Manitoba Conservation
Annual Report
Manitoba Environment
For The Fiscal Year 1997/98
Table of Contents
Preface
Administration and Finance
Environmental Operations Division
Environmental Management Division:
Environmental Quality Branch:
Environmental Approvals Branch:
Pollution Prevention Branch
Legislation and Intergovernmental Affairs
Environmental Advisory Organizations
International Institute for Sustainable Development
Financial Information Section:
- Reconciliation Table
- Expenditure Summary
- Revenue Summary by Source
- Five Year Expenditure and Staffing Summary by Appropriation
Appendices:
Preface
Organization of the Report
This Annual Report is organized in accordance with the Department of Environment appropriation structure, as set out in the Detailed Estimates of Expenditure of the Province of Manitoba for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998.
The Report contains information, at the Main and Sub-Appropriation levels, relating to the department's objectives, actual results achieved, financial performance and variances and provides a five-year historical comparison of departmental expenditures and staffing. Expenditure and revenue variance explanations previously contained in the Public Accounts of Manitoba are now provided in the Annual Report.
Departmental Mandate
Manitoba Environment is responsible for ensuring a high level of environmental quality for present and future generations of Manitobans.
The department operates under authority of the following Acts of the Consolidated Statutes of Manitoba:
The Environment Act (E125)
The Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation Act (D12)
The Manitoba Hazardous Waste Management Corporation Act (H15)
The High-Level Radioactive Waste Act (R10)
The Waste Reduction and Prevention Act (W40)
The Ozone Depleting Substances Act (O80)
The Contaminated Sites Remediation Act (C205)
In addition to the above, the Minister, through the Department, is also responsible for the administration of certain regulations under The Public Health Act.
Organization
The departmental organization structure is depicted on Page 9. The role, responsibilities and staffing of the department's four divisions/branches are outlined in the following information.
Financial and Administrative Services has a staffing complement of 18.50 staff years (FTEs) and is responsible for the provision of financial, human resource, administrative, computer and library support services in support of departmental programs.
Environmental Operations has a staffing complement of 86.50 staff years (FTEs) and is responsible for the administration and enforcement of legislation and regulations pertaining to the environment and public health, the provision of emergency response services, the provision of monitoring services including sample taking, maintenance of equipment and coordination with other departmental staff and the establishment and the maintenance of community liaison activities including provision of information on environmental matters, organizing local environmental events and addressing local environmental priorities.
Environmental Management has a staffing complement of 52.25 staff years (FTEs) and is responsible for ensuring that timely and credible information on ecosystem responses is available to the general public and decision-makers and that appropriate legal controls are set in place to limit ecosystem consequences and to ensure environmental sustainability. This is accomplished by providing services in the areas of:
- monitoring the environment;
- developing and establishing guidelines and objectives;
- generating and disseminating educational material and environmental information including State of the Environment reporting;
- assessing environmental effects of developments and setting legal controls;
- protecting or enhancing environmental quality and rehabilitating impacted areas;
- promoting waste reduction and pollution prevention;
- encouraging application of pollution prevention techniques and approaches.
The Division is committed to delivering quality services.
Legislation and Intergovernmental Affairs has a staffing complement of 3 staff years (FTEs) and is responsible for the development, review and amendment of legislation and regulations and participation on various Federal/Provincial advisory committees and task forces to deal with matters such as environmental assessment harmonization, negotiating agreements and ensuring consistent and effective environmental management across the country.
In addition to the four divisions/branches noted above, the following organizations report to the Minister of Environment - the Manitoba Environmental Council, the Clean Environment Commission and the Manitoba Hazardous Waste Management Corporation. Their roles, responsibilities and year-end staffing (where applicable) are briefly reported below. These organizations prepare separate Annual Reports and are not, therefore, reported in detail in this Annual Report.
Manitoba Environmental Council is responsible for the provision of advice to the Manitoba Government on environmental matters.
Clean Environment Commission has a staffing complement of 3 staff years (FTEs) and is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the quality of the environment by providing advice and recommendations to the Minister and the Department concerning the regulation of pollution and other public and private sector activities affecting the environment.
Manitoba Hazardous Waste Management Corporation is responsible for the establishment, operation and maintenance of a hazardous waste management system in Manitoba.
Departmental Continuous Improvement
Departmental Continuous Improvement Policy
It shall be the policy of Manitoba Environment to take all measures possible to continuously improve the services it delivers, its relations with its clients and the capabilities and abilities of its employees.
To this end, the Department will:
- regularly review and evaluate the services it provides to ascertain their relevancy and appropriateness and to identify ways and means to improve those services.
- regularly seek feedback from its clients to measure service satisfaction and to improve services provided.
- ensure that all employees have the opportunity to train and learn the principles and applications of Continuous Improvement.
- empower and motivate employees to do a quality job.
- regularly communicate with its clients and employees to ensure expectations are met.
The departmental Continuous Improvement journey will lead to the development of a framework whereby everyone in the organization is involved in controlling and continuously improving how work is done in order to meet customer expectations of quality service.
"Quality" means meeting customer requirements, needs and expectations the first time and every time.
Through Continuous Improvement the Department will look at everyday work processes, from responding to a complaint, to filling out a form, to devising a departmental corporate strategy, and then determine ways to do it better, easier, more efficiently and effectively.
The CHALLENGE is to provide improved service with existing resources.
Significant Continuous Improvement Activities Initiated/Carried Out in 1997/98:
Improved Availability of Departmental Information
- Since June, 1995 the Department has contrived to add and improve the information on the department’s Home Page on the Internet.
- The Internet Home Page has access to the latest Environmental News, Current Environmental Proposals and Proposals in file from 1996 and later, Department Mandate and Organization, Department Directory to get in touch with the department and the Environmental Library which allows access to the State of the Environment Report and other public information.
- Approximately 12,000 accesses per month are registered to the department Home Page.
- The Home Page address is: http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation
Other Continuous Improvement accomplished in 1997/1998 include:
- development of partnership guidelines for the department (ongoing)
- Co-location Initiative – In February of 1997, Manitoba Environment, Environment Canada and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Secretariat moved to 123 Main Street (Via Rail Station). The Co-location initiative has resulted in a one-stop shop for the public when dealing with environmental issues. Co-location has allowed efficiencies for all these organizations with the sharing of meeting rooms, equipment such as copy machines, one reception for all, and a combined environmental library.
- As harmonization continues to be implemented additional efficiencies will be realized in the delivery of programs with reduction in duplication and better service to the public.
- the Department carried out a Technical Training Seminar for staff. This is now an annual event with staff of the department organizing and determining the agenda for the Seminar.
- During 1997/98, the department again sent out both a client survey and employee survey to assist the department in determining how well it is doing and where improvements can be made. The surveys are now in the process of being analyzed with the resulting conclusions and recommendations being reviewed and implemented where necessary to improve service to clients.
Minister's Salary
The Minister's Salary provides the Minister of Environment with the additional compensation to which an individual appointed to the Executive Council is entitled.
Executive Support
This section is comprised of all support staff in the Office of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Environment, totalling 7.00 staff years.
The purpose of Executive Support is to develop, implement and oversee departmental policies and programs which are designed to attain, over the long term, the goals set out in the Department's role and mission statement, to advise the Minister on matters relating to the Department, to provide overall policy direction for departmental programs, to coordinate departmental communications activities and initiatives and to provide administrative support for the Offices of the Minister and Deputy Minister.
1 (a)(b) Minister's Salary and Executive Support
Actual |
Estimate |
Variance |
Expl. |
||
| Expenditures by Sub- Appropriation |
|
|
|
|
|
| (a) Minister's Salary (b) Executive Support Total Salaries |
25.7 339.2 364.9 |
1.00 7.00
|
25.7 333.3 359.0 |
5.9 5.9 |
1 |
| Total Other Expenditures | 115.6 | 76.5 | 39.1 | 2 | |
Explanation Number:
- Variance is due to negotiated collective agreements plus increased personnel costs in the minister’s office.
- Variance is due to increased costs for government assigned vehicles, air travel, accommodation costs, food, computer purchases, publication costs, and general office increases.
Financial and Administrative Services
Financial and Administrative Services, with a complement of 18.50 staff, provides financial, human resource, administrative, computer support and library services to the Department to ensure appropriate utilization of departmental resources, the effective delivery of programs and compliance with governmental and departmental administrative policies and procedures.
The Branch is responsible for providing financial services including the processing of all revenue and expenditures in accordance with legislative, Treasury Board and departmental requirements, estimates preparation, accountable advances, expenditure monitoring and reporting and cash flow forecasting.
Also provided are human resource management services including recruitment, classification, performance appraisal system documentation/monitoring, employee orientation, career planning support, staff training and development support, affirmative action and other special projects. In addition, the Human Resources Unit provides advice to the departmental executive, management and staff in the areas of personnel policy, staff development and training, employee relations and human resource planning and associated programs as well as providing support to the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Rural Development, The Manitoba Crop Insurance Corporation and The Manitoba Agricultural Credit Corporation.
As well, administrative support services are provided including vehicle coordination, parking administration, central inventory records, office equipment, records management coordination and freedom of information management.
Computer support services, including systems development support, computer hardware and software acquisition management and general systems troubleshooting services are also provided.
During 1997/98, 4,100 payment vouchers were processed. All of the required documentation respecting the complex annual estimates process and the Supplementary Information for Legislative Review was prepared. Various financial reports were prepared for submission to Manitoba Finance, Treasury Board and to departmental management. Various budget analyses and cash flow reports were prepared and ongoing monitoring of expenditures and revenue was carried out.
The Human Resource function of Manitoba Environment is part of a human resource amalgamated unit comprising Manitoba Environment, Agriculture, and Rural Development. The unit has responsibility for the effective and efficient delivery of all human resource functions within the three departments. Specifically within Manitoba Environment the human resource function has responsibility for recruitment and selection, classification, pay administration, labour relations, performance management and other related human resource activities. In addition, support is provided for various initiatives such as Continuous Improvement, Development and Training and Human Resource planning.
The Branch administered 31 government vehicles along with numerous office space, office equipment, office furniture, communications and related requirements.
The Branch processed 682 file search requests during the fiscal year. The requests were received from various law firms, consulting firms and the public concerning environmental information pertinent to property transactions.
The Branch received 28 Freedom of Information Act access applications during the fiscal year. The following information was requested in this regard:
- information respecting the Minister’s travel expenses for May 16, 1996 to May 16, 1997
- records pertaining to Drinking Water Treatment in Arborg
- records pertaining to the Chemical Analysis of Drinking Waters
- list of services provided by the Department
- information pertaining to disposal of hazardous waste
- information pertinent to the discharge of pollutant to rivers
- information pertinent to the Livestock Waste Regulations
- information pertinent to the Lorette lagoon, Rural Municipality of Tache
- information pertinent to regional water supply for Manitoba’s capital region
- information pertinent to the sewer system for Winnipeg Beach
- information pertinent to the waste disposal grounds for Lorette and Monominto
- information pertinent to Gateway Industries
- information pertinent to Department of Environment contributions, grants, loans and loan guarantees to Manitoba businesses
- information pertinent to Tantalum Mining corporation
- information pertinent to Enviro-West Inc. – "interim approval"
The Branch is also responsible for the preparation of the Department's Annual Report.
The Computer Services unit provided ongoing support for approximately 170 users in two Winnipeg locations and eight regional offices. Implementation of the Geographic Information System/Environmental Management Information System (GIS/EMIS) continued. Planning commenced with respect to the development of a corporate information management system. The Section managed all information technology requirements respecting the Department's relocation to 123 Main Street.
As part of the co-location initiative of the Federal and Provincial Environment Departments, the Environment Library/Bibliotheque de l’Environnement began providing library services to staff of Manitoba Environment, Environment Canada, and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, as well as to the public.
Library staff responded to 1686 requests for information from both staff and the public; filled 245 interlibrary loan requests; processed 461 orders for books and periodicals; catalogued 2228 items with the assistance of a contract cataloguer; distributed 4381 brochures; and sent 189 journal tables of contents to regional staff. In addition, the library continued to operate the main Public Registry, coordinated the Department’s publications and renewed all professional memberships in the Department.
During the 1997/98 period, a large increase in public use of the library was noted. A total of 731 non-staff persons vistited the library, including 118 persons using the Public Registry.
1 (c) Financial and Administrative Services
Actual |
Estimate |
Variance |
Expl. |
||
| Expenditures by Sub-Appropriation |
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Salaries | 677.6 | 18.50 | 814.6 | (137.0) | 1 |
| Total Other Expenditures | 300.8 | 255.2 | 45.6 | 2 | |
Explanation Number:
- Variance is due to the net effect of vacant staff time, the recovery of salaries for two seconded employees and the result of the negotiated collective agreements.
- Variance is due mainly to the unanticipated costs related to the Department’s move to the Via Rail Station building.
Environmental Operations Division
Divisional Overview
The Division's prime objective is to ensure the maintenance of a healthy public and natural environment for the use and well being of present and future generations of Manitobans.
The Division is located in five regional offices - Brandon, The Pas, Winkler, Steinbach and Winnipeg. In addition, there are 8 regional sub-offices located throughout the Province. The Division's total staffing complement is 86.50 staff years.
Overall management and co-ordination of the Division is the responsibility of the Assistant Deputy Minister of Environmental Operations. The Assistant Deputy Minister is supported by an Administrative Assistant, a Senior Operations Consultant, and a Special Projects Coordinator/Training Officer.
Regional administration and program delivery are under the direction of Regional Directors who are supported by administrative staff and Environment Officers.
Regional Operations
Regional staff (82.50 staff years) are responsible for the delivery of the following services:
- the administration of regulations and related approvals, including the review of applications and the issuance of approvals applying to projects in the region under regulations administered by the Department pursuant to The Environment Act, The Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation Act, The Contaminated Sites Remediation Act, The Ozone Depleting Substances Act, The Public Health Act, The Non-Smokers Health Protection Act, and The Waste Reduction and Prevention Act;
- enforcement, including the receipt and analysis of data from licence holders, inspections (routine, spot, compliance, response to complaints, and sampling), and the enforcement of legislation as well as regulations by ticketing, collecting evidence, initiating prosecutions, and issuing orders;
- emergency response, including provision of a 24-hour emergency response capability, providing technical advice, co-ordination of local training, management of clean-up activities and issuing orders;
- monitoring, including sample taking, and appropriate co-ordination with central scientific staff and staff of other departments;
- community liaison, including providing information to the public, organizing local environmental activities, responding to public inquiries, and identifying local environmental priorities.
DIVISIONAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
Co-location and Harmonization
The co-location initiative to the Via Station with Environment Canada and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Secretariat occurred in February, 1997, with the Division’s Management and Winnipeg Region staff moving into their new quarters. In January 1998, Manitoba joined other provinces and Environment Canada in signing the CCME Harmonization accord. Manitoba is co-leading sub-agreements development on Enforcement with Environment Canada as well as the implementation of the Sub-agreement on Inspections. Federal and Provincial programs will be addressed in these sub-agreements.
Swimming Pools and Other Water Recreational Facilities
The Swimming Pools and Other Water Recreational Facilities Regulation MR 132/97, under The Public Health Act came into force on June 13, 1997. The new regulation sets out updated requirements relating to sanitation, hazards and bather safety, water quality, first aid, lifeguard requirements, construction standards and operating procedures for all public swimming pools, semi-public swimming pools, modified pools, public non-conforming pools and wading pools. Under the new regulation requirements for "Whirlpools and Receiving Basins" are included as both are now regulated. Sections dealing with "whirlpools" incorporate a majority of the recommendations arising from a coroners inquest into a drowning that occurred in a Winnipeg whirlpool a few years ago. Existing whirlpools were given one year to comply with the legislation and staff worked with owners/operators to ensure they were aware of the regulations pertaining to their type of facility as well as the requirements for registration and permitting. Waterslide receiving basins will be subject to the same water quality standards as other swimming pools and as an extra safety requirement will require additional lifeguards.
Flood of the Century
Manitoba Environment played a key role in many areas in response to the 1997 flood in the Red River valley. These activities relate to the department’s mandate for the protection of public health and the environment. Major activities included:
- Providing advice on securing dangerous goods prior to flooding
- Making provision for the sampling of public and private water supplies
- Monitoring of surface water quality in the flood zone
- Co-ordinating the recovery and disposal of floating drums , fuel tanks and other suspected contaminant containers in the flood zone
- Inspection of food handling establishments and institutions prior to re-entry
- Participating in the development of procedures for re-entry into the flood zone
- Providing staff to assist Manitoba Emergency Management Organization in the operations of the Emergency Operations centre in Winnipeg.
- Participating in a project to rehabilitate contaminated farm dug-outs
After the flood waters subsided, the department was involved in the monitoring and redemption of contaminated groundwater, primarily in the Grande Pointe area south of Winnipeg. High bacterial counts were detected in over 250 private water wells. The contamination occurred primarily as result of flood waters entering the aquifer through improperly constructed or abandoned wells. The project involves disinfection of well casings, sealing of abandoned wells, upgrading substandard wells and re-sampling to ensure that the water met drinking water standards. This project is expected to conclude during the summer of 1998.
Department staff have also been involved in the inspection of homes which have been affected by mould growth following the flood. One public health inspector is assigned to the mould inspection team. It is expected that the team will be inspecting homes until the end of 1998.
Approximately thirty department staff were involved in flood-related duties at various times.
Partners in Public Service
The Division continues to meet with the City of Winnipeg, Environmental Health Services, regarding the rationalization of Public Health Inspection services throughout the City. A report was presented to elected representatives of both the Province and the City for a decision regarding this issue. We are currently waiting for the City of Winnipeg decision in this regard.
Livestock Manure Management
Expansion of the livestock production industry is continuing in most parts of the Province. Earthen manure storage facilities regulated under Environment Act legislation continue to form a significant percentage of the types of storage facilities available. The environmental focus, in response to public concern about the rapid expansion of hog production operations, has been in ensuring proper management of livestock manure and mortalities. Efforts are concentrated on inspections of earthen manure storage facilities and employment of strategies to work with producers to achieve compliance with regulatory requirements.
In response to public and other concerns regarding the need to refine the regulation, the Department, in co-operation with Manitoba Agriculture, undertook a major review of The Livestock Waste Regulation MR 81/94 during 1997. Following an extensive stakeholder review process, a new Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation (MR 42/98) came into force on April 1, 1998 to address environmental concerns related to the Livestock Industry in Manitoba.
Contaminated Sites
The Contaminated Sites Remediation and Consequential Amendments Act (CSRA) was proclaimed in 1997. This Act provides regulatory authority to designate and manage sites that have been exposed to environmental contaminants. Seven sites in five communities (Winnipeg, Brandon, Carberry, Fisher Branch and Lockport) were formally designated as "Contaminated Sites" during 1997. Management plans are in place to address the contamination on these seven sites. Details of the plans have been placed in the public registry maintained by the department. An additional 1,400 sites impacted by contamination above the applicable Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) 1997 Soil Quality Guidelines continue to be tracked by the department.
REGIONAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
Drinking Water Program
Working with communities to up-grade water treatment plants has been and will continue to be a high priority for the Northern Region. Several communities have made significant improvements in drinking water quality. For example, the Gillam water treatment plant was significantly up-graded in 1997 at a cost of $3.2 M. and is producing improved drinking water. Cold Lake also added additional treatment to its plant and The Pas has just completed a study that will see improvements in treatment to their water treatment plant at a cost of $2.6 M between 1998 and the year 2000. Nelson House will also be improving their plant with additional treatment. As science continues to develop with new discoveries related to water-borne diseases, surface water supplies are at particular risk and all utility owners/operators must continually re-evaluate their drinking water quality. With the Department of Northern Affairs turning over more responsibilities and management of local government to small communities, some concerns are being experienced. Seven "BOIL ORDERS" were issued to small northern communities during 1997-8, indicating some concerns regarding water quality.
Surface Water Quality Projects
The Northern Region, in concert with the Water Quality Management Branch, are developing a list of lakes in the region where an up-dated water quality study is needed to provide data to assist in future risk assessments of developing areas. These water quality data are of particular value in determining where deterioration of water quality is occurring, or is likely to occur in the future. These areas include cottage subdivisions, sensitive areas and areas downstream of municipal and industrial waste streams. Partnerships with volunteer groups such as cottage owners associations will continue to be developed in conjunction with these projects. These partnerships have been quite successful at Clearwater Lake, Paint Lake, Cormorant Lake and Schist Lake.
Recycling and Product Stewardship Programs
Improvement in the total amount of materials being recycled is occurring gradually in the Northern Region. The Flin Flon and District Environment Council continue to expand their recycling operation and in 1997 they collected 150 tonnes of materials for a 57% increase over the start-up year of 1996. They hope to continue to expand to 200 tonnes in 1998-99. The Thompson Recycle Centre processed 181 tonnes of materials in 1997 with their depot system and in 1998-99 this program will be expanded to include a curb-side program that will likely increase the volumes recycled. Healthy The Pas Environment Committee will also be operating a new recycle depot program in the summer of 1998. In the Northern Region there are presently 8 communities registered with the Product Stewardship Program and to date claims of $84,493.00 have been made through the program. We see these recycling initiatives and new ones continuing to grow and communities are being encouraged to expand their waste management and recycling initiatives to benefit both the community and the environment. The Tire Management program has been very successful in the region and over 100,000 used tires have been removed from the north over the last several years through this stewardship program. As Northern Region communities increase their participation in recycling programs they are contributing to the provincial goal of reducing waste in the province by 50% by the year 2000.
Louisiana-Pacific Waste Bark Issue
Due to many problems with the disposal of waste bark from the Louisiana Pacific (LP) plant in Minitonas, a new program was implemented during 1997. Environment staff in the Dauphin Office in conjunction with staff from LP implemented a waste bark inspection and approval process for the disposal of this waste material. LP personnel now inspect all sites used for disposal of waste bark and prepare a detailed site inspection report that upon completion is forwarded to the Dauphin office for appropriate review. Siting criteria is applied to the proposed site and if it satisfies all requirements approval to use the site is granted. In reviewing sites, criteria from the Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation MR 42/98 is used.
Maple Leaf Meats
In December of 1997, Premier Filmon & Maple Leaf Meats Inc. announced the proposed construction of a major state of the art Hog processing facility in the City of Brandon. A Technical Advisory Committee was formed to deal with the construction of the facility with emphasis on wastewater treatment. This committee has representation from the City of Brandon, Brandon University, Manitoba Water Services Board and the Department. A number of meetings of this committee have already been held and many more are anticipated prior to the wastewater treatment facility being constructed.
Solid and Liquid Wastes
There continues to be strong public concern with and subsequent direction of staff resources towards resolving private sewage disposal issues, especially in the Red River corridor area where heavy clay soils impede percolation and infiltration of wastewater. The commissioning of an engineering study of water supply and wastewater disposal by the Selkirk and District Planning Area Board is viewed as a major step forward towards long term resolution of this issue. Challenges for the Interlake area include ensuring the availability of adequate municipal wastewater treatment systems and environmentally sound management of solid waste. Municipal initiatives such as the Eastern Interlake Regional Recycling Co-operative shepherded by the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews and construction of a class 1 waste disposal ground by the Rural Municipality of St. Clements represent significant progress in local management of solid waste.
St. Leon Water Supply-Gasoline/Benzene Contamination
In February 1998 the St. Leon Co-op through testing, discovered the presence of dissolved hydrocarbon constituents in their drinking water supply. Additional testing by South Central Region staff identified trace levels of Benzene in water lines downstream from the Co-op Store Gas Bar. A meeting with community leaders, Co-op Management and water system officials was convened by the region to develop a communication strategy for alerting water system users of the water quality, provide for an interim potable water supply and order an environmental assessment of the Co-op property to determine the source and extent of contamination. Pressure testing of the existing underground petroleum storage tank system proved negative, however, a drilling program confirmed a hydrocarbon plume from an old tank nest had migrated from the Co-op lot and impacted on the village main water line. The St. Leon Co-op remedial action plan includes: replacement of all impacted water lines with approved hydrocarbon resistant material, sealing the waterline trenches with bentonite, and removal and treatment of contaminated soils to an off-site treatment and disposal location. The region continues to monitor and will receive the final report from the consulting firm once the remediation work has been completed.
Well Water Contamination and Remediation
In September 1997, a complaint was received in the Portage Office regarding the potential contamination of a private well water supply. The subsequent investigation revealed that an individual had disposed of spoiled seed, chemical containers, and various other debris into a well being used by a neighbouring family. Samples of the well water confirmed the presence of herbicides in excess of Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines. A clean up was undertaken which included drawing down the well and washing the casing with a strong surfactant. Further drawdowns were undertaken along with treatment using household bleach. Addition sampling revealed decreased herbicide levels to within Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality and the region will continue to monitor the situation during 1998, prior to the well being used again for human consumption.
Program Operating Statistics: 1997/98
PUBLIC HEALTH ACT:
PROGRAM ACTIVITY |
Number of |
Complaints |
| Food Service Establishments | 3560 |
423 |
| Temporary/Seasonal Food Service | 386 |
8 |
| Retail Food Stores | 545 |
134 |
| Mobile Food Units | 124 |
4 |
| Food Processors | 1047 |
136 |
| Uninspected Meat Processors | 69 |
5 |
| Public Water Supply | 406 |
65 |
| Swimming Facilities | 567 |
4 |
| Industrial & Construction Camps | 31 |
8 |
| Recreational Camps | 189 |
24 |
| Public Accommodation | 137 |
24 |
| Care Facilities | 492 |
20 |
| Total | 7553 |
855 |
ENVIRONMENT ACT:
PROGRAM ACTIVITY |
Number of |
Complaints |
| Waste Disposal Grounds | 601 |
89 |
| Livestock Production Operations | 547 |
160 |
| Municipal Wastewater Facilities | 433 |
41 |
| Scrap Processors & Auto Wrecking | 97 |
19 |
| Agricultural Operations | 146 |
34 |
| Mining Operations | 33 |
1 |
| Forestry Operations | 35 |
15 |
| Manufacturing & Industrial Plants | 170 |
56 |
| Recreational Developments | 8 |
-- |
| Incinerators | 22 |
2 |
| Water Development/Other EA Licences | 345 |
10 |
| Total | 2437 |
427 |
DANGEROUS GOODS HANDLING & TRANSPORTATION ACT:
PROGRAM ACTIVITY |
Number of |
Complaints |
| Petroleum Storage Facilities | 1159 |
76 |
| Pesticide Storage and Container Facilities | 135 |
39 |
| PCB Storage Facilities | 6 |
1 |
| Anhydrous Ammonia | 70 |
12 |
| Hazardous Wastes Sites | 283 |
81 |
| Dangerous Goods Handling & Transportation | 219 |
6 |
| Contaminated Sites | 331 |
19 |
| Total | 2203 |
234 |
REQUEST/RESPONSE ORIENTED PROGRAMS:
PROGRAM ACTIVITY |
Number of |
Complaints |
| Subdivision, Landsplits, Planning Schemes & Development Plans |
|
|
| Litter | 894 |
730 |
| Campgrounds | 16 |
4 |
| Dwellings & Buildings | 1340 |
137 |
| Private Water Supplies | 788 |
150 |
| Insanitary Conditions | 159 |
159 |
| Communicable Disease Investigations | 115 |
68 |
| Private Sewage Disposal | 872 |
182 |
| Other (Crop Residue, Ozone, WRAP, NSHPA) | 427 |
71 |
| Total | 5403 |
1650 |
| Grand Total | 17596 |
3166 |
Training and Development
Environmental Operations Division conducted and/or participated in staff training sessions throughout the year in various areas of the Province and Regina, Saskatchewan. Key training in 1997/98 included the Manitoba Environment Training Seminar (METS), Mediation Training Workshop, Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) Seminar, Enforcement Investigators Course and the Manitoba Water and Wastewater School and Seminar. All Emergency Management Organization training sessions were cancelled due to the 1997 flood.
Highlight of the 1997/98 year was the 2nd Annual Manitoba Environment Training Seminar (METS) held in Winnipeg in November 1997 and attended by 129 staff. The Seminar is held to enhance training and to facilitate better communication among all staff. Formal presentations on numerous subjects included Strategic Directions, Priorities for Environmental Health and Manitoba’s Drinking Water Supplies. Workshops held throughout the two day seminar covered such topical subjects as: Infiltrator Septic Systems, Ozone Depleting Substances Recovery Demonstration, Used Oil Depots, Water Efficiency and Workplace Safety Requirements. The keynote address was the "1997 Flood" with guest speaker Larry Whitney, MB Natural Resources. Benefits gained included meeting and getting to know other staff in the department, information sharing, and developing communication links with colleagues.
In June 1997, 16 environment officers attended the one week Canadian Law Enforcement Investigators Training Course at RCMP Depot in Regina, Saskatchewan. Some of the topics covered were communication, information gathering, interviewing techniques, court testimony, witness statements and court briefs. All attendees gave high marks to the instructors, course material, facilities and accommodations.
Enforcement
The Department's enforcement policy and procedure provides for a consistent approach to enforcement across the Province with emphasis on ensuring compliance with legislation. In addition to the statistical summary that appears in this report, a more detailed report of the Department’s enforcement activities can be found in the Public Registries that are located throughout the Province.
ENFORCEMENT STATISTICS 1997/98 FISCAL YEAR
Legislation |
|
|
|
Director/ |
|
| The Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation Act |
|
|
|
|
|
| The Environment Act | 66 |
49 |
198 |
27 |
$24,226.00 |
| The Non-Smokers Health Protection Act | -- |
-- |
|
-- |
-- |
| The Ozone Depleting Substances Act | -- |
-- |
|
-- |
-- |
| The Public Health Act | 12 |
7 |
75 |
12 |
$1,258.00 |
| Municipal By-Laws | 1 |
1 |
31 |
-- | Nil |
| TOTALS | 141 |
119 |
340 |
41 |
$40,169.00 |
Environmental Accidents
The following details are provided with respect to 1997/98 environmental accidents:
| Total number of calls received | 434 |
| Total number of accidents reported | 296 |
Breakdown by accident type:
| Transport-related | 52 |
| Spills during product handling | 53 |
| Equipment failure | 122 |
| Miscellaneous | 69 |
Breakdown by dangerous goods classification (where applicable):
| Class 1 (Explosives) | 0 |
| Class 2 (Compressed Gases) | 36 |
| Class 3 (Flammable Liquids) | 123 |
| Class 4 (Flammable Solids) | 1 |
| Class 5 (Oxidizers and Organic Peroxides) | 2 |
| Class 6.1 (Poisonous Substances) | 2 |
| Class 6.2 (Infectious Substances) | 0 |
| Class 7 (Radioactive Materials) | 0 |
| Class 8 (Corrosive Substances) | 14 |
| Class 9 (Miscellaneous Substances) | 14 |
2 (a) Environmental Operations
Actual |
Estimate |
Variance |
Expl. |
||
| Expenditures by Sub-Appropriation |
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Salaries | 4,240.4 | 86.50 | 4,212.6 | 27.8 | 1 |
| Other Expenditures: - Operating - Grants Total Other Expenditures |
1,076.4 .9 1,077.3 |
1,106.7 .9 1,107.6 |
30.3 30.3 |
2
|
|
Explanation:
- Variance is due to the net effect of position vacancies and negotiated collective agreements.
- Variance is due to the implementation of various expenditure management measures to reduce overall Branch expenditures.
Environmental Management Division
The Environmental Management Division ensures that timely and credible information on ecosystem responses are available to the general public and decision-makers, and that appropriate legal controls are set in place to limit ecosystem consequences and to ensure environmental sustainability. This is accomplished by providing services in the areas of:
- monitoring the environment;
- developing and establishing guidelines and objectives;
- generating and disseminating educational material and environmental information including State of the Environment reporting;
- assessing environmental effects of developments and setting legal controls;
- protecting or enhancing environmental quality and rehabilitating impacted areas;
- promoting waste reduction and pollution prevention;
- encouraging application of pollution prevention techniques and approaches.
The Division is committed to delivering quality services. This entails knowing the customers’ needs and pursuing excellence in meeting those needs. The Division constantly reviews and optimizes the manner by which it fulfills its responsibilities to its clients.
The division:
As Regulator
- issues licences, permits, and orders;
- administers and enforces legal requirements.
As Scientist and Technical Expert
- develops, establishes, and applies guidelines and objectives;
- monitors the receiving environment;
- conducts investigations and studies;
- identifies potential environmental effects;
- recommends appropriate solutions.
As Leader
- provides direction;
- facilitates cooperation and partnerships;
- encourages, guides, and supports environmental enhancement and rehabilitation efforts.
As Educator and Communicator
- promotes education and public understanding of environmental issues and departmental programs and processes;
- distributes information on the state of Manitoba's environment;
- provides effective communication;
- provides education;
- ensures stakeholder involvement in environmental management decision making.
Three branches make up the Environmental Management Division: Environmental Quality, Environmental Approvals, and Pollution Prevention. The staffing complement totals 52.25 staff years.
The objective of this Environmental Quality Branch is to evaluate the status of the Manitoba environment, monitor its changes, promote standards that would safeguard its quality, and encourage rehabilitation of impacted areas.
The Environmental Quality Branch, is comprised of 18.00 staff years, all highly trained (Ph.D., Masters, and Bachelor Degrees) - in the disciplines of engineering, chemistry, forestry, biology, environmental sciences. The Branch maintains an ambient monitoring network to define Manitoba's environmental quality and to ensure a scientific knowledge basis for managing environmental issues. The Branch provides consulting services, conducts issue-based environmental studies, works closely with stakeholders and local interest groups, develops and establishes air, water, and terrestrial quality guidelines and objectives, leads the production of a State of the Environment Report every second year, liaises with the academic community, and produces and distributes environmental information. Other activities include identifying potential impacts on environmental quality from proposed developments and providing feedback and background information to the Environmental Approvals Branch. This link between the Environmental Approvals and Environmental Quality Branches is essential for the regulatory function of the Department.
The Branch is organized into four sections:
Water Quality Management
Air Quality Management
Terrestrial Quality Management
State of the Environment Reporting
Typical Branch responsibilities are:
- to provide scientific and technical support, guidance, information and advice to internal and external clients;
- to conduct ambient monitoring to support informed environmental decision making;
- to gather information to aid the Branch in the resolution of human health issues related to the environment;
- to evaluate whether developments brought to the Branch's attention are sustainable;
- to provide input into agreements addressing trans-boundary issues that may affect the environmental quality of Manitoba;
- to ensure that ambient objectives/guidelines are in place to encourage proactive protection of the environmental quality of Manitoba;
- to provide advice on whether policies and legislation are adequate to protect the environmental quality of Manitoba;
- to provide the public with accurate and accessible environmental quality information;
- to ensure that environmental quality degradation is minimized or prevented during environmental emergencies, and re-occurrences of similar emergencies are prevented;
- to ensure that Manitoba's need in applied research is fulfilled when opportunities arise within Manitoba, in Canada or outside Canada;
- to ensure that departmental advice includes pollution prevention and proactive protection rather than reactive remediation.
The Branch reports on the status of Manitoba's environment, and develops objectives, guidelines and standards for environmental quality in Manitoba. In addition, the Branch has responsibilities for development and implementation of a department-wide information management and dissemination system and contributes to the quality assurance program of the department.
The Branch defines, assesses and monitors the quality of the environment and encourages environmental enhancement and rehabilitation projects. Its responsibility includes defining the capacity of the environment (air, water, and land) to accept human activities and developing an understanding of the structure and function of natural ecosystems.
The goal of Water Quality Management is to provide services in support of the Department’s mission to protect, enhance, and rehabilitate the quality of aquatic environments in Manitoba to meet present and future sustainable needs.
The following activities are carried out in support of this goal:
- operating a routine, ambient monitoring network on the major streams and lakes throughout Manitoba, including Shoal Lake, the source of Winnipeg’s water supply, and numerous recreational beaches. Ambient monitoring is conducted with the assistance of volunteers, Non-Governmental Organizations such as Conservation Districts, as well as regional staff within Manitoba Environment’s Environmental Operations Division.
- undertaking issue-based, site-specific water quality studies. These studies are usually carried-out by intensively sampling an area over a short period of time to address a specific issue. Studies are carried out to assess issues related to both point and non-point source impacts arising from agriculture, mining, forestry, municipal discharges, plus others.
- supporting and participating in scientific studies aimed at gaining a better understanding of the impacts of man-made disturbances on ecosystem structure and function.
- developing and recommending water quality guidelines and objectives to protect water quality in Manitoba.
- providing technical and scientific support to the Department, other government agencies, the Clean Environment Commission, plus others.
- working cooperatively with neighbouring jurisdictions to protect Manitoba’s water quality from upstream developments.
- addressing non-point source pollution problems through cooperative partnerships with volunteers and municipal officials.
- providing education on water quality to volunteer and local citizen groups, etc. to foster greater awareness and to empower local stewardship. Education activities take many forms including presentations, preparation of short, non-technical articles for newsletters, etc., depending upon the needs of the audience.
- reviewing and providing comments on proposals received under the Environment Act and the Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation Act.
- providing leadership in many areas of aquatic ecosystem protection including water quality. This includes participating in local, provincial, regional, national, bi-lateral, and international committees aimed at addressing specific issues, developing coordinated actions, etc.
- administering the Canada-Manitoba Water Quality Monitoring Agreement.
- developing and implementing a cooperative, proactive strategy to prevent invasion by zebra mussels and other aquatic non-indigenous species.
- contributing to State of Environment reporting, including the operation of a minimum number of ambient monitoring sites within the various ecozones of Manitoba, data base maintenance, and incorporation of community- and ecosystem-level monitoring and reporting tools to provide information on sustainability indicators.
The following results were achieved by Water Quality Management in 1997/1998:
Water Quality Monitoring and Studies:
| Achievements | Number |
| Surface water quality monitoring sites routinely operated for water chemistry |
|
| Surface water quality monitoring sites routinely operated for indicators of biological health |
|
| Biomonitoring sites operated | 2 |
| Coordination of volunteer-operated water quality monitoring sites | 135 |
| Issue-based, site-specific studies | 45 |
| Coordinated monitoring at recreational beaches | 39 |
| Raw water supplies sampled for toxic algae | 9 |
Reports, Presentations, Scientific Reviews, Inquiries, etc.
| Achievements | Number |
| Preparation and contributions to technical and non-technical reports | 18 |
| Brochures prepared or in progress | 3 |
| Presentations on water quality issues | 41 |
| Newspaper and newsletter articles prepared | 11 |
| Media interviews | 17 |
| Requests for water quality data | 79 |
| Coordinated or participated in water quality-related workshops, public displays, etc. |
|
| Responses to water quality concerns from the general public, other government agencies, consulting firms, etc. |
|
| Reviewed and provided comments on proposals received under the Environment and Dangerous Goods Transportation and Handling acts, plus other documents submitted for scientific review |
|
| Activities that support a healthy corporate culture within Manitoba Environment (e.g., Wellness and Green Commuting Committee, etc.) |
|
Principle Areas of Focus to Meet Existing and Predicted Future Water Quality Challenges in Manitoba
In order to ensure that the Water Quality Management Section continues to meet the existing water quality challenges in Manitoba and those future challenges that are reasonably predicted, emphasis for the immediate future is being placed on eight main areas. These include:
Studies and Assessments Related to Expansion of the Livestock Industry in Manitoba
Expansion of the livestock industry may create pressures on the quality of water resources within Manitoba. Focus is being placed on gaining a better understanding of impacts to water quality caused by disposal of livestock wastes, impacts to riparian areas by unrestricted livestock access, and impacts to water quality near holding areas.
Studies and Assessments Related to Expansion of the Non-Livestock Agricultural Industry in Manitoba
Diversification of agriculture in Manitoba may also lead to impacts to water quality related to irrigation, food processing, cropping practices, etc. Focus is being placed on gaining a better understanding of such issues and working cooperatively with other government agencies and the agricultural industry to, where necessary, modify practices.
Volunteer, Community-Based Water Quality Activities
Many water quality issues are addressed by developing informal partnerships with, for example, volunteer cottage owner’s associations, lake and stream stewardship groups, non-governmental organizations such as Conservation Districts, municipal and local government districts, and others. Increased emphasis is being placed on developing partnerships to acquire water quality information and to develop cooperative, basin-wide approaches to protecting, maintaining, or rehabilitating water quality.
Domestic Water Supply Protection Initiatives
The Water Quality Management Section will increase emphasis on providing local governments and rural residents information on water source protection activities for rural water supplies. The goal will be to minimize water quality impacts from, for example, toxic algae, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, etc. through water source protection programs.
Monitoring Ambient Water Quality to Measure Progress Towards Sustainability
The Water Quality Management Section operates between 40 and 50 water quality monitoring sites within Manitoba. Frequency of collections vary among sites, but generally, samples are collected once each month on larger rivers in southern Manitoba, three to four times each year on smaller streams throughout the province, and six times per year on rivers located in northern Manitoba. Samples are analyzed for a wide range of materials including bacteria (e.g., fecal coliforms), general chemistry (e.g., pH, conductivity, temperature), plant nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus), major ions (e.g., sodium, potassium, chloride), trace elements (e.g., nickel, lead, zinc, copper), and organics (e.g., agricultural and industrial pesticides). Beginning in 1995, many sites located on smaller streams in the south and central areas of Manitoba have been sampled for aquatic invertebrate communities for use as a tool to better assess environmental health. This activity undergoes continual review to ensure that only the most important sites are monitored at scientifically-defensible frequencies and that samples are analyzed for variables of concern. This ambient water quality monitoring activity provides information necessary to determine assimilative capacity, to determine impacts resulting from major municipal or industrial discharges, to track water quality improvement and deterioration over time, to provide an overview of water quality necessary for State of Environment reporting, etc.
Work will continue through the CCME to develop a national water quality index. In addition, other sustainability water quality indices will be assessed and developed for Manitoba, such as an index of biotic integrity.
Routine ambient monitoring is also done on Shoal Lake, the source of the City of Winnipeg’s drinking water.
During the recreational season, between 20 and 30 beaches are monitored mainly for fecal coliform bacteria.
Water Quality Guidelines, Objectives, and Standards
The Manitoba Surface Water Quality Objectives, last published in 1988, are presently undergoing review. The review will ensure that the Objectives reflect current scientific knowledge and that administrative implementation procedures are clearly documented. The revised document will also provide the implementation mechanism to explicitly harmonize Manitoba-specific water quality objectives with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) water quality guidelines and with any water quality standards that may be developed under the proposed CCME National Accord on Environmental Harmonization.
Wetland Wastewater Treatment Potential and Nutrient-Related Issues in Manitoba
Wetlands are increasingly being utilized to assist in assimilating liquid wastes from both municipal and agricultural sources. Focus is being placed on gaining a better understanding of the potential for wetlands to be used for this purpose in Manitoba without comprising their many inherent values or their integrity as habitat for many species of aquatic and semi-aquatic life.
A major water quality issue in the prairie and boreal plain ecozones of Manitoba is related to the enrichment of water bodies by plant nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Additional emphasis will be placed on this issue with the aim of developing a comprehensive management strategy to deal with artificial enrichment of Manitoba’s prairie streams. This may involve the development of a more appropriate water quality objective for phosphorus, perhaps in combination with practical control strategies.
Basin-Unit Studies and Reporting
Beginning in mid-1997, increased emphasis will be placed on assessing water quality in small watershed basin units. Although many assessments presently undertaken by the Water Quality Management Section utilize this approach (e.g., current studies underway or nearing completing on Shellmouth Reservoir, Seine River, La Salle River, etc.), explicit focus on basin management and basin-wide reporting of information will be undertaken.
Personnel in the Water Quality Management Section
The Water Quality Management Section is comprised of seven full time and one part time water quality specialists.
Achievement Highlights – Fiscal Year 1997/1998
- During 1997/1998, the Water Quality Management Section prepared technical reports on the following issues:
- Interim report on water quality of Roseau River
- Report on toxic algae in surface waters of southern Manitoba
- Report on water quality of farm dugouts and recreational water in southwestern Manitoba
- Water Quality Status Report: Bachman and U-Drain water quality assessment. Brokenhead Watershed Management Study
- Water Quality Status Report: Little Saskatchewan River water quality, 1965 - 1997
- Water Quality Status Report: Icelandic River water quality, 1995 - 1996
- Mercury and metal residues in fish from the Red River
- Mercury and metal residues in fish from the Winnipeg River
- Phosphorus loading to Shellmouth Reservoir Water quality assessment of Rat River/St. Malo reservoir
- Report on Training and Development for Manitoba Environment
- Progress report -- water quality studies undertaken at the Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre
- Report on water quality in Seine River
- Interim Report -- IJC’s International Red River Basin Task Force
- Zebra mussel colonization potential of Manitoba
- Water quality of Bunn’s Creek
- Water quality assessment of the Whitemud River, 1996 – 1997. Whitemud Watershed Conservation District and Manitoba Environment. Manitoba Environment Status Report #98-04.
- Phosphorus study of Clearwater Lake. Manitoba Environment Report #98-01.
During 1997/1998, brochures were prepared on the following topics:
- Water quality in the Turtle and Ochre rivers
- Seine River
- Rural Water Quality -- Manure Management
- During 1997/1998, the Water Quality Management Section provided significant effort to water quality issues related to the flood of 1997 in the Red River valley. Following the flood, Water Quality Management Section staff were appointed to the IJC’s International Red River Basin Task Force to examine a number of issues related to the flood and to report to governments on how future damages can be prevented or reduced.
- Significant work continued on gaining a better understanding of water quality impacts that may arise from expansion and diversification of the agricultural sector in Manitoba.
- As in past years, over 40 presentations were made to various groups on water quality issues.
- The Water Quality Management Section continued to play a major role in national activities, such as the CCME Water Quality Guidelines Task Force, in interprovincial activities, such as the Prairie Provinces Water Board’s Committee on Water Quality, and in international activities, such as several IJC Boards or Task Groups.
The objective of Air Quality Management is to identify Manitoba’s ambient air quality and provide scientific and technical support for its enhancement and on-going protection.
The following activities are carried out in support of this objective:
- developing and reviewing air quality objectives and guidelines for pollutants of concern;
- monitoring ambient air quality within the urban community and within the vicinity of specific industrial sources to determine adherence to air quality objectives and guidelines;
- undertaking special project investigations on air quality;
- providing scientific and technical support to the Department, other agencies and the public;
- preparing reports and evaluating peer reports dealing with air quality issues;
- assisting with the review and assessment of developments under environmental legislation and providing comments for licencing purposes; and
- participating in the planning, development and implementation of national strategies related to atmospheric issues.
During 1997/98 the following results were achieved:
| Achievements | Number |
| National Air Pollution Surveillance - number of urban stations operated | 31 |
| Air Quality Monitoring in the vicinity of industries with air emissions - number of stations operated |
|
| Precipitation Quality Monitoring - number of sites operated | 12 |
| Technical Reports on air quality | 2 |
| Participation in Federal/Provincial committees related to air | 6 |
| Coordinating/supporting internal departmental air quality strategy development and implementation |
|
| Support to major departmental priorities | 4 |
| Environment Act/Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation Act proposals/licences - reviewed - comments provided |
|
| Air Quality Objectives/Guidelines completed | 03 |
| Presentations on air quality | 7 |
| Requests for air quality information (data, criteria, technical information, etc.) |
|
| Media requests | 3 |
1One site operated jointly with the Environmental Operations Division.
2 One site that was operated during 1997 was terminated starting in 1998.
3 Though no additional air quality guidelines were completed during fiscal 1997/98, progress has been made on a number of substances. Public consultation was undertaken on styrene, methylene chloride was advanced to the public consultation step, and initial work on formulating approaches for lead was done.
In addition to the results reported above, Air Quality Management undertook the following in 1997/98:
Monitoring Ambient Air Quality
Air quality monitoring activities were expanded to better quantify levels of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in air. This is in response to the increasing awareness of the potential human health effects from the inhalation of fine-sized particulate matter. Continuous monitoring of PM10 was introduced to Flin Flon and Brandon. A PM2.5 monitor was placed into operation at the Winnipeg residential monitoring site as a part of the expansion of the national program looking at urban air quality.
Climate Change Activities
Promotion of voluntary actions on the part of the private and public sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in response to the climate change challenge was undertaken. Selected industries and local governments were approached to enhance awareness of the climate change issue and to solicit their engagement to better manage greenhouse gas releases. Also, an information sheet on the climate change issue was developed and distributed to Manitobans to seek their cooperation and engagement in reducing emissions of gases associated with warming of the lower atmosphere.
Air Quality Criteria
In addition to the internal work of air quality guideline development, Manitoba continued to participate in federal/provincial processes towards national air quality guidelines and standards that will protect air quality.
Terrestrial Quality Management
The Objectives of the Terrestrial Quality Management Section are:
- to monitor the quality of Manitoba's terrestrial environment (soils, vegetation, and wildlife);
- to provide scientific and technical support toward maintaining the quality of terrestrial ecosystems, and restoring previously degraded environments to healthy conditions; and
- to collect data which will assist in understanding of the complex interactions of terrestrial ecosystem components (soil, vegetation, wildlife, habitat) so that land use decision-making in Manitoba will be based on sound ecological principles and all potential environmental effects of developments are considered.
The following activities were carried out in support of these objectives:
- designing and carrying out studies aimed at determining if soils, vegetation communities, and wildlife are contaminated, and documenting the impacts of contaminants, or land use practices, on terrestrial ecosystems;
- developing, testing and using pertinent terrestrial monitoring methodologies for Manitoba conditions;
- establishing and maintaining a terrestrial database;
- preparing reports and evaluating peer reports relevant to Manitoba's terrestrial environment;
- developing and implementing guidelines, objectives and standards for terrestrial ecosystem components;
- providing scientific and technical support to the department, the Clean Environment Commission, other departments and agencies, and the public; and
- reviewing and assessing development proposals under The Environment Act, and providing recommendations for licensing purposes.
The following results were achieved in 1997/98:
| Achievements | Number |
| Conducted breeding bird surveys at sites near the Louisiana-Pacific OSB mill near Minitonas |
|
| Sampled monitoring sites re: metals in soils and vegetation | 19 |
| Conducted plant biodiversity monitoring at permanent monitoring sites | 9 |
| Sampled groundwater monitoring wells at wood preservative facilities at Roblin and Neepawa |
|
| Conducted site specific investigations | 3 |
| Conducted technical reviews of Environment Act proposals re: soils, vegetation, wildlife impacts |
|
| Participated in Louisiana-Pacific Canada Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings (member) |
|
| Provided technical recommendations re: contaminated sites | 2 |
| Prepared technical reports | 3 |
| Provided terrestrial quality data and information | 45 |
| Provided information on soil quality standards | 8 |
| Provided information on treated wood use and disposal | 4 |
| Participated in committees | 20 |
Significant activities in 1997/98 included:
- consultation on site remediation including the Domtar site.
- monitored lead concentrations in the soils and some vegetables from 10 garden plots in Winnipeg.
- conducted breeding bird surveys at 3 sites within 5 km of the Louisiana-Pacific mill near Minitonas as well as 2 background sites, to determine if the mill is affecting birds.
- sampled soils and vegetation at 5 permanent sampling sites near Thompson, Manitoba to determine the effects of nickel smelter emissions on concentrations of metals in the soils and plants, and to determine changes in plant biodiversity. The sites were established and first sampled 20 years ago.
- sampled soils and vegetation at 4 permanent Acid Rain National Early Warning Sites (ARNEWS). The sites, located at James Lake (west of South Indian Lake), Gillam, Jenpeg, and Meditation Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park, are beyond the influence of local emission sources. The objective is to determine if Long-Range Transported Air Pollutants are affecting the ecosystems. The sites are also providing useful regional background data on plant biodiversity.
- participated in the Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd. Stakeholders Advisory Committee. The mandate of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee is to review the ongoing forest management activities of the forest company and to provide advice, with respect to those activities, to the regional Integrated Resource Management Team of Natural Resources.
- responded to numerous requests from other departments, other government jurisdictions, consultants, industry, and the general public, on issues such as: The Environment Act licensing process for forest management activities; acceptable levels of contaminants in soils, vegetation and wildlife; investigating the cause of morbidity or mortality in vegetation and wildlife; herbicide impacts on biodiversity and wildlife habitat in forest ecosystems; and treated wood use and disposal.
State of the Environment (SOE) Reporting
The State of the Environment Reporting section collects, compiles, and interprets information about environmental quality, projected trends, and environmental management activities in Manitoba, in accordance with Section 4.1 of The Environment Act.
The following activities are carried out in support of this objective:
- preparation of a biennial State of the Environment (SOE) Report and coordination of internal and external contributions to the report;
- liaison with provincial and federal agencies responsible for environmental management and SOE reporting;
- distribution of information on the state of Manitoba's environment to government and non-government agencies and the public.
The State of Environment Report for Manitoba 1997 was released on June 6, 1997 at the Rural Forum in Brandon. The report was distributed to an extensive mailing list, which included federal, provincial, and municipal governments, schools, libraries and non-government organizations. It continues to be distributed upon request.
Selected Highlights of the 1997 SOE Report were prepared and released in March 1998. As well, the report was translated into French and the printing process initiated.
A survey of report recipients was distributed in the spring of 1998. The survey was designed to gain information on the effectiveness of the 1997 report and suggestions for improvements.
Plans for the year 2000 report were initiated in the fall of 1997. This report will be an interim Sustainability Report under The Sustainable Development Act. It will be coordinated through the Sustainable Development Coordination Unit, with assistance from Manitoba Environment. The two agencies will co-chair the Indicators Working Group, which will have representation from provincial government departments and agencies and non-government organizations. Participants will assist in identifying issues, developing and reviewing draft material.
Plans for the report entail drafting a set of sustainability indicators for the province through working groups and public consultation. The bulk of the report will be comprised of trend information on these indicators.
Also in 1997/98, a new display was developed to showcase the SOE reporting program. It was taken to conferences and meetings throughout Manitoba, including the Rural Forum in Brandon in May and the Manitoba Science Teachers' conference in Winnipeg in October. Other informational materials such as the 1995, 1993 and 1991 reports, Selected Highlights of the 1995 and 1993 reports, and the "Did You Know?" information sheet were distributed upon request.
There was continued participation on two Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) task groups relating to SOE reporting and environmental education and communication. This involved attending meetings, participating in conference calls, planning future activities, reviewing various documents and sharing information on Manitoba's activities.
The manager of the SOE Reporting program also participated in business planning and performance measurement activities. A team was created in May 1997 to coordinate the development of business plans and performance measures within the department. This involved setting up training sessions and acting as resource people for staff.
The objective of this Branch is to ensure that development maintains sustainable environmental quality. There are 18.00 staff in the Branch.
The Branch is responsible for assessing the adequacy of the measures proposed to control environmental effects and licencing developments in the municipal, industrial, pesticide use, land use, and waste management areas through the administration and management of the approval process, pursuant to The Environment, Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation, and Public Health Acts. The Branch provides the link between sustainable resource management and development by setting the requirements under which development may take place.
The following activities are carried out to achieve this objective:
- administer the development approval requirements of the Environment, Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation and Public Health Acts.
- control municipal, industrial and hazardous waste sources of pollutants.
- ensure a safe drinking water supply for Manitobans.
- minimize the environmental impact of land use development proposals.
- minimize the adverse effects to the environment and public health resulting from pesticide use in Manitoba.
Municipal, Industrial and Hazardous Waste Approvals
This section is responsible for controlling municipal, industrial and hazardous waste sources of pollutants and ensuring a safe drinking water supply for Manitobans.
The following are carried out in support of this objective:
- gather credible information respecting the potential implications of proposed developments.
- recommending conditions to the Director and Minister for use in developing Environment Act licences.
- providing advice on technical aspects of pollutant treatment and control strategies.
- evaluating proposed water and wastewater works for public health concerns in preparation for approval by the Minister of Health.
- reviewing mine site rehabilitation schemes.
- providing technical assistance to municipal, provincial and federal governments respecting water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection, treatment and disposal, and air emission control.
- recommending licencing conditions for developments concerning the construction, alteration or operation of hazardous waste management facilities that handle dangerous goods, under The Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation Act.
- recommend licencing conditions for developments concerning the construction, alteration or operation of facilities that handle dangerous goods, under The Environment Act - representing the Department at public meetings or hearings.
- providing technical support on all matters relating to dangerous goods and hazardous waste.
- review and generate Directors Orders for the on-site management of hazardous waste.
- promote the on-site management of hazardous wastes at industrial facilities.
- provide environmental support to other Departments.
- liaising with Miller Environmental Ltd. and other industry groups to coordinate the development of a comprehensive system to manage the safe disposal of hazardous waste generated in the Province of Manitoba.
- responding to enquiries and complaints.
- developing guidelines for storage and management of hazardous waste.
The following results were achieved during the 1997/98 fiscal year:
Environment Act:
| Project Proposals Received | 22 |
| Project Proposals Processed | 20 |
| Public Hearings | 0 |
Dangerous Goods Handling & Transportation Act:
| Project Proposals Received | 3 |
| Project Proposals Processed (Orders) | 3 |
| Public Hearings | 0 |
Public Health Act:
| Project Proposals Received | 25 |
| Project Proposals Processed | 9 |
In addition the following significant activities were carried out in 1997/98:
Maple Leaf Meats Inc.
Maple Leaf Meats Inc. expressed their intention to construct a hog process plant in Brandon. The City of Brandon agreed to construct a wastewater treatment facility for the plant. The Licensing activities for both developments initiated early in order to ensuring the necessary levels of environmental protection without compromising the tight development schedules needed to bring the projects on line to meet the clients needs. Guidance was provided to Maple Leaf Meats and the City on the information expected and the issues to be addressed to process the proposals. Maple Leaf Meats submitted a proposal for a Preliminary Steps Licence. These projects will require considerable staff resources over the next two years.
Work has begun on project management of the Provincial-City Partnership provide wastewater treatment for the proposed hog processing plant.
X-Potential Products Ltd.
Staff put forth an extraordinary effort to work cooperatively with the company to ensure that the environmental issues associated with allowing this company to initiate operation were addressed to the degree possible. The project is expected to continue into the foreseeable future.
Louisiana-Pacific
Monitoring of the company’s progress and assessment of adjustment made to the plant through the start-up phase continues as a major project. The final operating licence has been issued and the enforcement responsibilities will transferred to the Region in 1998.
Projects Under The Dangerous Goods Handling & Transportation Act
Implementation of the Waste Oil Stewardship program and delineation of responsibilities with Regional Operations will expedite processing of proposals for hazardous waste disposal facilities. Licensing of the Federal Disease Control Laboratories was completed.
City of Winnipeg Sewage Treatment Plants
Work is progressing on issuing a Stage 2 Licence for the Southend Water Pollution Control Centre approving the installation of ultraviolet light disinfection facilities. Request to file proposals for the existing privately owned sewage treatment plant were sent. Work on licencing these plants started.
Town of Roblin
Considerable time and effort was devoted in an attempt to approve the wetlands alteration within the Proponent’s time requirements.
Environmental Land Use Approvals
This section is responsible for ensuring that potential environmental impacts are identified and addressed in projects which affect land and water use in Manitoba.
The section carries out the following activities in support of this objective:
- coordinates the environmental assessment and licencing of proposed developments in the areas of recreation, transportation and transmission, forest management and water development and control.
- coordinates the environmental review of proposed crown land sales and permits, development plan and zoning amendments, and treaty land entitlements.
- coordinates the environmental review of Canada/Manitoba Infrastructure Works projects.
- participates in the development and revision of legislation, policies and procedures.
- participates in and provides technical advice for project and program planning activities, including the screening of Department of Highways and Transportation projects; participates on interdepartmental committees and task forces; and the review and approval by letter of projects which involve environmental impacts but are not included in the Classes of Development regulation.
- participates on the Pine Falls Paper Company Ltd. And Tolko Manitoba Inc. forest management stakeholder advisory committees..
- provides management services for initiatives not related to environmental assessment and licencing, including the Department's Continuous Improvement initiative, the Manitoba Model Forest and the Manitoba Forestry Association.
- participates in inspection and enforcement activities for developments in the planning, construction and operating stages.
- responds to complaints and enquiries.
- represents the Department at hearings and public meetings.
The following results were achieved during the 1997/98 fiscal year:
| Local government development plan and basic planning statement reviews |
|
| Department of Highways pre-planning reviews |
|
| Infrastructure project reviews | 159 |
| Crown Land plans and sales reviews | 255 |
Environment Act:
| Project proposals received | 25 |
| Project proposals licenced | 25 |
In addition the following, significant activities were carried out in 1997/98:
Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program:
Manitoba Environment continued to coordinate the acquisition of information needed for the federal and provincial environmental screening of Infrastructure Works projects. The number of projects reviewed increased in 1997/98 due to an extension of the program.
Aquifer Management:
Environmental Land Use Approvals staff was active on the multi-disciplinary technical advisory group, which compiled background information for the development of aquifer management plans for the Assiniboine Delta and Oak Lake Aquifers. The planning process involves technical expertise from government departments and stakeholder input from local aquifer users and other residents. Support was provided for the implementation phase of the Winkler Aquifer Management Plan.
Irrigation Development:
Manitoba Environment continues to be involved with the Surplus Water Irrigation Initiative and the Initiative's Monitoring Committee. Staff continues to coordinate environmental reviews of irrigation projects that are supported by this initiative.
Federal Property Transfers:
Environmental Land Use Approvals staff has coordinated the review of federal environmental assessments conducted as part of the transfer of federal facilities and properties to municipal and private authorities. Additionally, staff has provided assistance to user groups and municipalities, with respect to the environmental issues involved in the acquisition of abandoned railway lines.
Rosser to Silver 230 kv Transmission Line:
Manitoba Environment filed a Proposal for this project, with a Environmental Impact Statement, during the fall of 1997. Environmental Land Use Approvals staff is coordinating the environmental assessment and licencing. The project is required to provide an alternative electrical supply to Silver Station, located south of Arborg, in order to increase electrical reliability to the Interlake area. A licencing decision is expected in 1998/99.
Hecla Island North Shore Cottage Subdivision:
The Parks Branch of the Manitoba Department of Natural Resources was issued an Environment Act Licence to develop a 65 lot cottage subdivision located on the north shore of Hecla Island in the Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park. The cottage development is consistent with the range of recreational activities permitted under the 1997 Provincial Park System Plan in effect under the Provincial Parks Act.
Provincial Road 220:
An Environment Act Licence was issued to the Manitoba Department of Highways and Transportation to upgrade Provincial Road 220 to the Oak Hammock Marsh, following receipt and review of additional information on the Proposal. The application for licencing the road upgrade was originally made in 1994.
Manitoba Model Forest:
Environmental Land Use Approvals staff has continued to be significantly involved with the Manitoba Model Forest, representing Manitoba Environment on the Board of Directors, assisting in the development of the next Five Year Plan (Phase 2: 1997-2002), as well the 1997/98 Annual Work Plan, chairing advisory group meetings, liaison activities with the Monarch Butterfly Model Forest in Mexico, and participating and assisting with the planning of meetings, research workshops and conferences.
Tolko Manitoba Inc. Forest Management Plan, 1997-2009:
Environmental Land Use Approvals staff coordinated the environmental assessment and licencing of the Tolko Manitoba Inc. Forest Management Plant, 1997-2009. Clean Environment Commission hearings were held in the Fall of 1997 in The Pas and Winnipeg, and an Environment Act Licence was issued in December 1997. The Licence has been subject to a number of appeals, and currently remains under appeal.
Pine Falls Paper CompanyTwo Year Forestry Plan, 1999-2000:
The Proposal for the Two Year Forestry Plan, 1999-2000 was received in March 1998. Environmental Land Use Approvals staff are coordinating the environmental assessment and licencing. Clean Environment Commission hearings are anticipated for the Fall of 1998, and a licencing decision anticipated in December 1998.
This section is responsible for minimizing the adverse effects to the environment and public health resulting from pesticide use in Manitoba.
The following are carried out to accomplish this objective:
- providing professional expertise to the Department, Government, the public and industry in the general area of pesticide use, storage, disposal, and control.
- managing the pesticide use permit system by balancing public concerns/objections and pesticide applicators mandated with controlling pests.
- recommending conditions to the Director and Minister for use in developing Environment Act licences.
- assisting in the periodic revisions of the National Standard for Pesticide Education, Training, and Certification in Canada for pesticide applicators and vendors.
- providing technical expertise and advise to the Association for a Clean Rural Development (ACRE) with respect to container disposal and other environmental concerns.
- supplying expertise to the Federal, Provincial, Territorial Committee on Pest Management and Pesticides through participation of annual national meetings and telephone conferences.
- serving on the Board of Directors and providing advise to the Industrial Vegetation Management Association.
- responding to complaints and enquiries from the public respecting pesticide use.
The following results were achieved during the 1997-98 fiscal year
Environment Act:
| Pesticide Use Permits issued | 225 |
| Post Seasonal reports received/compiled | 215 |
| Project proposals received | 15 |
| Project proposals processed | 15 |
| Minor alterations received | 2 |
| Minor alterations processed | 2 |
| Public complaints investigated | 18 |
| Inspections undertaken | 124 |
Public Health Act:
| Fumigation permits issued | 3 |
In addition the following significant activities were carried out in 1997/98:
Pesticide Permits
Review and approval of applications for pesticide use continued. All government departments and municipalities require a pesticide use permit on an annual basis.
Crop Protection Warehouses
Environmental review of applications to upgrade agricultural chemical storage facilities to meet new industry standards continued. All facilities are required to meet stringent requirements in order to receive chemical products.
The role of the Pollution Prevention Branch is to promote a shift in Manitoba's approach to environmental protection from control and remediation to prevention. The Branch was established in 1993 to maintain the management of new program initiatives within the Department of Environment, including Waste Reduction and Prevention and Ozone Depleting Substances, and to promote the application of practices that avoid the creation of waste and pollutants at source. The Branch has seven staff.
The Branch undertakes activities in three program areas:
1. Waste Reduction and Prevention Programs
The Pollution Prevention Branch is responsible for carrying out activities to achieve the Minister of Environment’s commitment of reducing solid waste going to waste disposal grounds. In 1997/98 significant progress was made in building sustainable alternatives to waste disposal. These include the following:
- A new stewardship program for used oil, filters and containers was launched on March 1, 1998;
- An evaluation of the effectiveness of activities under the Multi-Material Stewardship (Interim Measures) Regulation was conducted and served as the basis for the decision to continue the regulation;
- Continued expansion of established municipal recycling programs;
- Renewed Business Plans for the Manitoba Product Stewardship Corporation and Tire Stewardship Board were evaluated and approved.
Since the Waste Reduction and Prevention (WRAP) Act was adopted in 1990, there has been a substantial increase in the level of recycling pursued in Manitoba. Cost effective working models have been established that demonstrate how "extended producer responsibility" can be put into action to solve a problem confronting all jurisdictions and shift the costs and responsibility to industry and consumers from local government and taxpayers. Surveys to monitor progress in the national waste minimization effort provide evidence that, in fact, the interim waste reduction target of 20% by 1995 (set by the 1991 WRAP Strategy Report) was achieved, indicating that the strategies being put into place are contributing to reducing waste in Manitoba. Evaluation of the National Packaging Protocol, a cross-Canada government-industry commitment, similarly have confirmed achievement of a 50% reduction in overall packaging waste.
Used Oil
On April 11, 1997, the Used Oil Filters and Container Stewardship Regulation came into effect in Manitoba following a year of extensive consultation with stakeholders. The new regulation under the Waste Reduction and Prevention Act establishes a process for increasing the recovery of used oil, used oil filters and containers in Manitoba. It is an initiative coordinated with similar programs in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The Regulation requires suppliers of oil, filters and containers to assume responsibility for operating an effective management program for used lubricant products. All suppliers must register with Manitoba Environment and a province-wide stewardship program must be planned and carried out. In 1997, the Manitoba Association for Resource Recovery Corporation Inc. (MARRC) was established to represent these suppliers. A Business Plan was submitted to the Minister, and following revisions requested by the Minister of Environment, the plan was formally approved in February 1998.
The Plan calls for the establishment of 33 Eco-Centre depots to collect used oil, filters and containers for recycling within the first year of operation. The program is funded through an industry-established environmental charge on designated oil products that supports the stewardship organization and its recycling and related product stewardship activities. Initial response to the stewardship plan was very positive and openings of Eco-Centres were scheduled for the summer of 1998. Substantial increases were immediately noted in the level of recycling being achieved for oil, filters and containers.
Multi-Material Recycling
In 1997-98, the Pollution Prevention Branch conducted a comprehensive evaluation of activities under the Multi-Material Stewardship (Interim Measures) Regulation. This review, which was required by the regulation itself, examined the following:
- The Multi-Material Stewardship (Interim Measures) Regulation;
- Activities of The Manitoba Product Stewardship Corporation (MPSC);
- The proposed 1998-2001 MPSC Business Plan;
- Departmental activities under the Waste Reduction and Prevention Strategy.
The review and evaluation process consisted of a five part public process, initiated in February 1998, following submission of the MPSC's 1998-2001 Business Plan. A balanced cross-section of sectoral viewpoints and critical comment was received over the 30 day consultation period. The five steps of the review process included:
- Manitoba Environment Evaluation of Regulation and Business Plan
- Stakeholder Questionnaire
- Public Evaluation of MPSC Business Plan
- MPSC Self Evaluation
- WRAP 98 Workshop
Based on the results of the evaluation, the Minister recommended that the Regulation be continued and that provisional approval be extended for the MPSC Business Plan, with full approval to be addressed later in 1998.
The Regulation, which came into effect in March 1995 with the active co-operation of industry, municipalities and consumer and recycling organizations, plays a strategic role in the promotion of recycling in Manitoba. It created an arm’s length from government body, the Manitoba Product Stewardship Corporation (MPSC), to promote and support province-wide recycling programs and set up a Waste Reduction and Prevention Fund managed by the MPSC, whereby levies collected on designated products could be allocated to support recycling activities. Program revenue is currently derived from a two cents WRAP levy on non-deposit, non-dairy beverage containers supplied in the province. In 1997/98, the recycling levels of designated materials increased by 22% over the previous year. The annual results of the Manitoba Product Stewardship Program for 1997/98 are summarized below:
| Municipalities Registered | 152 |
| Municipal Recycling Programs % of population receiving recycling services |
138 |
| Beverage Levy Revenue | $6.1 million |
| WRAP Fund balance | $6.5 million |
| Municipal Support Payments | $4.4 million |
| MPSP eligible materials collected | 32,600 Tonnes |
Tire Recycling
In 1997-98, the Manitoba Tire Stewardship Board completed its third year of operation under the Tire Stewardship Regulation. New tire sales in Manitoba are subject to a Waste Reduction and Prevention Levy of $2.80 plus 7% PST with all tire levies transferred to the Tire Stewardship Corporation. A total of $3.00 is transferred to the accounts of the Tire Stewardship Board. These funds are dedicated to support tire stewardship initiatives, including payments to processors based on sales of product, incentives paid to municipal governments to keep tires separate from solid waste and the operating expenses of the Board.
The recycling of tires is now a common practice in Manitoba. Virtually all of the tire stockpiles have been eliminated from waste disposal grounds and storage yards in the province. Between 1995 and March 1997, the Tire Stewardship Board has assisted with the recycling of over 2.7 million used tires and a further 330,000 tires for reuse outside of the program. In the last three fiscal years, the Board has paid nearly $6.9 million to processors and $220,000 to municipalities to assist with tire recycling.
For the fiscal year 1997/98, 1.1 million tire equivalents were processed and an additional 150,000 tires were sent for reuse. The Board paid municipal governments over $62,000 for separating tires from solid waste and paid processors $2.3 million on the sales of converted tire products.
In February 1998, the Tire Stewardship Board submitted a new Business Plan to the Minister of Environment. This Business Plan was made available for public review. Based on the evaluation of the Business Plan conducted by the Pollution Prevention Branch, the Minister extended provisional approval, with full approval to be addressed later in 1998.
2. Pollution Prevention
In 1997-98, the promotion of pollution prevention as the environmental management strategy of choice was actively pursued through a partnership established between Manitoba Environment and the Alliance of Manufacturers and Exporters Canada (Manitoba Division). Through this project, initiated in June 1996 through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), draft information materials were prepared, and success stories documented. Several new projects were begun by providing technical guidance to small and medium sized enterprises. The partnership was extended to Environment Canada, who provided funding for pilots to demonstrate the application of this approach in targeted sectors (printing and metal finishing). A report on the Pollution Prevention initiative was released in February 1998 and the Technical Assistance for Pollution Prevention (TAPP) Office was established by Alliance Manitoba later in 1998, with the continued support of the Pollution Prevention Branch.
In addition to activities conducted under the MOU, Branch personnel provided on-site assistance to many other businesses and industry associations. Assistance was extended to the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association and Winnipeg Construction Association to promote the development of Codes of Practice and environmental policies and to support their environmental programming. As well, the feasibility of developing other Pollution Prevention Memorandum of Understanding was pursued, for launching later in 1998.
Activities to promote water use efficiency were particularly emphasized in 1997-98. Information materials were prepared and on-site audits conducted in cooperation with businesses and municipal governments.
3. Partnerships
The Pollution Prevention Branch undertakes specific activities to promote and support the pursuit of partnerships between Manitoba Environment and its clients. In addition to preparing resource and documenting case studies, Branch personnel coordinated the preparation of Departmental issues updates to contribute to strengthened communication efforts with client associations and departmental personnel.
As well, Branch personnel have maintained responsibility for pursuing several specific partnerships:
Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS):
- Liaison maintained with the Manitoba Ozone Protection Industry Association (MOPIA), a non-profit industry association, appointed annually by the Minister of Environment under the Manitoba Depleting Substances Regulation 103/94.
- Participation on the Federal/Provincial Working Group on Controls Harmonization¾ ODS, responsible for carrying out the new National Action Plan for the environmental control of ODS and their halocarbon alternatives, endorsed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment in January 1998.
- A halon certification and training program was implemented.
Environmental Youth Corps
- Management and administrative support for the Environmental Youth Corps program which awarded grants totaling more than $120,000 for 48 projects involving over 5,000 youths aged 6 through 24. In 1997-98, 57 grant applications were considered by regional committees for funding.
Coordination of funding proposal
- Continued liaison with the Sustainable Development Innovations Fund (SDIF) and various federal and provincial departments concerning applications to relevant environmental and youth funding programs (e.g. Environmental Citizenship Initiative, Action 21, etc.)
- Coordinated the review of 122 SDIF applications and the administration of 25 approved projects.
2(b) Environmental Management
Actual |
Estimate |
Variance |
Expl. |
||
| Expenditures by Sub-Appropriation |
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Salaries | 2,619.2 | 52.25 | 2,758.4 | (139.2) | 1 |
| Other Expenditures: - Operating - Grants Total Other Expenditures: |
1,887.7 96.5 1,984.2 |
1,908.0 107.3 2,015.3 |
(20.3) (10.8) (31.1) |
2 3
|
|
Explanation:
- Variance is due to vacant staff time, the recovery of salary funds for a seconded employee and negotiated collective agreements.
- Variance is due to costs incurred to produce the State of the Environment Report.
- Variance is due to the implementation of various expenditure management measures to reduce overall Branch expenditures.
Legislation and Intergovernmental Affairs
This unit, consisting of 3.00 staff, ensures that Manitoba's environmental legislation and regulations are appropriate and up-to-date and that beneficial working relationships are established and maintained with other Canadian jurisdictions.
This is accomplished by developing, reviewing and amending legislation and regulations and by representing the Department on various Federal/Provincial committees and task forces to deal with matters of mutual concern, negotiating agreements and ensuring consistent and effective environmental management across the country.
This unit also acts as a liaison with legal counsel in the Department of Justice respecting virtually all legal issues concerning the Department. The unit provides extensive internal consulting services for legislative, enforcement, public consultation, intergovernmental or other issues.
Legislation and Regulations
- Conducted multi-stakeholder consultation process for the development of draft legislation to implement Administrative Monetary Penalties, for use as an enforcement tool by Manitoba regulatory agencies.
- Initiated and conducted multi-stakeholder consultation process on the implementation of the Principles and Guidelines of Sustainable Development in environmental and land-use decision making processes.
- Proclamation and implementation of The Contaminated Sites Remediation Act, and its accompanying Regulation. This comprehensive Act deals with site investigation, site remediation, and apportionment of costs for remediation.
- Development and implementation of the new "Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation", to address the changing nature of agriculture in Manitoba. This replaces the former "Livestock Waste Regulation".
- Assisted in the development and implementation of the new "Used Oil, Oil Filters and Containers Stewardship Regulation", to support recycling of used oil and related materials in Manitoba.
- Ongoing implementation of the approved Regulatory Review Plan, which involves the repeal or amendment of many of the departments 47 regulations.
- Providing input into the proposed re-writing of The Public Health Act, as part of the "Public Health Act Review Committee".
- Coordination of other regulation development and amendment processes, including:
- Swimming Pools and Other Water Recreational Facilities (completed)
- Amendments to the "Environment Act Fees Regulation" (completed)
- Private Sewage Disposal
- Storage and Handling of Gasoline
- Environment Accident Reporting
- Proposed "Special Wastes Regulation", to deal with wastes such as used oil, bio-medical wastes, etc.
- Management of departmental input into amendments to The Summary Convictions Act regulations respecting set fines.
- Liaison services between Manitoba Environment and Manitoba Justice.
Intergovernmental Affairs
- Completion of the negotiation of an Environmental Management Harmonization Accord and three sub-agreements, designed to rationalize the respective Federal and Provincial roles and responsibilities in environmental management in Canada.
- Manitoba’s representative on the following intergovernmental committees:
- North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation; Canada Implementation Working Committee
- North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation; Canada Implementation Senior Officials Committee
- Federal/Provincial Advisory Committee for the Canadian Environmental Protection Act
- CCME Environmental Protection and Planning Committee
- CCME Toxic Substances Task Group
- CCME Harmonization Working Groups
- Environmental Assessment
- Annex development; Aboriginal involvement; stakeholder involvement; accountability
- Canada-wide Standards Implementation Committee
- Negotiation of a Manitoba/Saskatchewan Environmental Management Accord (completed)
- manage implementation of the Accord
- Manitoba Environment’s contact for the Implementation of the Internal Trade Agreement
- Continued as Manitoba Environment’s contact re Aboriginal issues
- Manitoba Environment's representative on the Apprenticeship Task Force
2 (c) Legislation and Intergovernmental Affairs
Actual |
Estimate |
Variance |
Expl. |
||
| Expenditures by Sub-Appropriation |
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Salaries | 176.4 | 3.00 | 163.2 | 13.2 | 1 |
| Total Other Expenditures | 79.0 | 96.1 | (17.1) | 2 | |
Explanation Number:
- Variance is due to position reclassifications and the negotiated collective agreements.
- Variance is due to reduced expenditures for legal services acquired from Manitoba Justice.
Environmental Advisory Organizations
Clean Environment Commission
The Clean Environment Commission, as required under The Environment Act, prepares a separate annual report.
3(a) Clean Environment Commission
|
Actual |
Estimate |
Variance |
Expl. |
|
| Expenditures by Sub-Appropriation |
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Salaries | 229.3 | 3.00 | 283.0 | (53.7) | 1 |
| Total Other Expenditures | 151.1 | 178.6 | (27.5) | 2 | |
Explanation Number:
- Variance is due to the net result of the negotiated collective agreements and the nonutilization of severance allowance and vacation pay on termination funds.
- Variance is due to a decrease in the number of hearing days, reduced Commission travel, and a reduced requirement to engage external counsel.
International Institute for Sustainable Development
The International Institute for Sustainable Development prepares a separate annual report.
4 International Institute for Sustainable Development
|
Actual |
Estimate |
Variance |
Expl. |
|
| Expenditures by Sub-Appropriation |
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Other Expenditures: - Grants |
916.7 |
916.8 |
(.1) |
||
