Case Study Frameworks

The above frameworks are identified as the best examples or approximations of regional SEA in the sample, in that they are empirical and applied; plan or programme tiered; regional in scope;

strategic by nature; focused on cumulative effects; and involve an assessment-style component.

In particular, all four frameworks are associated with a particular geographic region and

inclusive of the activities of multiple sectors and types of disturbances. Each of these cases and frameworks is discussed elsewhere in the literature (see for example, GSH SAC 2007; CEAM

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Secretariat 2003; Quinn et al. 2002; Alberta Environment 1999). The intent here is not to review these in detail but rather, a brief description of each case is given below and case characteristics are further summarized in Table 3-2.

Great Sand Hills Regional Environmental Study:

In 2002, the Saskatchewan provincial government commissioned the Great Sand Hills Regional Environmental Study (GSH RES) in response to ongoing concerns over the impacts of economic development on a sensitive grassland and sand hills ecosystem. The purpose of the GSH RES was to address the nature and underlying sources of cumulative environmental change in the region and to identify desirable futures and outcomes. The overall approach to assessment was based on a structured SEA methodological framework (after Noble and Storey 2001) and on underlying SEA principles and characteristics. The study was enabled by use of MARXAN, a spatial decision support model based on a GIS framework that features a cost function to

determine the total cost of impact in terms of biodiversity loss, or the total cost of conservation in terms economic or social loss. This approach enabled CEA to occur beyond the constraints of individual project-based initiatives in the region, many of which were not subject to any form of impact assessment. The study area covered a large geographic area (approximately 10,000 km²) and was multi-tiered, considering biophysical, socioeconomic, cultural boundaries, common resources and geographic relationships, as well as the reach of existing policies, plans, land uses and interests that had the potential to affect any proposed land use scenario for the region. The RES was completed in 2007, and is still under provincial government review for implementation at the time of writing this paper.

Transboundary Crown of the Continent Manager’s Partnership:

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Initiated in 2001, the Transboundary Crown of the Continent Manager’s Partnership (TCCMP) was established to design and assess a regional framework to examine cumulative effects within the Crown of the Continent ecosystem, a shared region of the Rocky Mountains between two western Canadian provinces and the United States state of Montana. The strategic framework itself was developed to assist more than 20 government agencies responsible for land

management in Alberta, British Columbia, and Montana to address cross-boundary cumulative effects issues. The Mistakiis Institute based at the University of Calgary, Canada, provided secretariat and research support for the initiative. The framework was built around the ALCES (A Landscape Cumulative Effects Simulator) model - a stock and flow simulator of system dynamics. ALCES operates by establishing relationships, pathways, and rates of flow between regional entities or ‘stocks’ of interest (including for example, land use and land cover types), and then simulates the change in those entities over time (Quinn et al. 2002). The overall intent in using ALCES was to enable land managers to consider the cumulative effects of current and future (cumulative) development in the region in a proactive manner. The process used regional scenario analysis, and emphasized an iterative and adaptive modeling and feedback process with the goal of continuous improvement to the modeling process and the process of regional

collaboration.

Alberta Environment Regional Sustainable Development Strategy:

In 1999, in response to increasing development pressure in the Alberta oil sands, the Alberta Environment Regional Sustainable Development Strategy (AB RSDS) was established.

Anecdotal evidence of environmental change was being brought forward by communities that were noticing changes in, among other components, air quality, water quality, and the health of

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regional wildlife. To proactively address some of the cumulative environmental effects issues that the new development would create, a team of internal Alberta government working teams was formed, assisted by an ad hoc multi-stakeholder group that included First Nations, industry, and environmental groups. The First Nations stakeholder groups were asked to identify key regional cumulative effects. The government researched these issues to compile available science and identify data gaps. The results were brought back to the stakeholder groups who were then asked to rank issues in order of management priority. A list of 72 different issues was compiled, organized into media themes (air, water quality, land disturbance, etc.), and prioritized using a three-tiered ranking system to indicate management importance. A five year work plan was begun, working first on issues for which management actions would have the most immediate effects and on issues that the team knew least about. This framework was developed by combining numerous ideas, models, and approaches developed elsewhere, including regional planning in BC, the CEAMF in the NWT, methodologies developed by CEAA, and ideas from EA literature on cumulative effects.

Northwest Territories Cumulative Effects Assessment and Management Framework:

Based on a recommendation of the 1999 Diavik Diamonds Project Comprehensive Study Report, in 2002 a regional steering committee was formed, and with the help of other groups in the NWT, determined what kinds of actions and mechanisms would be required to assess and manage cumulative effects.

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Table 3-2. Case study framework characteristics. Regional ScopeStrategic OrientationAssessment Component Multi-Sector Focus on cumulative effects Great Sand Hills Regional Environmental Study (2002)

Defined by social and ecological boundaries taking into account VECs and other PPPs that may interact with proposed scenarios. Study area spreads across 8 rural municipalities.

This is an informal regional SEA, based on a standard step-wise process for SEA and adopting a systematic approach to environmental assessment.

Based on strategic scenario analysis using MARXAN. It compares multiple alternative future development scenarios, assessing their potential impacts on the environment.

Includes consideration of ranching, oil and gas, recreation and tourism, First Nations traditional land uses, and other potential land uses.

Does not consider CEs explicitly, but rather implicitly. Because so many types of developments and impacts are assessed in tandem as “surface disturbance”, this amounts to a cumulative effects study. Transboundary Crown of the Continent Manager’s Partnership (2001)

Encompasses a shared region of the Rocky Mountains between Alberta, British Columbia, and Montana.

A higher-level partnership (coalition of public land mangers) aimed at generating more and better strategic information to aid planning and provide context for the assessment of individual project proposals.

Cumulative effects assessment performed using a computer model known as ALCES (A Landscape Cumulative Effects Simulator).

Managers Partnership comprised of more than 20 government agencies representing myriad public and private interests. An international, inter-agency working group. Forestry, oil and gas, transportation, settlements, and agriculture are key.

Examination of landscape level cumulative effects within the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. A common need was identified to assess ecosystem-wide processes and issues related to land management in pursuit of sustainable development for the region. Alberta Environment Regional Sustainable Development Strategy (1999)

North-eastern Alberta, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

In anticipation of greater than $12 billion worth of new capital investments in the oil sands region, the RSDS identified and prioritized environmental management objectives for the region as a guide to new development.

Does not follow a standard environment assessment process but rather takes an issues based approach. Environmental issues are identified and prioritized based on the anticipated trends of future regional development.

Considers effects of existing and anticipated oil and gas development in combination with public demand for land access, forests, wildlife, water, etc. Partners included First Nations, industry, environmental groups, and government agencies.

Focused on the cumulative effects of oil and gas activity combined with other regional development effects on land, water, and air. Fourteen cumulative impact themes developed and addressed through a staged action plan. Northwest Territories Cumulative Effects Assessment and Management Framework (2002)

Applies to the Northwest Territories and its regions.Makes broad, proactive recommendations to decision-makers to facilitate ecological integrity, and sustainable community development within a sound environmental management framework. Also links with transboundary initiatives.

Includes environmental assessment in accordance with applicable legislation. Where the potential for cumulative effects is identified during screening, referral to the partnership for a more strategic assessment may occur.

Includes consideration for all of the elements of land use development including mining, oil and gas corridor development, and First Nations traditional land uses.

Formed in recognition of the cumulative effects of continued resource exploration and development in the Northwest Territories and the desire to prevent, assess, and manage potentially adverse cumulative effects.

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The initiative, known as the Northwest Territories Cumulative Effects Assessment and Management Framework (NWT CEAMF), was driven by biophysical concerns related to cumulative effects on wildlife, water quality, air quality, and socio-economic concerns such as employment saturation in First Nations communities. The framework is comprised of nine components and programs, some of which were in existence prior to the CEAMF or had been contemplated, namely: a vision and objectives; land use planning; baseline studies and

monitoring; research; an audit and reporting function; project EIA; regulation and enforcement;

information management; and team coordination. The framework is operationalized based on the

“Blueprint for implementing the CEAM strategy and framework in the NWT and its regions,”

which contains recommendations to decision makers addressing each of the framework components, regional plans of action, traditional knowledge and community capacity building (Government of Canada 2003: 1).