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Minutes of New Brunswick Coastal Joint Action Group (NBC JAG) October 25, 2007, 10:00am Department of Health, Room 172, Moncton
Attendees: Dominique Audet, Shediac Bay Watershed Association Laura Barrett, Eastern Charlotte Waterways Inc. Nada Comeau, L’association des bassins versants de la grande et petite rivière Tracadie Francois Emond, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Ernest Ferguson, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Gulf Region (DFO-Gulf) Raymond Gallant, Comité Sauvons nos Rivières Neguac Inc. Jocelyne Gauvin, Le Groupe de développement durable du Pays de Cocagne Émilie Godbout-Beaulieu, Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance Marianne Janowicz, NB Dept. of Environment (DENV) (alternate representing: Kim Hughes, NB Dept. of Environment) Rob MacDougall, Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Maritimes Region (DFO-Maritimes) Art MacKay, St. Croix Estuary Project Inc. Dorothée Mitchell, Groupe de bassin versant de la région de Cap-Pelé Frédéric Paillard, Groupe de bassin versant de la région de Cap-Pelé Karine Pelletier, Groupe de bassin versant de la région de Cap-Pelé Marc-André Plourde, Les ami(e)s de la Kouchibouguacis Annick Poirier, Partenariat pour la gestion intégrée du bassin versant de la baie de Caraquet Kim Reeder, St. Croix Estuary Project Inc. Luc Richard, Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance Joannie Theriault, L’association des bassins versants de la grande et petite rivière Tracadie Peggy Thompson, Eastern Charlotte Waterways Inc. Karen White, NB Dept. of Health (DoH)
Regrets: Kathy Brewer, NB Dept. of Agriculture and Aquaculture (DAA) Harry Collins, Miramichi River Environmental Action Committee Larry Hildebrand, Environment Canada (EC) Monique Anne Morin, NB Dept. of Fisheries (DoF) Elie Roussel, Comité de gestion environnementale de la rivière Pokemouche
Meeting Actions: 1. Action for Secretariat: Post reference list on the NBC JAG website. 2. Action for Secretariat: Send email to ENGO members with a link for the DoF Stakeholder Action Group Reports. 3. Action for K. White: Determine if all regional offices of DoH can partner with DENV to provide information on new septic systems applications. 4. Action for M. Janowicz: Determine if statistical information from the Know Your H₂O program will be available to the watershed groups. Determine who in DENV deals with agricultural and landscape pesticides. 5. Action for Secretariat and ENGOs: Recommend to DENV the Know Your H₂O program continues in 2008. 6. Action for E. Ferguson: Determine if it would be possible to present the results from CAMP to the public. Determine if funding would be available to produce posters and pamphlets on “Eelgrass and the Environment”. Determine if eelgrass distribution information could be made available to DENV to assist with their coastal development permits. 7. Action for Secretariat: Place question 4 on the agenda for the next meeting. 8. Action for Secretariat: Develop and send a letter to all member government agencies reminding them of their commitment to the NBC JAG to send a representative to every meeting. 9. Action for Secretariat: Add to future agendas a section for news from the ENGOs. 10. Action for Secretariat: Update the list of members and their responsibilities. Also, include each watershed group’s expertise and resources. Put this information on the NBC JAG website. 11. Action for Secretariat: Collect information on nutrient monitoring and distribute to the NBC JAG members. (This work may occur as a mapping project in the new fiscal year.)
P. Thompson (Chair) brought the meeting to order. Roundtable introductions were conducted. P. Thompson went briefly through the meeting actions from the June 28, 2007 NBC JAG meeting. The actions were approved.
L. Barrett discussed the reference list that was compiled of data available from the government agencies and other organizations that would be helpful to the ENGOs. · It was suggested the DFO publication, “A Cottager’s Guide to a Healthy Waterfront” be added to the list. (www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/regions/central/pub/shore-rivages-pr/pdf/shore-rivages-pr_e.pdf) (www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/regions/central/pub/shore-rivages-pr/pdf/shore-rivages-pr_f.pdf)
P. Thompson asked that government representatives in attendance provide news from their agency.
An email from M. Morin was read, regarding feedback on the Stakeholder Action Group Reports. (www.gnb.ca/9999/0003-e.asp) (www.gnb.ca/9999/0003-f.asp)
M. Janowicz discussed the recently announced New Brunswick Climate Action Fund that has a proposal deadline of November 2, 2007 (www.gnb.ca/0009/0369/0016/0001-e.asp) (www.gnb.ca/0009/0369/0016/0001-f.asp). She mentioned the Climate Change Action Plan that was developed in consultation with other provincial departments (www.gnb.ca/0009/0369/0015/0001-e.asp) (www.gnb.ca/0009/0369/0015/0001-f.asp). She stated a partnership has been created in which DoH’s Moncton office provides DENV with new permit applications for septic systems so the Coastal Areas Protection Policy can be taken into consideration on all new systems. · Response: K. White stated she would look into creating this partnership with the rest of the DoH regional offices and DENV.
K. White stated there are changes being made on the septic system application that informs the applicants there are other departments that also must be consulted when installing a septic system. She stated DoH is trying to make available more information about groundwater on their website. She also questioned the attendees as to whether they had seen or heard about a DoH press release informing the public they need to test their well water and the reasons why. (www.gnb.ca/cnb/news/he/2007e1260he.htm) (www.gnb.ca/cnb/newsf/he/2007f1260he.htm) · No one in attendance had any recollection of this press release. It was suggested a greater variety of pamphlets be made available for the watershed groups to distribute to the public on water issues, such as groundwater. It was also suggested a good proposal for the Environmental Trust Fund (ETF) would be a project to help homeowners who took part in DENV’s Know Your H₂O program and continue to have poor well water after multiple chlorination attempts. Watershed group representatives wondered if the overall information from the Know Your H₂O program would be made available to the watershed groups and also if the program would continue in 2008? It was suggested the watershed groups and NBC JAG make these recommendation to DENV.
E. Ferguson mentioned the Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) for Species at Risk is currently seeking funding proposals. Groups in his region who are interested should contact Pierre Mallet (506-851-3012) or Anne Turcotte (506-393-3036). He also discussed CAMP (Community Aquatic Monitoring Program). He stated the analysis of the information gathered this year is currently being completed and he is not sure if this program will continue next year. If CAMP is continued funding for the community groups will have to be discussed. He stated many people are using CAMP as an awareness tool for fish and invasive species. DAA is assisting DFO-Gulf with the invasive species project and information for that was not yet available. He continued by discussing an eelgrass distribution project that is occurring. The next step will be determining which method for determining distribution is best and then mapping the whole Gulf Region. This project is being conducted by a working group made up of different government agencies but is headed by his department. He also discussed a pilot project, the Ecological Restoration of Degraded Aquatic Habitats: A Watershed Approach that was conducted in Shediac and Richibucto. The results are currently being analyzed. · There were three questions that were brought up as a result of the news, 1) would the results from CAMP be presented to the public as without the results the community volunteers that assisted with the program for the past two years were losing interest, 2) would information regarding the eelgrass distribution be available to DENV as it would be helpful when working on approvals for coastal development, and 3) would education about eelgrass be provided to the public. It was suggested if funding is available in the next fiscal educational tools on eelgrass could be developed. This lead to a discussion of ulva (green slime, sea lettuce). It was mentioned ulva is on the beach to use the extra nutrients that humans have pumped into the environment (eutrophication). It was stated in many other areas of the world there are constructed wetlands put in place to treat excess nutrients (i.e., sewage) and even if there is not money to construct a wetland when New Brunswick wastewater system upgrades are being done at least room could be left to construct a wetland in the future. It was stated many wastewater treatment systems in NB are in really poor shape and they need to be upgraded.
R. MacDougall discussed the funding proposals for SARA (Species at Risk Act), mentioning that DFO can only deal with Schedule 1 of SARA, which covers fish. He also discussed the large amount of development occurring in Southwestern New Brunswick and the fact there could be compensation projects from the proponents. He stated compensation projects must be for physical restoration, such as salt marsh restoration or enhancement. · It was also stated it is up to the proponent to develop a project so it is good for DFO to have a list of possible projects that are necessary in the area available to them.
F. Emond mentioned that Victoria Pedersen, of the St. George office would be conducting consultation regarding fish health.
P. Thompson introduced the next agenda item, “Topics of discussion submitted by environmental groups”. She read the first two topics: 1) Update on the status of the New Brunswick Coastal Protection Policy? 2) What are the guidelines on approved coastal erosion structures? What is the view of the government agencies with respect to the hardening of the sandy coastline with granite boulders? · In answer to the first question, the Coastal Protection Policy is being enforced regularly as DENV reviews about 300 projects per year; however there is no regulation. In response to question 2 please read paragraph 5 from page 15 of the Coastal Protection Policy. It was also stated that the Department of Natural Resources is responsible through the Submerged Land Policy when erosion structures have been placed without a permit. It was suggested that more educational programs for the public on the Coastal Protection Policy and erosion are necessary. In response it was suggested a good ETF proposal could be to develop a user friendly Coastal Protection Policy and also to compile all the information that shoreline landowners would need from each of the government agencies when developing their property onto one pamphlet and specifying which agency deals with which issue.
P. Thompson introduced the third topic: 3) Are there statistics on the number of cottages on coastlines? What criteria differentiate a residential house and a cottage (other than principal or seasonal residence)? Are there programs to help deal with faulty septic systems of cottages? · In answer to the first question it was stated DENV has no statistics on cottages but Statistics Canada may. In answer to the second question it was stated there are no differences between the specifications for a cottage or a house septic system as they are both permitted based on amount of flow per day, which is based on the number of bedrooms. It should be noted that DoH does not revisit septic system permits if more bedrooms are added to a home/cottage. A permit is only revisited if there is a nuisance then the health inspector can change the requirements for the owners system. It was stated DoH is currently revisiting the regulation regarding septic systems.
P. Thompson introduced the fourth topic: 4) Are there regulations that deal with the domestic use of pesticides by waterfront property owners? If so who, is the regulator and is there any water monitoring done for this issue? · It was stated the federal government and DENV regulate the use of pesticides. It was suggested a watershed group might want to do a project to develop Best Management Practices (BMPs) of pesticide use near watercourses. It was stated EC deals with any deleterious substance, other than silt, entering a waterway. The group suggested question 4 be placed on the agenda for the next meeting so the EC representative may answer the question.
P. Thompson introduced the last agenda item, NBC JAG 2008-2009 and beyond: A discussion of the future of NBC JAG. · It was suggested some see the future of NBC JAG as a forum for ENGOs to meet face to face with government agency representatives. It was stated for NBC JAG to work as a forum all pertinent government agencies must be in attendance. To accomplish this it was suggested a letter from the NBC JAG secretariat be sent to the agencies not currently in attendance reminding them of their commitment to send their assigned representative or alternate to every meeting. It was stated for NBC JAG to continue and for funding to continue there needs to be measurable outcomes and deliverables in the future. During the discussion it was suggested NBC JAG become a watershed coalition or that all the ENGO members work on one issue. There was opposition to both ideas. If NBC JAG became a watershed coalition the government representatives could not be members and if the ENGOs worked on one issue it would alienate government agencies if the issue did not fit their mandate. It was suggested ENGO members be encouraged to share resources and knowledge. To facilitate this each group should provide information on their expertise and resources to the secretariat so a directory may be created. It was stated the secretariat had already put together a list of each member’s responsibilities and perhaps needed to be updated and put on the website. During the discussion one member stated priorities were set out originally and we need to accept these have changed. Another member stated we should not forget the issues raised at the two clinics in 2005 and the ENGO meeting in March. In conclusion it was determined the secretariat should apply for funding to continue NBC JAG.
Meeting was adjourned at 2:45pm. |