Elk Valley Cumulative Effects Management Framework
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ELK VALLEY WORKSHOP GROUP & WORKING GROUP MOVING FORWARD CEMF Annual workshops have been held, starting with the The assessment and management of cumulative inaugural workshop in 2012 where the Cumulative effects should be a continuous process and it is the CUMULATIVE EFFECTS Effects Management Framework was first created. The intention that CEMF continues to operate in MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK broad group of interested parties participating in these consecutive phases including implementation. The workshops is known as the Workshop Group, and is the results of the first phase will be periodically updated as source of social license and legitimacy for the CEMF as new information or assessment approaches become a consensus-based initiative. It is fundamental to the available. The results of the cumulative effects success of the CEMF. Representatives from 25 assessment will be made available to decision makers, organizations participated in the February 2016 the public, proponents and stakeholders. workshop. PROVINCIAL CUMULATIVE EFFECTS FRAMEWORK (CEF) A smaller Working Group was formed to ensure that the The Elk Valley CEMF is embraced by the Provincial framework continues to be developed and implemented. Cumulative Effects Framework, which provides policy The CEMF is fortunate to have the support of the and strategic directions. Five provincial values - aquatic following working group organizations: ecosystems, forest biodiversity, old growth, grizzly bear Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource and moose have been assessed at a broader scale. A Operations and Rural Development Cumulative Effects Framework Interim Policy was Ktunaxa Nation Council approved by the Natural Resources Sector Board on Teck Coal Ltd. October 2016. The policy provides directions on CE Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure assessment, engagement and decision support. …provides a practical & workable Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy framework that supports decisions District of Sparwood related to the assessment, District of Elkford mitigation and management of Elk River Alliance cumulative effects in the Elk Valley. CANFOR CanWel North Coal NWP Coal Canada Ltd. CUMULATIVE EFFECTS: “Changes to environmental, social and economic THE ORIGIN OF THE ELK VALLEY values caused by the combined effects of past, CUMULATIVE EFFECTS MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK (CEMF) present and potential future activities and natural processes.” The management of cumulative effects in the Elk Valley is of increasing concern due to current and proposed development operations. There has been CONTEXT DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTIVE ASSESSMENT growing awareness of the need for a broadly accepted, credible, and workable approach to the This CEMF stage includes establishing spatial and This involves forecasting potential future conditions. assessment and management of cumulative effects in temporal boundaries for the study, and selecting valued Three future development scenarios were created the Elk Valley. components as the focus for the cumulative effects using different sets of assumptions to see how assessment. The study area extends from Mount Fox to different rates of development may affect the valued In recognition of this need, and as a condition in the Lake Koocanusa, encompassing the whole Elk River components and their indicators: Environmental Assessment Certificate for Line Creek watershed. The analysis is looking approximately 60 1) Minimum Development coal operation expansion, Teck Coal Ltd. and the years into the past, as well as 50 years into the future. 2) Reference or Business as Usual Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) worked together to Five valued components (VCs) have been selected for 3) Maximum Development hold a multi-stakeholder workshop in July 2012. The the first phase of the study and expert teams were Two climate change Cumulative Effects Management Framework was created to support the scenarios, an increased launched during this initial workshop. Teck Coal Ltd. Assessment of the VCs below: natural disturbance as well as and the KNC led this initiative until January 2015, . Riparian Habitats three mitigation scenarios when leadership was transitioned to the Ministry of . Old and Mature Forest have been defined, and Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and THE ORIGIN OF CEMF . Grizzly Bear integrated within the potential Rural Development. Bighorn Sheep future conditions analysis. The The management of cumulative effects in the Elk . Westslope Cutthroat Trout outcome of the prospective Valley is of increasing concern due to current and Cumulative Effects: assessment will show how proposed expansions of coal operations combined “Changes to environmental, social RETROSPECTIVE valued components & with existing stresses on the watershed. There has and economic values caused by the ASSESSMENT indicators respond to different combined effects of past, present and been growing awareness of the need for a broadly The retrospective assessment potential future human activities and rates of development, and accepted, credible, and workable approach to the natural processes.” provides information on historic how we can best mitigate management of cumulative effects in the Elk and current condition of the VCs. these effects. Valley. This is done using spatial and non-spatial indicators of The purpose of CEMF is to assess MANAGEMENT ACTIONS In recognition of this need, Teck Coal Ltd. and the quality and amount of habitat or historic, current and potential future VC specific draft reports and a synthesis Cumulative Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC) worked together to population health. Ecological benchmarks & legal conditions of selected valued Effects Assessment & Management (CEAM) report hold a multi-stakeholder workshop in July targets that support the interpretation of the condition of components (VCs), and support natural are currently under review by the CEMF Working 2012. The Cumulative Effects Management each indicator were defined, and VC conditions have resource management decisions Group. The CEAM report provides management Framework (CEMF) was launched during the initial been assessed in relation to those. responses including mitigation measures, which workshop. Teck Coal Ltd. and KNC led this inform natural resource management decisions. initiative until January 2015, when leadership was .