Pulp and paper technical guidance: criteria and guidance for pronounced eutrophication, chapter 2

Smart Regulation Initiative

In the Speech from the Throne in September 2002, the Government of Canada made a commitment to move forward with a “Smart” Regulation Strategy, which would contribute to innovation and economic growth, improve the Government of Canada’s regulatory performance and reduce the administrative burden on business. "Smart" is an acronym for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. The Smart Regulation Initiative involves a series of government-wide projects aimed at strengthening the policy, processes, tools, and regulatory communities that are needed to sustain the federal government’s high levels of regulatory performance and to facilitate continuous improvement (Government of Canada, 2005).

Environment Canada launched the Smart Regulation Project on Improving the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Pulp and Paper Environmental Effects Monitoring in December 2004, bringing together policy experts from the federal government (Environment Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Privy Council Office), industry, and the Aboriginal and environment communities. The mandate of the group was to review the key scientific findings and operational experience gained to date through implementation of the EEM program, work collaboratively to develop ways to improve the future effectiveness and efficiency of the program and to improve environmental performance where environmental effects have been identified. The group was tasked with providing external advice to Environment Canada, which will inform discussions within the federal government and consultations with interested parties on future proposals to improve the EEM program.

In December 2005, the policy expert group completed a report entitled Improving the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Pulp and Paper Environmental Effects Monitoring. The report includes eight recommendations to Environment Canada (EC) and the pulp and paper industry on how to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the pulp and paper EEM program. One of the recommendations (recommendation number 6) suggested that mills showing pronounced eutrophication adopt best management practices, develop a “best practices” guide, and track effectiveness of undertaken measures. It was also recommended that Environment Canada develop criteria and guidance for identifying areas of pronounced eutrophication.

Environment Canada, in its response to the report reiterated its strong support for industry’s commitment to address the problem of pronounced eutrophication. To help industry implement best management practices to address this eutrophication issue, EC committed to developing criteria for identifying areas of pronounced eutrophication by 2007, by using existing endpoints employed in the EEM-based field monitoring studies.