Environmental Management Plan 1999

Transcription

1 [Excerpt] MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAYS Environmental Management Plan 1999 Submitted to: Ministry of Transportation and Highways Highway Environment Branch 4W, 940 Blanshard Street Victoria BC V8W 3E6 Submitted by: Pomeroy & Neil Consulting Inc West 31 st Avenue Vancouver BC V6S 1X6 February 1999

2 1999 PREAMBLE The Ministry of Transportation and Highways is continuing to adapt and evolve its approaches to environmental management in order to improve environmental results and cost-effectiveness. This Environmental Management Plan (EMP) identifies proposed priority improvements in the Ministry s systems and programs for environmental management as of February This plan complements MoTH s 1999/ /2001 Strategic Plan, which recognized that public concern for the condition of B.C. s natural and social environments and impacts on resources has intensified in recent years, and is likely to remain high. Given that laws for environmental protection are more stringent, and industry standards for environmental management systems are higher; MoTH must adapt and evolve its ways of work. The Ministry s Strategic Plan incorporated the government s stated priority of environmental stewardship and identified the practical goal of implementing sound environmental practices in all ministry programs. The 1999 EMP includes 28 topic areas that support that goal and build on foundations and priorities established in the 1995 MoTH EMP (developed under the direction of the MoTH EMS Steering Committee). The EMP documents proposed directions and strategies for each topic areas, along with supporting actions for implementation. EMP implementation will improve MoTH s due diligence and accountability in carrying out responsibilities related to the environment. Specifically, the EMP mandates the following general directions for staff: That all MoTH staff will ensure that key activities in their areas of responsibility include an appropriate level and type of environmental assessment, planning and mitigation (from long range planning, to design-build projects, to day-to day operations) That Headquarters environmental staff will coordinate and strategically promote EMS approaches across MoTH, working with regions and key business units to implement specific actions, as partnering and funding arrangements can be put in place. The 1999 EMP was developed in consultation with Headquarters and Regional environmental staff, under the co-ordination of the Deputy Chief Environmental Officer. Representative Regional Management Committees provided feedback on the draft in Over the coming year, MoTH Headquarters and Regional environmental staff intend to refine working relationships to implement this plan and ensure that all Regions, Districts, and Projects are well-served. The establishment of a small, Ministry-wide Environmental Advisory Committee to work with environmental staff and set priorities for action is being considered. Review and input from the Regions and other Ministry staff on EMP implementation is welcome. POMEROY & NEIL Consulting Inc. February 6, 1998 Page i

3 Table of Contents Overview Topic No. Topic Page No. CORPORATE EMS Imperative C-1 EMS Policy Direction... 1 C-2 Inter-Ministry Partnering Approaches... 2 C-3 Public and Stakeholder Consultation... 3 C-4 Environmental Role Clarification and Improved Working Relationships... 4 C-5 Knowledge Transfer... 5 C-6 Ministry Contractor Management... 7 C-7 EMS Resource Materials... 8 Medium C-8 EMS Performance Targets... 9 C-9 Environmental Compliance and Quality Assurance C-10 Environmental Information Systems BUSINESS ACTIVITIES High B-1 Planning and Design B-2 Capital Projects B-3 Rehab Program B-4 Construction B-5 Maintenance POMEROY & NEIL Consulting Inc. February 6, 1998 Page ii

4 List of Topics cont d Topic No. Topic Page No. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Imperative E-1 Inter-Agency Partnering: Specific Issues E-2 Contaminated Sites Strategy E-3 Winter Salt/De-Icing E-4 Waste Management E-5 Aquatic Resources Medium E-6 Socio-Community Issues E-7 Water Quality E-8 Erosion Control E-9 Materials and Products E-10 Vegetation Management E-11 Ecosystem Integrity E-12 Wildlife E-13 Archaelogy POMEROY & NEIL Consulting Inc. February 6, 1998 Page iii

5 AREAS AND TOPICS FOR ACTION PLAN OVERVIEW The Ministry is evolving Environmental Management System (EMS) approaches to better manage its environmental responsibilities and adapt to current needs. This plan identifies twenty-eight topics for improvements in environmental management, focused in three areas: Corporate Environmental Management System (EMS) - improvements in the framework and support for operational environmental management, including changes in environmental policy, planning and quality assurance, and support to business activities and regions on knowledge transfer and operational issues Business Activities - improvements in key business activities, such as planning, capital projects, rehab, and maintenance, including changes related to environmental management in a design-build context Environmental Issues - improved management of priority operational issues to address and resolve ongoing issues, meet changing requirements, and increase accountability for strategic expenditures and priority results. The twenty-eight topics for action are listed in the Table of Contents, and depicted on Page viii. KEY THEMES Key themes recur in many of the 28 topics listed in the EMP; this reflect how the environmental management function in MoTH is evolving at this time. These recurring themes are: 1. Managing environmental aspects of priority operational issues 2. Clarifying environmental roles and working relationships 3. Promoting continuous learning and knowledge transfer 4. Increasing accountability for environmental results and costs 5. Improving partnering with agencies 6. Improving consultation and relationship-building with communities and stakeholders 7. Developing Corporate Environmental Management System elements to leverage and support regional and project initiatives 8. Improving quality assurance processes Each of these is discussed briefly below. 1. Managing environmental aspects of priority operational issues The EMP recognizes the primary importance of ensuring adequate support for managing environmental aspects of priority issues, both at the day-to-day and strategic levels. POMEROY & NEIL Consulting Inc. February 6, 1998 Page iv

6 Examples of Topics and Applications: - contaminated sites - salt management - fish protection and culvert replacement - erosion control and vegetation management - corridor planning and Major Projects - public and stakeholder consultation - environmental aspects of design-build and maintenance contracts 2. Clarifying environmental roles and working relationships Successful environmental performance depends on clearly defined roles and accountability, and well-developed working relationships between Headquarters, Regional, and Major Projects environmental staff. The EMP clarifies some aspects of the evolving roles of MoTH operational and environmental staff, and identifies areas where further definition is proposed. Examples of Topics and Applications: - Roles of HQ, Regions, Project staff, Consultants and Contractors; boundaries of responsibilities, communication protocols, design build responsibilities - Role of HQ and Regional environmental staff in specific areas - examples: - corridor management studies (e.g. Lower Mainland & Kamloops) - training - contaminated sites management - Ministry-wide or regional programs (e.g. culvert retrofit) - auditing and quality assurance 3. Promoting continuous learning and knowledge transfer Given the rapid changes in environmental management requirements and Ministry approaches, the EMP emphasizes the need for training, continuous learning and knowledge transfer as key to staff and Ministry success. Examples of Topics and Applications - transferring appropriate knowledge and tools from specific projects Ministry-wide - use of team-building workshops (e.g. VIHP) and quality improvement approaches - regular mechanisms for information exchange (e.g. amongst regional co-ordinators) - distributing priority information to the operational level - regions, areas, districts - ensuring job-specfic and task-specific training and skills development for environmental and other staff 4. Increasing accountability for Ministry environmental outcomes and costs Budget constraints combined with rising expectations for environmental performance mean that MoTH needs to be clear in comunicating about outcomes and costs. The EMP proposes improvements in methods for defining outcomes, setting priorities, clarifying the costs environmental protection, and assessing performance. Skill development, improved monitoring data and knowledge transfer are recognized as critical to ensuring good return on investments in environmental protection. POMEROY & NEIL Consulting Inc. February 6, 1998 Page v

7 Examples of Topics and Applications - working toward legislation, regulation, and programs that focus on priority outcomes at reasonable cost without undue controls or unnecessary process - monitoring and evaluation of success and cost-effectiveness of environmetal planning, protection, mitigation, and compensation programs - improving staff environmental skills in outcome-focused program design, option analysis, performance measurement and monitoring. Examples: - input to policy and legislation, e.g. Fish Protection Act - public and stakeholder consultation approaches, including value components (e.g. VIHP) - culvert retrofit program - erosion prevention and control options - wildlife collision mitigation options - multiple account evaluation - implementation monitoring and project review in a design-build context 5. Improving partnering with agencies Effective agency partnering, shared understanding, and clear working arrangements are targeted in the EMP as fundamental to reaching goals of improved operational management and effectiveness. Examples of Topics and Applications - implementation of provincial MOU s with MoELP - improved regional working relationships with MoELP - specific program collaborations - examples: - wildlife reflector programs (ICBC partnership) - culvert retrofit program - disposal of roadkill - disposal of abandoned vehciles - agency referral process (regular, Endangered Species) - data on endangered species - interagency Greenways Technical Committee and stewardship information clearinghouse 6. Improving consultation and relationship-building with communities and stakeholders Effective consultation and partnering with communities and stakeholders on environmental and socio-community issues remains as an onoging priority. In the EMP context, these are seen as key, both to better defining concerns, and to finding solutions that will optimize public benefits and reduce costs. Examples of Topics and Applications: - evaluation of successful/less successful aspects of current processes and projects (e.g. VIHP), and identification of areas for process improvements POMEROY & NEIL Consulting Inc. February 6, 1998 Page vi

8 - implementing revised consultation processes outlined in the new Highway Environmental Assessment Process (e.g., for corridor planning studies) - skill development for staff in consultation and partnering 7. Developing Corporate Environmental Management System elements to leverage and support regional and project initiates The EMP proposes Corporate-level actions and EMS improvements to strengthen the guiding framework for environmental management, and to ensure appropriate Corporate support to the project and operations levels. Formalization of key EMS elements as Ministry protocols and standards is targeted to increase effectiveness and ensure due diligence. Examples of Topics and Applications - policy development - revision and additions to environmental performance standards - establishment of EMS protocols or procedures for environmental design, construction monitoring, and preformance review on design-build projects - supporting adaptation and transfer of project or region-specific EMS components - monitoring protocols - erosion control manual - co-ordinating province-wide environmental programs, e.g. WARS, culvert replacement - training 8. Improving quality assurance processes The EMP proposes fine-tuning and extension of approaches developed to date for quality assurance, and the formalization of a Ministry environmental quality assurance program. Proactive approaches, and prevention, are recognized as key elements in consistent quality management. Examples of Topics and Applications: - overall Ministry environmental quality assurance program - adoption of performance targets and measurement - quality assurance in construction management (Major Projects and rehab) - enhancing environmental quality in maintenance contractor performance - quality assurance in priority issues, e.g.: - herbicide use, integrated pest management plans - work in and around streams, culvert replacement, construction timing - encroachment on agricultural land - conducting program audits POMEROY & NEIL Consulting Inc. February 6, 1998 Page vii

9 The EMP Topics Provide a Road Map - Areas Targeted for Strategic Improvements in MoTH s Environmental Management CORPORATE EMS Improved corporate-level frameworks and support for operational environmental management EMS Framework & Tools Human Resources Inter-Ministry Partnering Quality Assurance Policy Performance Targets Resource Materials Information Systems Public & Stakeholder Consultation Role Clarification Knowledge Transfer & Continuous Learning Contractor Management Partnering Approaches Specific Issues Quality Assurance Program BUSINESS ACTIVITIES Continued improvements to managing environmental aspects of major business activities Planning & Design Provincial Highway Plan & Regional Plans Corridor Planning Projects Capital Projects Rehab Program Construction Maintenance Maintenance Standards Site-Specific Problems Integrated R/W Mgmt ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Progress in accountability and strategic management on operational environmental issues Interagency partnering Contaminated Sites Salt Waste Management Aquatic Resources Socio-Community Issues Water Quality Erosion Control Materials & Products Vegetation Management Ecosystem Integrity Wildlife Archaeology POMEROY & NEIL Consulting Inc. February 6, 1998 Page 8

10 For additional information please contact: Ministry of Transportation and Highways Engineering Branch Environmental Management Section PO Box 9850 Stn Prov Gov't Victoria, British Columbia V8W 9T5 Phone: (250) Fax: (250) or us: Copies of the manual can be ordered from the Ministry Librarian by: Phone Queries: (250) Fax: (250) This manual and a listing of more publications can be found under the Ministry Publications Listing. Back to Environment Home