Notice of Proposed Procurement
Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Solicitation # 20-13-0137
Designated Organisation in the CLCA (Comprehensive Land Claim Agreements) areas have been advised.
1. PROJECT TITLE
Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment Cumulative Effects Management Framework
2. BACKGROUND
The purpose of the Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment (BREA) is:
“to help ensure governments, Inuvialuit, and industry are better prepared for oil and gas exploration and development in the offshore by: 1) filling regional information and data gaps related to offshore oil and gas activities; and 2) supporting effective and efficient regulatory decision making by providing the necessary data and information to all stakeholders.”
Cumulative effects assessment is an existing required component of regulatory applications and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments. However, resource managers have indicated that the current methods to assess cumulative effects are inadequate.
Adoption by proponents, regulators and resource managers of a consistent framework or method for assessing and monitoring cumulative effects to address regional and other concerns could result in regulatory efficiencies by creating alignment on information and process requirements.
This study will support the BREA Cumulative Effects Working Group in that it will develop a consistent method for managing cumulative effects in the Canadian Beaufort Sea region, and address regional concerns based on identified Valued Components and their associated stressors. It will also complement the establishment of a baseline understanding of environmental conditions in the offshore Beaufort Sea through the BREA Research program. Additionally, it could complement work conducted under the Northwest Territories Cumulative Impacts Monitoring Program on a knowledge gathering exercise to assess cumulative effects.
The study will need to consider related work previously undertaken in the Beaufort Region including Beaufort Sea Strategic Plan of Action (BSStRPA), Beaufort Sea Integrated Oceans Management Plan (IOMP), Beaufort Environmental Monitoring Program (BEMP), and Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment and Monitoring Program (BREAM). Also to be considered are data mining and gaps work published by Environmental Studies Research Fund (ESRF) and ArcticNet.
The BREA Cumulative Effects working group have outlined the elements of the framework that would be developed as part of this contract, as described in the scope of work below. The framework elements include:
1. Identifying Valued Components (VC) and VC objectives for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region
2. Identifying activities and development scenarios (already completed and available online: www.BeaufortREA.ca)
3. Defining linkages between activities and VCs and associated uncertainty
4. Defining VC management indicators and monitoring methods
5. Identifying initial VC management indicator objectives
6. Developing tiered triggers for each indicator
7. Defining impact management and stressor monitoring strategies for each trigger point
8. Identifying linkages to overall effects monitoring system for each VC and indicator
Minutes and materials from past BREA Cumulative Effects working group meetings will be provided to the contractor following the project initiation meeting.
Study Area
The study area is the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.
3. DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS
The following list of definitions and acronyms is not exhaustive, but rather is intended to ensure clarity of understanding of critical terms used within the Statement of Work (SOW).
TERM DEFINITION
Management Indicator A characteristic of the social or ecological setting that is used to describe measure, manage and report on Valued Components (VC). Management indicators need to be, at least in part, controllable through human intervention. Examples may include: sound in the marine environment; or degree of habitat disturbance.
Management Objective A statement that describes desired environmental or social conditions.
Stressor Natural or anthropogenic variable that can be correlated to a management indicator.
Trigger The point at which an indicator changes condition in relation to management objectives, defined either from an ecological or social perspective.
Tiered Trigger Tiered Triggers: A series of progressive points along the management indicator spectrum that reflects increasing degrees of concern or risk.
Valued Component An aspect of the environment that is considered important, on the bases of economic, social, cultural, community, ecological, legal or political concern. A VC is not an indicator in itself, although impacts on, or trends in, some characteristic of a VC may be used as an indicator.
4. OBJECTIVES
On behalf of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (DIAND) and the Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment, the Contractor will develop a regionally-based Cumulative Effects Management (CEM) framework which includes a pilot study using a small number of Valued Components (VC). The framework will identify linkages and sensitivities between stressors and VCs, and establish a methodology for measuring change in VCs relative to baseline conditions.
This framework will provide consistency of approach in project assessments and a better means for regulators to ensure that cumulative effects are being properly addressed. The study will focus on methods or tools to support efficient decision making. The goal is to introduce a simple framework that will be implemented, tested, and refined through decision making. The success of the study will be demonstrated by developing a framework that could potentially be implemented by the Environmental Impact Screening Committee and the National Energy Board for upcoming offshore oil and gas applications.
The development of a regional framework prior to project-specific applications will enable all stakeholders (Inuvialuit, government and regulators, and industry) to participate and support the process for identification of VCs, stressors, and pre-determined impact management measures to be included in cumulative effects assessment.
5. SCOPE OF WORK
The development of a regional framework will be informed by the results of two important streams of work. The first is the review and analysis of existing cumulative effects and environmental assessment literature along with local information and plans to assist in developing the various aspects of the framework as per the scope of work below. The second is the engagement of stakeholders (in the form of workshops or meetings) at key decision points throughout the development of the framework. The BREA Cumulative Effects working group will also work closely with the contractor to ensure that the framework meets the needs of various stakeholder groups.
The organizations listed below represent key stakeholders that will be included in the development of the Cumulative Effects Management framework. Additional stakeholders may be included in the work where it is deemed relevant by the consultant or technical authority.
- Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
- Joint Secretariat
- Industry operators and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)
- Environmental Impact Screening Committee (EISC)
- National Energy Board (NEB)
- Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA)
- Inuvialuit Game Council (IGC)
- Fisheries Joint Management Committee (FJMC)
- Wildlife Management Advisory Council (WMAC)
- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)
- Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (DIAND)
- Government of Yukon (YG)
- Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
- Environment Canada (EC)
- Parks Canada (PC)
- Environmental Impact Review Board
The Contractor will perform the following tasks to the satisfaction of the Departmental Representative:
6. TASKS
Task 6.1 consists of a series of subtasks (a – e) that will be called up as a group with Tasks 6.2 and 6.3. Upon completion of each subtask in 6.1, the contractor will prepare a technical memo that describes the findings of each task. These technical memos will be provided to the technical authority in draft format. The Technical Authority will coordinate provision of feedback from stakeholders on the technical memos and provide input to the contractor.
4.1 a. Develop a short list of candidate Valued Components (VCs) and VC management objectives.
An initial list will be developed that includes approximately 20 VCs. In developing the list, the contractor will consider the following selection criteria:
- Highest potential for cumulative effects (risk-based)
- Potentially significant or recurring issues in a regulatory environment
- Highest social value
- Potential for applying mitigation measures
- Clearly defined linkages to BREA development scenario
- Link to Community Conservation Plans or management plans
- Demonstrated availability of baseline information
In reporting on the initial VC list, the contractor will include a ranked list of the Valued Components with rationale for selection based on the criteria above.
The initial list of approximately 20 VCs will be refined, with input from the Technical Authority and the BREA Cumulative Effects working group, to produce a short list that consists of fewer than five (
