Introductory Remarks: Scientific Concepts associated with the Development of the Canadian Environmental Effects Monitoring Program

2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-6
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Scientific Concepts ◽  
Environmental Effects Monitoring

scholarly journals Principles and Challenges for Multi-Stakeholder Development of Focused, Tiered, and Triggered, Adaptive Monitoring Programs for Aquatic Environments

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Kelly R. Munkittrick ◽  
Tim J. Arciszewski ◽  
Michelle A. Gray
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Paper Mills ◽  
Monitoring Programs ◽  
Adaptive Monitoring ◽  
Working Groups ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
Environmental Effects Monitoring

In Canada, there is almost 30 years of experience in developing tiered and triggered adaptive monitoring programs focused on looking at whether environmental concerns remain when pulp and paper mills, or metal mines, are in compliance with their discharge limits. These environmental effects monitoring programs were based on nationally standardized designs. Many of the programs have been developed through multi-stakeholder working groups, and the evolution of the program faced repeated frictions and differing opinions on how to design environmental monitoring programs. This paper describes key guidance to work through the initial steps in program design, and includes scientific advice based on lessons learned from the development of the Canadian aquatic environmental effects monitoring program.

Toxicity assessment in marine sediment for the Terra Nova environmental effects monitoring program (1997–2010)

2014 ◽  
Vol 110 ◽  
pp. 26-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra A. Whiteway ◽  
Michael D. Paine ◽  
Trudy A. Wells ◽  
Elisabeth M. DeBlois ◽  
Bruce W. Kilgour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Marine Sediment ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Toxicity Assessment ◽  
Terra Nova ◽  
Environmental Effects Monitoring

Sublethal Toxicity Findings by the Pulp and Paper Industry for Cycles 1 and 2 of the Environmental Effects Monitoring Program

2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard P. Scroggins ◽  
Jennifer A. Miller ◽  
Anne I. Borgmann ◽  
John B. Sprague
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Paper Industry ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Pulp Mill ◽  
Toxicity Tests ◽  
Secondary Treatment ◽  
Sublethal Toxicity ◽  
Biological Surveys ◽  
Pulp Mill Effluents ◽  
Environmental Effects Monitoring

Abstract Sublethal toxicity tests successfully measured the improved quality of pulp mill effluents from the first cycle of environmental effects monitoring (1992–1996) to the second cycle (1997–2000). Test endpoints showed notable shifts to higher concentrations (less toxic). During the second cycle of monitoring, significantly more tests showed no effect in full-strength effluent. Five case studies were considered as part of this exercise. Most of the improvement came with installation of secondary treatment. Twelve Ontario mills with secondary treatment showed reduced toxicity, compared to results with primary treatment. All 29 sets of sublethal data showed higher IC25s during the second cycle, and 23 of these differences were statistically significant. Any other changes between the two cycles of study caused only marginal overall improvement in toxicity, judging by 12 freshwater mills in British Columbia which had secondary treatment during both cycles. Sublethal tests successfully predicted the zone of potential effect in receiving water, agreeing with effects observed in biological surveys. Overlapping zones from multiple discharges could also be demonstrated. In a situation near Niagara Falls, sublethal tests estimated the proportions of toxic loading that four mills contributed to one water body. The prediction was realistic; the actual toxicity found for a mixed effluent was 57% of that predicted from separate toxicities. The conservative prediction agrees with the usual less-than-additive sublethal action of combined toxicants.

Data Interpretation Issues for Canada's Environmental Effects Monitoring Program

2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Lowell ◽  
Kathleen Hedley ◽  
Edward Porter
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Reference Conditions ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
General Guidance ◽  
Environmental Effects Monitoring

Abstract As part of Canada's National Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) Program, regulated pulp and paper mills are (and metal mines will be) required to submit an interpretive report describing monitoring results. General guidance has been prepared on how to interpret these EEM data—specifically: 1) which effect endpoints to use, 2) the statistical (or other) approach to use for each endpoint to determine the presence or absence of an effect associated with exposure, and 3) the role of power analysis, α, β, and effect size in determining effects. A statistically significant difference (relative to reference conditions) in any of the effect endpoints is to be considered an exposure-associated effect for the purposes of warranting possible follow-up action. Such an effect does not, however, necessarily indicate ecological, social, or economic significance sufficient to require corrective action. Power analyses should be conducted both at the beginning of a study to determine required sampling effort and at the end of a study to determine whether the power that was actually achieved was sufficient to detect the effect size of interest. A key recommendation is to set α = β as a starting point for data interpretation. The initial recommendations of the general guidance are expected to evolve as environmental effects become better understood.

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