range and the Provincial Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan, is working across a number of ministries to minimize and mitigate negative environmental and socio-economic impacts of the infestation, while recovering the greatest value and protecting public health, safety and infrastructure. The EAO is supporting the action plan through the timely review of processing plants that trigger environmental assessment thresholds.
• Asia Pacific Initiative: The British Columbia Asia Pacific Initiative ensures the province has a coordinated and targeted strategic plan in place that takes full advantage of B.C.'s Pacific Gateway advantages and Asian cultural and language base. The Asia Pacific Initiative defines B.C.'s future role in the Asia Pacific economy and identifies the immediate priority actions that must be taken to further integrate the province into Asian markets. The EAO is leading a harmonized federal/provincial environmental assessment review of the Asia Pacific Initiative projects: South Fraser Perimeter Road and the Port Mann Bridge/Highway 1.
• 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games: All provincial ministries, agencies and Crowns have been working together to ensure every available opportunity to develop sustainable economic legacies are explored and pursued so that businesses and communities in British Columbia receive benefit from the Games. The EAO is providing timely reviews of Olympic-related projects (e.g., Whistler Nordic Centre and Recreational Trails project).

Regulatory Reform

British Columbia continues to make regulatory reform a priority across government, making it easier for businesses to operate and succeed in B.C., while still preserving regulations that protect public health, safety and the environment. A citizen-centred approach to regulatory reform will reduce the number of steps it takes to comply with government requirements or access government programs and services.

The EAO has undertaken significant regulatory reform initiatives that aim to ensure British Columbia's regulatory climate enables strong economic growth while maintaining effective environmental standards.

The EAO continues to support the government's plan for regulatory reform and is committed to controlling regulatory burden and improving regulatory quality. The cross government target of a zero per cent increase in regulations will be maintained through 2008/09.

Citizen-Centred Service Delivery

Citizen-centred service delivery is a government-wide initiative to coordinate information, programs and services so that they can be presented to citizens in a way that takes their needs into account from beginning to end. The vision is to make it possible for citizens to access the government information and services they need in a simple and timely manner with a phone call, a mouse click or a visit to a service centre, no matter how many programs or ministries are involved in their request.

The EAO serves the citizens of British Columbia as well as industry, business, associations, communities, academic and environmental organizations and other government agencies. The EAO is continuing its efforts of providing citizen-centred service by identifying service needs and expectations. To gauge its success, the EAO continues to monitor changes in the level of client satisfaction through its bi-annual Client Satisfaction survey.

Performance Plan

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. To meet the goal of an environmental assessment process that is clear and streamlined, the EAO set two objectives: (1) an environmental assessment process that is easy to follow and (2) harmonization with the federal government.

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.

Develop sector specific guidelines

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

The Proponents' Guide to the Environmental Assessment Process

Acting on client survey results, the EAO has developed 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. The guide has been tested and is being revised based on feedback and to incorporate updated EAO policies and procedures.

The EAO continually seeks ways to help increase the public's awareness of the environmental assessment process

The EAO endeavours to ensure that the public and stakeholders are aware of where to find information and opportunities to comment on projects under review. EAO staff will attend public open houses for each environmental assessment review to provide an overview of the environmental assessment process. EAO staff will also make presentations at relevant conferences to describe the provincial review process.

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.

Joint federal/provincial environmental assessments meet all requirements of the Canada/British Columbia Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation

The agreement requires the federal and provincial governments to negotiate work plans 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.

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 reports are based on a thorough review of all relevant issues and include representation of the interests of those affected by a proposed project, which is supported by formal public comment periods. 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. To meet the goal that environmental assessment reports and recommendations are comprehensive and timely, the EAO set two objectives: (1) applications for environmental assessment certificates are complete and thorough and (2) meaningful consultation with First Nations.

The EAO and other participants in the review work with proponents to identify the information requirements for the application to assess the potential for environmental, economic, social, health and heritage 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.

Provide guidance on the information required in an application for an environmental assessment certificate

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.

Applications for environmental assessments of major projects are screened against Terms of Reference

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.

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.

Require proponents to develop plans for consultations with First Nations

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 seeks active First Nations involvement in project reviews

The EAO initiates discussions with First Nations governments and their communities at the beginning of the process to provide information about the environmental assessment process and to consult with First Nations to obtain 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 and 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.

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.