Canada-Saskatchewan Administrative Agreement for the Control of Deposits of Deleterious Substances under the Fisheries Act

This agreement between

THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA (hereinafter referred to as "Canada") as represented by the Minister of Fisheries & Oceans and the Minister of the Environment

OF THE FIRST PART

AND

THE GOVERNMENT OF SASKATCHEWAN (hereinafter referred to as "Saskatchewan") as represented by the Minister of the Department of Environment and Resource Management

OF THE SECOND PART

WHEREAS both Canada and Saskatchewan recognize that sustainable development and social well-being depend upon the preservation of a high standard of environmental quality;

AND WHEREAS the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment have endorsed the Statement of Interjurisdictional Cooperation on Environmental Matters to provide an overall framework for effective intergovernmental cooperation on environmental matters;

AND WHEREAS both Canada and Saskatchewan are committed to maximizing cooperation and coordination in their respective compliance and enforcement programs;

AND WHEREAS Section 5 of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Act enables the federal Minister of Fisheries & Oceans, with the approval of the Governor in Council, to enter into agreements with a provincial government respecting the carrying out of programs for which the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible;

AND WHEREAS Section 7 of the Department of the Environment Act enables the federal Minister of the Environment, with the approval of the Governor in Council, to enter into agreements with a provincial government respecting the carrying out of programs for which the Minister of Environment is responsible;

AND WHEREAS Section 3 of the Saskatchewan Federal-Provincial Agreements Act enables the Minister of Environment and Resource Management, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, to enter into agreements with Canada respecting the carrying out of programs for which the Minister of Environment and Resource Management is responsible;

AND WHEREAS the Governor in Council, by Order-in-Council P.C. 1994-790, dated May 12, 1994, has approved the entry by the federal Minister of the Environment on behalf of Canada into this Agreement with Saskatchewan;

AND WHEREAS the Lieutenant Governor in Council, by Order-in-Council 774/93, dated October 27, 1993, has approved the entry by the provincial Minister of the Environment and Resource Management on behalf of Saskatchewan into this Agreement with Canada;

NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH that, in consideration of the premises, covenants, and agreements herein contained, the Parties covenant and agree as follows:

1.0 DEFINITIONS FOR THIS AGREEMENT AND THE ANNEXES HERETO:

"Agreement" means the Canada-Saskatchewan Administrative Agreement for the Control of Deposits of Deleterious Substances under the Fisheries Act and the annexes attached thereto;

"Authorization" means an authorization issued under the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations (PPER);

"Authorization Officer" means the official named in Column II of Schedule V of the PPER;

"Compliance Promotion" means actions taken by government departments to promote conformity with the law and includes the following measures:

• education and information,
• promotion of "environmentally clean" and state-of-the-art pollution prevention technologies,
• technology transfer,
• consultation on regulation development and review,
• creation of environmental codes of practice and guidelines, and
• promotion of environmental audits;

"Compliance Verification" means actions taken by government departments to verify that the operations and activities of regulatees are in conformity with the law and includes the following measures:

• inspections,
• mandatory reporting of information by regulatees in accordance with legislative requirements under the Fisheries Act, and
• sampling and analysis of releases of substances into fish bearing waters;

"Deleterious Substance" means:

1. any substance that, if added to any water, would degrade or alter or form part of a process of degradation or alteration of the quality of that water so that it is rendered or is likely to be rendered deleterious to fish or fish habitat or to the use by man of fish that frequent that water, or
2. any water that contains a substance in such quantity or concentration, or that has been so treated, processed or changed, by heat or other means, from a natural state that it would, if added to any other water, degrade or alter or form part of a process of degradation or alteration of the quality of that water so that it is rendered or is likely to be rendered deleterious to fish or fish habitat or to the use by man of fish that frequent that water, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing includes
3. any substances or class of substances prescribed pursuant to paragraph (2) (a),
4. any water that contains any substance or class of substances in a quantity or concentration that is equal to or in excess of a quantity or concentration prescribed in respect of that substance or class of substances pursuant to paragraph (2) (b), and
5. any water that has been subjected to a treatment, process or change prescribed pursuant to paragraph (2) (c);

"Deposit" means any discharging, spraying, releasing, spilling, leaking, seeping, pouring, emitting, emptying, throwing, dumping or placing;

"DFO" means the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans;

"EC" means the federal Department of the Environment (Environment Canada);

"EMPA" means the Environmental Management and Protection Act, S.S. 1983-84, c. E-10.2;

"Environmental Occurrence" includes spills as defined in subsection 2(c) of the Environmental Spill Control Regulations Chapter D-14 Regulation 1 as amended by Saskatchewan Regulation 53/83 pursuant to EMPA and deposits of deleterious substances which are required to be reported pursuant to Section 38(4) of the Fisheries Act and Regulations made under the Fisheries Act;

"Environment Officer" means an environment officer as defined in Section 2 of the Environmental Management and Protection Act;

"Federal Lands" means federal lands as defined in Section 52 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, R.S. 1985, c. 16 (4th Supp.);

"Federal Works and Undertakings" means federal works and undertakings as defined in Section 52 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act;

"Fisheries Act" means the Fisheries Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-14, as amended;

"Fisheries Act Inspector" means an inspector designated under Section 38 of the Fisheries Act;

"Fish Habitat" means spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply and migration areas on which fish depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes;

"Lead Response Agency" means the agency with the primary responsibility for responding to environmental occurrences, including but not limited to accident investigation, providing clean-up advice, ensuring the undertaking of remedial action, and, if necessary, the undertaking or coordinating of direct remedial action, liaison with news media and follow-up;

"Permit" means a permit as defined in Section 2 of the EMPA;

"PPER" means the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations made pursuant to the Fisheries Act, SOR/92-269, May 7, 1992;

"SERM" means the Saskatchewan Department of Environment and Resource Management;

"SOERA" means the State of the Environment Report Act, S.S. 1990, c. S-57.1, as amended;

"Support Agency" means the agency which provides technical advice, monitoring equipment, liaison with other agencies and organizations and other facilities and resources as requested by the lead response agency;

"Technical Advisory Panel" means the panel established pursuant to Annex 1 to EPS 1/RM/18 describing aquatic environmental effects monitoring requirements at pulp and paper mills and off-site treatment facilities regulated under the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations of the Fisheries Act, May 20, 1992;

"Transitional Authorization" means a transitional authorization issued under the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations; and

"Water Frequented by Fish" means Canadian fisheries waters.

2.0 PURPOSE

The purpose of this Agreement is to establish a work-sharing arrangement for the cooperative administration of Section 36 of the Fisheries Act and the regulations listed in Schedule A of Annex 3, the Environmental Management and Protection Act and the State of the Environment Report Act.

3.0 OBJECTIVE

The objective of this Agreement is to ensure effective protection of fisheries and environmental quality in the province of Saskatchewan.

4.0 PRINCIPLES OF CO-OPERATION

The principles of this Agreement are:

5.0 ACTIVITIES

5.1 The Parties agree to establish detailed collaborative arrangements for a variety of activities related to the administration of their respective legislation. Such collaborative arrangements shall be detailed separately as sub-agreements in the annexes which form part of this Agreement.

5.2 Without limiting the breadth or flexibility of this Agreement, the following activities shall be considered as appropriate subjects for detailed collaborative arrangements:

6.0 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

6.1 A Management Committee shall be established to direct the implementation of this Agreement. The membership of the committee shall include an equal number of federal and provincial officials appointed respectively by the Parties. The Management Committee shall be co-chaired by one federal and one provincial member.

6.2 The Management Committee shall be guided in its activities by the terms of reference appended to this Agreement as Annex 1.

6.3 The responsibilities of the Management Committee shall include:

1. implementing this Agreement;
2. developing collaborative arrangements for activities such as those listed in Section 5.2 for the purpose of entering into additional sub-agreements for these activities to be incorporated as annexes to this Agreement;
3. establishing a mechanism whereby disagreements between the Parties can be addressed satisfactorily and in accordance with the legislative obligations of each Party;
4. establishing a cooperative approach to public communications and media inquiries arising from the activities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement;
5. evaluating the administration of this Agreement on a regular basis and preparing recommendations for its revision and updating as appropriate; and
6. reviewing the administration of this Agreement on an annual basis and preparing a report thereon to satisfy the statutory reporting requirements of the Parties.

6.4 Decisions of the Management Committee shall be taken on the basis of unanimous consent amongst committee members. Where such a consensus cannot be reached, each Party shall be free to take whatever action it considers necessary and appropriate under its own legislation, after providing reasonable notice to the other Party of the nature and timing of such action.

7.0 TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT

This Agreement, including Annexes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, shall enter into force on the date of execution indicated herein and shall remain in force until terminated by one or both Parties.

8.0 AMENDMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE ANNEXES

This Agreement and the annexes hereto may be amended from time to time subject to the approval of the Governor in Council and the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

9.0 TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT

This Agreement may be terminated by either Party giving to the other at least six (6) months written notice of termination.

10.0 GENERAL

No member of the House of Commons or Senate of Canada and no member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan shall be admitted to any part or share of this Agreement or to any benefit arising therefrom.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed on the   day of     , 1994 on behalf of Canada by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Minister of the Environment and on behalf of Saskatchewan by the Minister of Environment and Resource
Management.

IN THE PRESENCE OF:

Appendix 1
Management Committee Terms of Reference

1.0 Purpose and Responsibilities:

1.l The Management Committee is responsible for ensuring this agreement is implemented and for developing collaborative arrangements for activities such as those listed in Section 5.2 of this Agreement.

1.2 Collaborative arrangements developed by the Management Committee will be recommended to the federal and provincial ministers for inclusion as sub-agreements in annexes to this Agreement.

1.3 The Management Committee will determine the relative priority of areas for which collaborative arrangements will be developed.

1.4 The Management Committee may create joint federal-provincial working groups for purposes of developing collaborative draft arrangements.

1.5 The Management Committee may discuss and develop proposals, for consideration by the ministers of SERM, EC and DFO, for cost sharing in respect of any collaborative arrangement.

2.0 Resolution of Disagreements:

2.1 Any disagreements between the Parties pursuant to the administration of this Agreement should be resolved as soon as practicable.

2.2 Disagreements may be resolved through early oral or written communication between the co-chairpersons or at a regular or specially called meeting of the Management Committee.

2.3 Failure to resolve an issue at this level will result in the issue being forwarded to the Regional Director General, Central and Arctic Region, for DFO, the Regional Director General, Prairie and Northern Region, for EC, and the Deputy Minister, for SERM.

3.0 Public Communications:

3.1 Where possible, public communications and media inquiries arising from the activities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement will be coordinated by the co-chairpersons.

3.2 Special arrangements for public communications or media inquiries may be developed for specific annexes.

3.3 Where one co-chairperson responds to public communications and media inquiries without prior consultation with the other Party, that co-chairperson will inform the other co-chairperson and other committee members, as soon as possible.

4.0 Meetings:

4.1 The Management Committee will meet a minimum of two (2) times per year to evaluate the implementation of this Agreement and the annexes hereto and, if necessary, provide recommendations for its revision and updating as appropriate.

4.2 One of the meetings will be held each year for the purpose of reviewing the administration of this Agreement and preparing a report to satisfy the statutory reporting requirements of the respective federal and provincial legislation.

5.0 Operation:

5.1 Decisions of the Management Committee shall be taken on the basis of unanimous consent amongst Committee members.

6.0 Membership:

6.1 The Committee shall be comprised of three (3) federal and three (3) provincial members as follows:

Manager
Saskatchewan Division
Environmental Protection Branch
Prairie and Northern Region
Environment Canada - Co-chairperson

Chief
Ecosystem Quality Division
Environmental Conservation Branch
Prairie and Northern Region
Environment Canada

Director
Habitat Management
Central and Arctic Region
Department of Fisheries and Oceans

and

Director
Municipal Branch
Policy and Programs Division
Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management - Co-chairperson

Director
Fisheries Branch
Policy and Programs Division
Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management

Director
Industrial Branch
Policy and Programs Division
Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management

6.2 Other individuals may be invited to attend Management Committee meeting as observers or for purposes of making presentations.

6.3 Management Committee members may designate alternates to attend Management Committee meetings in their respective places when unable to personally attend.

Appendix 2
Releases and Sub-Agreements

1.0 Introduction:

This is a Sub-Agreement between Canada and Saskatchewan pursuant to the Canada-Saskatchewan Administrative Agreement for the Control of Deposits of Deleterious Substances under the Fisheries Act.

2.0 Purpose:

The purpose of this Sub-Agreement is: to ensure that each Party is informed in a timely manner of environmental occurrences that are required to be reported and releases that violate the requirements of their respective legislation; and to delineate the division of responsibilities between Canada and Saskatchewan for the response to environmental occurrences and the undertaking of necessary remedial action. The Sub-Agreement defines areas of responsibility to minimize gaps and overlaps, and provides for cooperative and complementary activities by Canada and Saskatchewan related to consultation, information exchange, review and improvement of preparedness.

3.0 Objectives:

3.1 The Parties share the objective of encouraging and monitoring the reporting of environmental occurrences by widely publicizing the single toll-free telephone number to be used to satisfy the reporting requirements under EMPA and the Fisheries Act.

3.2 The Parties share the objective of minimizing the number of environmental occurrences in Saskatchewan through preventative means such as contingency planning and pollution prevention and control regulation.

3.3 The Parties share the objective of mitigating the adverse effects of environmental occurrences through fast and effective response.

3.4 The Parties share the objective of informing the public in a timely and thorough manner concerning environmental occurrences.

4.0 Reporting and Response:

4.1 SERM will maintain and operate a 24-hour, seven (7) day-a-week environmental spill response toll-free telephone number, to receive reports of all environmental occurrences in Saskatchewan.

4.2 SERM will advise EC immediately upon receipt of a report of the following types of environmental occurrences:

1. an environmental occurrence involving a deposit into fish bearing waters of a deleterious substance, in water frequented by fish or which is likely to result in harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat;
2. an environmental occurrence involving or which may have an effect on federal lands, works or undertakings; or
3. an environmental occurrence involving or which may affect lands or waters outside of the territorial boundaries of Saskatchewan.

4.3 EC will advise SERM immediately of any environmental occurrence in Saskatchewan that is reported directly to Canada.

4.4 SERM will automatically be the lead response agency for all reported environmental occurrences in the province, except for the types of environmental occurrences listed in Section 4.2 of this Sub-Agreement. For the types of environmental occurrences listed in Section 4.2, the lead response agency will be initially determined jointly by the Fisheries Act Inspector and provincial Environment Officer receiving the report of the environmental occurrence. The assignment of roles may be subsequently reversed by agreement between the Manager, Saskatchewan Division, Environmental Protection Branch, Prairie and Northern Region, EC and the Associate Deputy Minister, Policy and Programs Division, SERM.

4.5 EC will act as a support agency to SERM as mutually agreed upon and as requested for specific environmental occurrence situations.

4.6 SERM will act as a support agency to EC for specific environmental occurrence situations where EC is the lead response agency.

4.7 Both Parties will consult with and advise one another regarding actions taken in dealing with specific environmental occurrences of mutual concern, and will document actions taken and present evidence gathered as necessary to support possible legal or other action.

4.8 SERM will provide EC with monthly environmental occurrence summary reports or, in the case of specific situations where there is a federal concern, with status reports and updates as required and/or requested.

4.9 EC will provide SERM with environmental occurrence summary reports for specific incidents in which EC is the lead response agency.

4.10 At the request of either Party, joint review of environmental occurrence response procedures, either for specific occurrences or for occurrences in general, will be held.

4.11 The lead response agency will be responsible for coordinating news media relations in the event of an environmental occurrence, without limiting the other Party from acting within its jurisdictional mandate.

4.12 Where feasible, the Parties will mutually share and provide mutual access to: training programs; expert advice; research and development information; and specialized analytical laboratory services of each respective Party.

5.0 Disagreements:

Any disagreements between the Parties may be referred to the Management Committee at any time by either Party for resolution.

Appendix 3
Compliance Promotion and Compliance Verification Sub-Agreement

1.0 Introduction:

This is a Sub-Agreement between Canada and Saskatchewan pursuant to the Canada-Saskatchewan Administrative Agreement for the Control of Deposits of Deleterious Substances under the Fisheries Act.

2.0 Purpose:

The purpose of this Sub-Agreement is to ensure coordination of the compliance promotion and compliance verification activities of both Parties in order to maximize the effectiveness of the resources available to each Party and to lessen the administrative burden for those subject to both federal and provincial requirements.

3.0 Scope:

3.1 This Sub-Agreement applies to compliance promotion and compliance verification activities in sectors where both SERM and EC are responsible for administering environmental protection regulatory requirements. The regulated sectors of shared interest for the purposes of this Sub-Agreement consist of those sectors which are subject to the Regulations made pursuant to the Fisheries Act which are listed in Schedule A of this Annex.

3.2 The Management Committee will review Schedule A of this Annex annually and amend it subject to the approval of the Governor in Council and the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

4.0 Coordination of Compliance Promotion and Compliance Verification Activity:

4.1 Representatives of the Parties will meet in April of each year to jointly develop compliance promotion and compliance verification strategies for each regulated sector of shared interest.

4.2 In the development of compliance verification and compliance promotion strategies for each sector, the representatives of the Parties will determine the following:

1. the compliance promotion activities to be undertaken by each Party;
2. a "one-window" mechanism for compliance data reporting by regulatees which will provide a single point of contact for regulatees and which will allow real-time sharing of compliance information between the Parties;
3. inspection priorities in order to target worst polluters and achieve broad-based compliance; and
4. an inspection plan to be implemented by SERM and augmented by inspections by EC Inspectors as necessary.

4.3 In those cases where it is necessary for inspections to be conducted by EC Fisheries Act Inspectors, the inspections will be conducted jointly with SERM Environment Officers if possible.

4.4 The Minister of DFO may, with the consent of the Minister of SERM, designate provincial Environment Officers who in the opinion of the Minister of DFO are qualified to be so designated, as Fisheries Act Inspectors with the power to conduct inspections with respect to the Fisheries Act regulatory requirements and the power to take or direct remedial action pursuant to Section 38 of the Fisheries Act.

4.5 EC will provide SERM staff with access to the requisite training courses for Fisheries Act Inspector designation.

5.0 Disagreements:

Any disagreements between the Parties may be referred to the Management Committee at any time by either Party for resolution.

Schedule A

1. Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations, SOR/92-269, May 7, 1992;
2. Metal Mining Liquid Effluent Regulations, C.R.C. 1978, C.8l9;
3. Petroleum Refinery Effluent Regulations, C.R.C. 1978, C.828;
4. Meat and Poultry Products Plant Effluent Regulations, C.R.C. 1978, C.818; and
5. Potato Processing Plant Liquid Effluent Regulations, C.R.C. 1978, C.829.

Appendix 4
Investigations and Enforcement Sub-Agreement

1.0 Introduction:

This is a Sub-Agreement between Canada and Saskatchewan pursuant to the Canada-Saskatchewan Administrative Agreement for the Control of Deposits of Deleterious Substances under the Fisheries Act.

2.0 Purpose:

The purpose of this Sub-Agreement is to facilitate cooperation and coordination of enforcement efforts of both Parties related to Section 36 of the Fisheries Act and the Regulations listed in Schedule A of Annex 3 and EMPA.

3.0 Information:

3.1 SERM will, as soon as practicable in the circumstances, inform EC of suspected violations of the Fisheries Act brought to its attention from time to time through:

1. the conduct of inspections;
2. informants;
3. reports made to SERM voluntarily or pursuant to statutory requirements;
4. surveillance by SERM employees; or
5. any other means.

3.2 EC will, as soon as practicable in the circumstances, inform SERM of suspected violations of Saskatchewan legislation brought to its attention from time to time through:

1. the conduct of inspections;
2. informants;
3. reports made to EC voluntarily or pursuant to statutory requirements;
4. surveillance by EC employees; or
5. any other means.

4.0 Joint Investigations:

4.1 Where an environmental occurrence arises, which involves suspected violations of both the provisions of Section 36 of the Fisheries Act or the Regulations listed in Schedule A to Annex 3 and EMPA, officials from EC and SERM will liaise and mutually agree on:

1. which Party will be the lead Party and lead the investigation of the environmental occurrence; and
2. the role which the other Party, the support Party, will carry out in support of the lead Party.

4.2 The lead party will provide to the support Party at intervals agreed upon by the Parties, and at the conclusion of the investigation, access to all information obtained during the investigation, including investigation reports, analytical data, records, statements and physical evidence, on the understanding that its confidentiality requirements will be fully respected.

4.3 The support Party will carry out its role as mutually agreed upon by the Parties and provide all information, data and assistance to the lead Party in accordance with its role.

4.4 At the conclusion of any investigation into an environmental occurrence or series of environmental occurrences involving a suspected violation of both the Fisheries Act and EMPA, the Parties will meet to hold a debriefing session and to decide upon the enforcement action, if any, that is most appropriate to take in respect of the investigation.

4.5 Each Party reserves the right to proceed unilaterally in the taking of enforcement action in response to a suspected violation, if it determines that the principles of its policies on enforcement and compliance will not be fulfilled through the other Party's action. In such cases, the relevant information, including investigation reports, analytical data, records, statements and physical evidence, in the possession of each Party shall be provided, on request, to the other Party.

4.6 Press releases pertaining to enforcement actions taken at the conclusion of joint investigations may be prepared and issued jointly by the Parties.

5.0 Meetings:

Representatives of the Parties will meet as required but generally on a monthly basis, in order to:

1. provide updates on ongoing investigations of mutual interest; and
2. review decisions on investigations as per Section 4.1 of this sub-agreement and reassign roles, if warranted.

6.0 Disagreements:

Any disagreements between the Parties may be referred to the Management Committee at any time by either Party for resolution.

Appendix 5
Information Sharing Sub-Agreement

1.0 Introduction:

This is a Sub-Agreement between Canada and Saskatchewan pursuant to the Canada-Saskatchewan Administrative Agreement for the Control of Deposits of Deleterious Substances under the Fisheries Act.

2.0 Purpose:

2.1 The purpose of this Sub-Agreement is to facilitate the full and open sharing of information between the Parties for the purpose of the administration and enforcement of alleged violations under Section 36 of the Fisheries Act or the regulations as listed in Schedule A to Annex 3, EMPA and SOERA.

2.2 This Sub-Agreement is made pursuant to paragraph 8(2) (f) of the Privacy Act, R.S. 1985, c. P-21, and paragraph 29(2)(h) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 1990-91, S.S., c. F-22.01.

3.0 Types of Information:

Information that may be shared between the Parties pursuant to this Sub-Agreement will include, but not be limited to information in the possession of the Parties relating to:

1. fisheries and fish habitat;
2. environmental effects of deleterious substances and in particular their effect on fish;
3. human health effects of deleterious substances;
4. industrial processes;
5. pollution prevention and abatement technology;
6. compliance monitoring;
7. investigation and enforcement activity; and
8. economic impacts of regulatory controls and technologies.

4.0 Disclosure of Information Between Parties:

4.1 EC or DFO may request information from SERM pursuant to this Sub-Agreement by submitting a written request to the Associate Deputy Minister, Policy and Programs Division, SERM, outlining the information requested and the purpose for which the information is being requested.

4.2 SERM may request information from EC or DFO pursuant to this Sub-Agreement by submitting a written request to the Manager, Saskatchewan Division, Environmental Protection Branch, Prairie and Northern Region, EC, outlining the information requested and the purpose for which the information is being requested.

4.3 A Party receiving a written request pursuant to Sections 4.1 or 4.2 of this Sub-Agreement shall respond to the request by:

1. supplying the information requested within thirty (30) days of the date upon which the request was received;
2. providing, within twenty-one (21) days of the date upon which the request was received, a written response to the requesting Party which outlines the reasons why the Party is unable to disclose the information requested to the requesting Party; or
3. providing within twenty-one (21) days a written response to the requesting Party which outlines the specific reasons why the Party will be unable to supply the information requested within thirty (30) days and the date by which the requesting Party will receive the requested information.

5.0 Terms and Conditions Governing the Access to and Use of Third Party Information and Personal Information:

5.1 Neither Party will disclose to a third party any information obtained in confidence from the other Party unless the other Party consents to the disclosure or makes the information public.

5.2 EC and DFO will disclose information to SERM within the limits and restrictions prescribed by the Access to Information Act, R.S.1985 c. A-1 and the Privacy Act.

5.3 SERM will disclose information to EC or DFO within the limits and restrictions prescribed by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

5.4 Any request, from SERM, for third party information described in subsection 20(1) of the Access to Information Act or personal information shall be directed in writing to the Regional Director General, Prairie and Northern Region of EC or the Regional Director General, Central and Arctic Region of DFO respectively. The request shall be made only by a single contact person from SERM designated in writing by the Deputy Minister of SERM.

5.5 Any request, from EC or DFO, for third party information described in subsection 19(9) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or personal information shall be directed in writing to the Deputy Minister of SERM. The request shall be made only by a single contact person from EC or DFO, designated in writing by the Regional Director General, Prairie and Northern Region of EC, and by the Regional Director General, Central and Arctic Region of DFO respectively.

5.6 Subject to Section 5.2 of this Sub-Agreement, EC or DFO will provide third party information to SERM upon request if:

1. statutory authority does not explicitly prohibit the sharing of the information;
2. SERM have a need to know because of a similar mandate;
3. SERM identifies the information requested and provides a rationale for why the information is necessary to fulfil its mandate, including specific programs where applicable; and
4. the designated contact signs a firm commitment on behalf of SERM not to disclose or further share the information. This commitment shall contain an assurance that SERM will protect the information from release, and that in the event of improper disclosure or sharing of the data, SERM shall assume sole liability for such action.

5.7 Subject to Section 5.3 of this Sub-Agreement, SERM will provide third party information to EC or DFO upon request if:

1. statutory authority does not explicitly prohibit the sharing of the information;
2. EC or DFO have a need to know because of a similar mandate;
3. EC or DFO identifies the information requested and provides a rationale for why the information is necessary to fulfil its mandate including specific programs where applicable; and
4. subject to any law that requires or compels disclosure, the designated contact signs a firm commitment on behalf of EC or DFO not to disclose or further share the information. This commitment shall contain an assurance that EC or DFO will protect the information from release, and that in the event of improper disclosure or sharing of the data, EC or DFO shall assume sole liability for such action.

5.8 The Parties agree that any personal information disclosed pursuant to this Sub-Agreement shall only be used or disclosed for the purpose of administering or enforcing any law or carrying out a lawful investigation or for subsequent use which is consistent therewith.

5.9 Where a request is made to EC or DFO by SERM for access to or disclosure of personal information, SERM shall indicate to EC or DFO:

1. the personal information being requested; and
2. the purpose for which the personal information is being requested.

5.10 Where a request is made to SERM by EC or DFO for access to or disclosure of personal information, EC or DFO shall indicate to SERM;

1. the personal information being requested; and
2. the purpose for which the personal information is being requested.

6.0 Disagreements:

Any disagreements between the Parties arising from the operation of this Sub-Agreement may be forwarded to the Management Committee at any time by either Party for resolution.

Appendix 6
Pulp and Paper Effluents Sub-Agreement

1.0 Introduction:

This is a Sub-Agreement between Canada and Saskatchewan pursuant to the Canada-Saskatchewan Administrative Agreement for the Control of Deposits of Deleterious Substances under the Fisheries Act.

2.0 Purpose:

The purpose of this Sub-Agreement is to facilitate federal-provincial cooperation in the regulation of pulp and paper mill effluents in order to maximize the effectiveness of regulatory efforts and impose the least necessary burden on the pulp and paper industry.

3.0 Responsibilities and Roles of the Authorization Officer:

3.1 The Authorization Officer shall receive all of the information described below in Section 5.1 of this Sub-Agreement, which mill operators are required to submit to an Authorization Officer pursuant to the PPER.

3.2 The Authorization Officer shall conduct the issuance, amendment and withdrawal of any authorizations pursuant to Sections 16, 17, and 18 of the PPER.

3.3 The Authorization Officer shall form the Technical Advisory Panel described in Annex 1 to "Aquatic Environmental Effects Monitoring Requirements" EPS 1/RM/18.

4.0 Reports of Deposits Out of the Normal Course of Events (Environmental Occurrences):

4.1 Where pulp and paper mill operators are required to report deposits out of the normal course of events pursuant to Section 38 of the Fisheries Act, they may meet this requirement by reporting to SERM.

4.2 Upon receipt of a report pursuant to Section 38 of the Fisheries Act or Section 36 of the PPER, SERM will immediately notify the Manager, Saskatchewan Division, Environmental Protection Branch, Prairie and Northern Region, EC of the report and its content.

4.3 The arrangements outlined in paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 above, constitute an arrangement for the purposes of paragraphs 36(l)(b) of the PPER.

5.0 Information Sharing - Monthly Monitoring Reports; Ownership Information; Emergency Response Plans; Reference Production Rates; Effluent Outfalls:

5.1 Where the Authorization Officer is a provincial employee, he/she will provide the Manager, Saskatchewan Division, Environmental Protection, Prairie and Northern Region, EC, with a copy (in hard copy or electronic format) of the following information submitted by operators pursuant to the PPER:

1. monthly reports on the results of monitoring referred to in paragraphs 7(1)(b) and 7(3)(b)of the PPER;
2. information on the ownership of mills and off-site treatment facilities referred to in paragraphs 7(1)(c) and 7(3)(c) of the PPER;
3. emergency response plans referred to in paragraphs 7(1)(e) and 7(3)(d) of the PPER; and
4. the notification of reference production rates referred to in subsection 12(3) of the PPER.

5.2 Where the Authorization Officer is a provincial employee, copies of the information referred to in Section 5.1 of this Sub-Agreement will be provided to the Manager, Saskatchewan Division, Environmental Protection, Prairie & Northern Region, EC, within five (5) working days of receipt of the information.

5.3 The Regional Director of Fisheries and Habitat Management in DFO shall provide the Authorization Officer with copies of information respecting effluent outfalls provided to the Minister of DFO pursuant to Section 27 of the PPER within ten (10) working days of receipt of the information.

6.0 Environmental Effects Monitoring:

6.1 The Authorization Officer will convene a meeting of the Technical Advisory Panel at least once per year to review the implementation of environmental effects monitoring requirements contained in the PPER and in permits.

6.2 Wherever feasible, the Authorization Officer shall harmonize federal and provincial environmental effects monitoring requirements.

7.0 Disagreements:

Any disagreements between the Parties arising from the operation of this Sub-Agreement may be forwarded to the Management Committee at any time by either Party for resolution.