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1998 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

1998 Report—Chapter 6

Exhibit 6.5—The Importance of Monitoring Mitigation Measures

Case Study - Using Environmental Monitors

For a large construction project in British Columbia, the Canadian Coast Guard component of Fisheries and Oceans required the proponent to employ a qualified "environmental monitor" to ensure that the environment was protected and that mitigation measures were put in place. These independent consultants are empowered to issue orders, including stop-work orders, to ensure that the projects are carried out as required and that the environment is safeguarded.

In the case that we examined, heavy rainfall during construction, combined with operating procedures that did not comply with those recommended by the responsible authority, threatened to cause serious environmental damage from run-off. The environmental monitor ordered work to be stopped and corrective measures taken. Without the presence of the environmental monitor, there could have been serious damage to the environment.

Case Study - Canada Infrastructure Works Program

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency was the federal implementing organization responsible for a golf course project approved under the Canada Infrastructure Works Program. As part of the project approval, the proponent was required to implement mitigation measures to avoid the type of consequences that environmentalists are concerned about with golf courses: run-off of fertilizers and pesticides, and soil erosion.

As with the B.C. case, this project also had to contend with heavy rainfall, and the contracting procedures did not fully comply with the mitigation measures outlined in the environmental assessment. Unlike the other case, the implementing organizations did not take steps to ensure that the project's construction was monitored. The result was that soil erosion did occur. These consequences might have been avoided or reduced if the project had been adequately monitored.