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An Integrated Oil SandsEnvironment Monitoring Plan



Cat.No.:En1449/2011EPDF

ISBN9781100189390

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IntegratedOilSandsMonitoringPlanFinalExpertReviewers

ElizabethDowdeswell �Chair

DavidSchindlerUniversityof Alberta

RonWallace �AlbertaProvincialMonitoringPanel

JoeRassmusen �Universityof Lethbridge

SCIENTIFICTEAMS

IntegrationTeamF.Wrona(Ed),SeniorScienceStrategist

EnvironmentCanada(WaterScienceandTechnologyDirectorate)&ResearchProfessor,

Universityof VictoriaWater&ClimateImpactsResearchCentre(WCIRC)

Aquaticecology,coldregionshydroecology,biostatistics,quantitativeecology

P.diCenzo(Ed),PhysicalScientist

EnvironmentCanada(WaterScienceandTechnologyDirectorate)&Universityof Victoria

Water&ClimateImpactsResearchCentre(WCIRC)

ColdRegionshydrologyandmicroclimatology

K.Schaefer(Ed)SeniorScienceAdvisor

EnvironmentCanada(WaterScienceandTechnologyDirectorate)

Watersciencepolicy,watermanagement,waterreuse

C.Banic,AtmosphericScientist

EnvironmentCanada(AtmosphericScienceandTechnologyDirectorate)

Atmosphericdeposition,environmentalchemistry

R.Chabaylo,TeamLeader

AlbertaEnvironment(EnvironmentalPartnerships,Water,AirandPlanning)

Wildlifebiology,environmentalassessment,watershedmanagementplanning

M.Conly,ResearchManager


Waterqualitymonitoring,waterresources

D.Jeffries(Ed.)ResearchScientist


Aquaticgeochemistry,acidlakes,aerialdeposition

M.McMaster,ResearchScientist


Aquatictoxicology,cumulativeeffects,environmentaleffectsmonitoring

P.McEachern,Limnologist

AlbertaEnvironment,Science,Research,Innovation

Waterqualitymonitoring,environmentchemistry,impactsassessment

J.Parrott,ResearchScientist


Ecotoxicology,environmentalassessment,fishhealth

C.Taylor,SeniorScienceAdvisor

iii



EnvironmentCanada(AtmosphericSciencesandTechnologyDirectorate)

Airqualityscience,atmosphericchemistry

Expert Reviewers

M.Dube,AquaticEcotoxicologist AssociateProfessorandCanadaResearchChairinAquaticEcosystemHealthDiagnosis,

Universityof Saskatchewan

EcotoxicologyriverecosystemsTHREATSassessmentframework,cumulativeimpacts

assessment

E.McCauley,PopulationEcologist

ProfessorandDirectorof theNationalCenterforEcologicalAnalysisandSynthesis,University

of California,SantaBarbaraand,Professor,Universityof Calgary

Quantitativepopulationandcommunityecology,ecologicalmodeling,environmentalimpacts

assessment

K.Munkittrick,FishEcologist

Professor

and

Canada

Research

Chair

in

Ecosystem

Health

Assessment,

University

of

New

Brunswick,St.JohnandScientificDirector,CanadianWaterNetwork

Fishhealth,environmentaltoxicology,aquaticbiomonitoring,cumulativeeffectsassessment

Acid SensitiveLakes

D.Jeffries(Ed.)ResearchScientist

EnvironmentCanada(WaterSciencesandTechnologyDirectorate)

Aquaticgeochemistry,acidlakes,aerialdeposition

J.Aherne,CatchmentBiogeochemist

Associate

Professor,

and

Canada

Research

Chair

in

Environmental

Modelling,

Trent

University

Terrestrialeffects,ecosystemmodelling,aquaticecosystems

C.Banic,AtmosphericScientist



A.Czarnecki,AquaticQualitySpecialist

AboriginalAffairsandNorthernDevelopment(WaterResourcesDivision)

Waterqualitymonitoring,waterresourcespecialist

M.Evans,ResearchScientist


Contaminantchemistry,fateanddistributionof metalsandPAHs,limnologistandzooplankton

ecologist

J.Gibson,ResearchScientist

TeamLeader,WaterManagement,AlbertaInnovates �TechnologyFutures

Hydrology,isotopegeochemistry,aciddepositiononaquaticecosystems

R.Hazewinkel,WaterQualitySpecialist

AlbertaEnvironment,WaterResources

Limnology,paleolimnology,waterqualitymonitoring

iv



E.Kelly,EnvironmentalScientist

Governmentof NorthWestTerritories,EnvironmentandNaturalResources

Environmentalchemistry,aerialdeposition,ecologicalimpacts

L.McEachern,AquaticQualitySpecialist


Aquatic

biology,

watershed

ecosystems,

aquatic

invertebrates

S.MacMillan,ResourceConservationist

ParksCanada(WoodBuffaloNationalParkof Canada)

Conservationandbiology

R.Mintz,HeadAirQualityScienceUnit

EnvironmentCanada(MeteorologicalServiceof Canada,Prairie&Northern,Science)

Airqualitymonitoring,modelingandanalysisinPrairieandNorthernregion

B.Miskimmin,EnvironmentalScientist

SummitEnvironmentalConsultantsInc

Aquatictoxicology,aquaticecosystemshealth,

M.Patterson,ResearchScientist

Department

of

Fisheries

and

Oceans

Canada

(Experimental

Lakes

Area)

Aquaticecosystemssciences,freshwaterecology

K.Percy,LeadScientist

WoodBuffaloEnvironmentalAssociation

Airquality,airqualityeffects,terrestrial/catchmenteffects

K.Scott,SeniorScientist

SaskatchewanMinistryof Environment(TechnicalResourcesBranch)

Aquaticgeochemistry,limnology

J.Shatford,ResourceConservationist


Biodiversity,conservation

J.Smol,Paleolimnologist

ProfessorandCanadaResearchChairinEnvironmentalChange,Queen�sUniversity;Fellow,

RoyalSocietyof Canada

Paleolimnology,climateandenvironmentalimpacts

N.Yan,Biologist

ProfessorYorkUniversity

Ecology,biology,limnology

R.Weeber,Biologist

EnvironmentCanada(CanadianWildlifeService �PopulationConservation)

Biology,longrangetransportof airpollutants,waterchemistry,waterbirds

Expanded Geographic Scope

M.Conly(Ed.)WaterQualityManager


Waterqualitymonitoring,waterresources

D.Baird,ResearchScientist

EnvironmentCanada;ResearchProfessor,Universityof NewBrunswick

Aquaticecotoxicology,biomonitoringprogramdesign,aquaticbiodiversity

v



R.Chabaylo,TeamLeader

AlbertaEnvironment(EnvironmentalPartnerships,Water,AirandPlanning)

Wildlifebiology,environmentalassessment,watershedmanagementplanning

A.Czarnecki,AquaticQualitySpecialist


Aquatic

eco

toxicology,

bio

monitoring

program

design,

aquatic

biodiversity

P.Dillon,WatershedBiogeochemist

ProfessorandIndustrialResearchChairinWatershedBiogeochemistry,TrentUniversity

Aquaticbiogeochemistry,environmentalimpactassessment

H.Ghamry,ResearchAssistant

Departmentof FisheriesandOceansCanada(EnvironmentalScienceDivision)

Waterquantity,modelling

N.Glozier,AquaticEcosystemsScientist


Aquaticecosystems,waterpollutants,environmentalmonitoring


Government

of

North

West

Territories,

Environment

and

Natural

Resources


S.Kokelj,Hydrologist


Hydrology,waterquantitymonitoring,

L.Levesque,WatershedSciencesSpecialist


Waterquality

D.Lindeman,Biologist


Aquaticecology,waterqualitymonitoringandsurveillance

S.MacMillan,ResourceConservationist


Conservationandbiology

B.Makowecki,Manager

Departmentof FisheriesandOceansCanada(OilSandsMajorProjects)

Fishandfishhabitat,waterquantity/quality,cumulativeeffects

D.Peters,ResearchScientist


Watershedhydrology,modelling,ecologicalinstreamflowneeds

B.Reid,SectionHead


Hydrology,waterandsedimentqualitymonitoring,modelling

J.Sanderson,AquaticQualitySpecialist


Environmentalqualitymonitoring

G.Scrimgeour,Ecologist

ParksCanada;Deptof BiologicalSciences

Appliedecologicalresearch,ecologicalrestoration

J.Reist,SeniorResearchScientist

Departmentof FisheriesandOceansCanada(ArcticAquaticResourcesDivision)

Arcticfishecology,taxonomy,biodiversity

vi





P.McEachern,Limnologist

AlbertaEnvironment,Science,Research,Innovation

Waterqualitymonitoring,environmentchemistry,impactsassessment

E.McIvor,AquaticScientist


Aquatic

biodiversity,

water

quality,

CABIN

K.Munkittrick,FishEcologist

ProfessorandCanadaResearchChairinEcosystemHealthAssessment,Universityof New

Brunswick,St.JohnandScientificDirector,CanadianWaterNetwork

Fishhealth,environmentaltoxicology,aquaticbiomonitoring,cumulativeeffectsassessment

V.Palace,ResearchScientist

Departmentof FisheriesandOceansCanada(EnvironmentalSciencesDivision)

Chemicalwaterpollutants,fishphysiology,environmentaltoxicology

J.Rasmussen,AquaticEcologist

ProfessorandCanadaResearchChairinAquaticEcosystems,Universityof Lethbridge

Aquaticecosystemsimpactsassessment,biogeochemistry,fisheriesecology

G.Scrimgeour,Ecologist

ParksCanada;Deptof BiologicalSciences

Appliedecologicalresearch,ecologicalrestoration

F.Wrona,SeniorScienceStrategist

EnvironmentCanada(WaterSciencesandTechnologyDirectorate)&ResearchProfessor,

Universityof VictoriaWater&ClimateImpactsResearchCentre(WCIRC)

Aquaticecology,coldregionshydroecology,biostatistics,quantitativeecology

Air Emissionsand Air Quality Monitoring

C.Banic(Ed.),AtmosphericScientist

EnvironmentCanada,(AtmosphericSciencesandTechnologyDirectorate)


J.Abbatt,AtmosphericScientist

Universityof Toronto

Physicalchemistry,urbanairpollution,atmosphericdeposition

J.Aherne,CatchmentBiogeochemist

AssociateProfessor,andCanadaResearchChairinEnvironmentalModelling,TrentUniversity

Terrestrialeffects,ecosystemmodelling,aquaticecosystems

C.Austin,ResearchScientist


Airquality,industrialtoxicology,airpollutants

P.Blanchard,AtmosphericScientist


Airpollutants,environmentalmonitoring,atmosphericdeposition

J.P.Charland,ResearchManager


Airquality,atmosphericaerosolsresearch


Governmentof NorthWestTerritories,EnvironmentandNaturalResources


viii



SM.Li,SeniorResearchScientist


Airqualityprocessresearch,atmosphericaerosolprocesses

P.Makar,ResearchScientist


Air

quality

simulation

modelling,

urban/rural

air

quality

modelling

R.Martin,AtmosphericChemist

KillamProfessor,DalhousieUniversity

AtmosphericChemistry,airqualityandclimatemodelling,remotesensing

K.McCullum,Chief Engineer

SaskatchewanMinistryof Environment

Airqualityanalysis,particulatematter,environmentalengineering

K.McDonald,Chemist

AssociateProfessorEnvironmentalHealth,ConcordiaUniversityCollegeof Alberta

EnvironmentalHealth,atmosphericcontaminanttransport

C.McLinden,ResearchScientist

Environme

nt

Canada,

(Atmospheric

Sciences

and

Technology

Directorate)

Airqualityresearch,atmosphericchemistry

C.Mihele,PhysicalScientist


Atmosphericchemistry,airqualityresearch

K.Percy,LeadScientist

WoodBuffaloEnvironmentalAssociation

Airquality,airqualityeffects,terrestrial/catchmenteffects

G.Rideout,Engineer


Samplingandanalysistoxicairemissions,controltechnologiesandstrategies

J.Rudolph,AtmosphericChemist

ProfessorYorkUniversity

Atmosphericchemistry,volatileorganiccompounds,atmosphericparticulatematter

M.Savard,ResearchGeoscientist

NaturalResourcesCanada(HydrogeologyandEnvironmentalGeoscience)

Spatialandtemporalmonitoringusingnitrogenisotopesintreerings

D.Spink,EnvironmentalConsultant

TechnicalAdvisoronAirQuality,SustainabilityDepartment,communityof FortMcKay

Airquality,aireffectsmonitoring

C.Taylor,SeniorScienceAdvisor


Atmosphericsciences

R.Vet,PhysicalScientist


Airquality,atmosphericchemistry

J.Watson,AtmosphericScientist

ResearchProfessor,AtmosphericSciences,DesertResearchInstitute

Airquality,sourceapportionment,particlesamplingandanalysis

ix



ExpertReviewers

R.Artz

NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,DeputyDirector,AirResourcesLaboratory

T.Holsen

ClarksonUniversity,coDirectorClarksonCenterfortheEnvironment,Professor,Department

of CivilandEnvironmentalEngineering

D.Parrish

NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,ProgramLead,TroposphericChemistry,

EarthSystemResearchLaboratory

J.Rasmussen

Universityof Lethbridge,CanadaResearchChairinAquaticEcosystems,Professorof Biological

Sciences

Terrestrial Biodiversity and Habitat

R.Bloom,HabitatBiologist

EnvironmentCanada(CanadianWildlifeService,Prairie&NorthernRegion)

Speciesdistributionmodeling,habitatmodeling,criticalhabitatprotectionforSpeciesatRisk

C.Boutin,ResearchScientist

EnvironmentCanada(WildlifeandLandscapeScienceDirectorate)

Ecotoxicology,contaminanteffectsonvegetation

K.Cash,DirectorGeneral


Sciencemanagement,aquaticecosystems

K.Fernie,ResearchScientist


Ecotoxicology,contaminanteffectsonavianhealth

D.Forsyth,ResearchScientist


Ecotoxicology,contaminantlevels,trendsandeffectsonbirdsandotherwildlife

C.Hebert,ResearchScientist


Ecotoxicology,contaminantexposureinmigratorybirds

RhonaKindopp,EcosystemScientist

ParksCanadaAgency(WoodBuffaloNationalPark)

Wildlifebiomonitoring

P.Knaga,WildlifeBiologist


Terrestrialecology,datamanagementspecialist

K.Machin,Effectsonbirdsof contaminants,assessmentmethods

AssociateProfessor,Departmentof VeterinaryBiomedicalSciences,Universityof

Saskatchewan

Avianphysiology

x



xi

C.Machtans,WildlifeBiologist


Forestbirdecology,monitoringecology

S.MacMillan,ResourceConservationManager



C.L.Mahon,WildlifeBiologist


Landscapeecologyandmodeling,forestbirdecology

V.Palace,ResearchScientist

Departmentof Fisheries&Oceans(DirectorCenterforEnvironmentalResearchonPesticides)

Ecotoxicology,contaminantlevelsandeffectsonfishandotherwildlife

BrucePauli,ResearchManager


Ecotoxicology,contaminantlevels,trendsandeffectsonbirdsandotherwildlife

D.Schock,AmphibianBiologyandDiseaseSpecialist

AssociateFaculty,KeyanoCollege,FortMcMurrayAlberta

Ecotoxicologyandamphibiandisease;contaminanteffectsonamphibianhealth

J.Shatford,EcosystemScientist



L.Shutt,Director,EcotoxicologyandWildlifeHealthDivision


Ecotoxicology;contaminanteffectsonavianhealth

J.Smits,WildlifeHealthandEcotoxicology

AssociateProfessor,Departmentof Ecosystem&PublicHealth,Facultyof VeterinaryMedicine,

Universityof Calgary

Ecotoxicologyandwildlifedisease;contaminant levels, trendsandeffectsonbirdsand other

wildlife

S.J.Song,Head,PopulationAssessment


Borealecology,avianecology

C.Soos,ResearchScientist


Ecotoxicologyandwildlifedisease;interactionsbetweencontaminantsanddiseaseinwildlife

PhilThomas,Biologist


Ecotoxicology;contaminantlevels,trendsandeffectsonplantsandotherwildlife

R.Wiacek,SeniorEnvironmentalAssessmentOfficer


Terrestrialecology,environmentalassessment





TABLEOFCONTENTS

EXECUTIVESUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... xv CHAPTER1. ...................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER2. .................................................................................... 5 CONTEXTOFTHEINTEGRATEDPLAN

2.1 ................................................................................................................. 6 DevelopmentContext

CHAPTER3. .................................................. 8 INTEGRATEDMONITORINGSAMPLINGNETWORKDESIGN

3.1 ............................................. 9 ExpandedMonitoringPlanComponents:Water,Air,Biodiversity

CHAPTER4. .......................................................................... 11 WATERQUALITYMONITORING(PHASE1)

CHAPTER5. ................................................................ 14 EXPANDEDAQUATICECOSYSTEMMONITORING

5.1

..................................................................................................... 14

Expanded

Geographic

Scope5.2 .............................................................................. 15 AquaticEcosystemBiodiversityandEffects

5.2.1 ................................................................................................................................ 15 Fish

5.2.2 ...................................................................................... 18 InvertebratesandOtherBiota

5.3 ................................................................................................................... 20 AcidSensitiveLakes

CHAPTER6. .................................................................................................. 22 AIRQUALITYMONITORING

CHAPTER7. .......................................................................... 25 TERRESTRIALBIODIVERSITYANDHABITAT

CHAPTER8. ....................................................... 28 QA/QC:FIELD,LABORATORYANDDATACONTINUUM

CHAPTER9. .................................................................. 29 DATAMANAGEMENTANDDECISIONSUPPORT

CHAPTER10. ....................................................................................................................... 30 SUMMARY

CHAPTER11. .................................................................................................................... 31 REFERENCES

xiii





EXECUTIVESUMMARY

Industryandotherobserversexpectsignificantexpansioninoilsandsoperationsoverthe

mediumtolongterm.Fromtoday'sproductionlevelsof justover1.5millionbarrelsperday,

productionisprojectedtodoubletoaround3millionbarrelsperday(MBPD)by2020,and

continueincreasingthereafter,outto2030andbeyond.Thevalueof thisproductionis

estimatedtobealmost$60billionin2012,andisexpectedtoaverage$86billionperyear

from2013to2020.Giventheimportanceof theoilsandsindustrytotheeconomiesof

AlbertaandCanadaitisessentialthattheyproceedinanenvironmentallysustainablefashion.

Aworldclassenvironmentalmonitoringprogramiskeytorealizingthisgoal.However,

deficitsincurrentenvironmentalmonitoringintheoilsandshavebeenfoundthatrender

currentmonitoringinadequateforprovidingtheassurancethatoilsandsarebeingdeveloped

sustainably.

InDecember,2010aFederalOilSandsAdvisoryPanelpresentedareporttothefederal

EnvironmentMinisterthatreviewedcurrentmonitoringactivitiesinthelowerAthabascaRiver

system,identifiedkeyshortcomings,andprovidedrecommendationsonwhatwould

constituteaworldclassmonitoringprogramfortheoilsandsregion.

Inresponse,EnvironmentCanadacoordinatedfederal,provincial,territorialandindependent

scientistsinatwoPhasedprocesstodevelopaworldclassenvironmentalmonitoringPlanfor

theoilsands.ThemonitoringPlanisaseriesof technicaldocumentsthatpresentwhatshould

bemonitored,where,whenandhow.ThisPlandoesnotdealwithimplementationissueslike

fundingorrolesandresponsibilitiesof existingorganizationsorinstitutions.ThePlanwas

designedonthecoreprinciplesrecommendedbytheAdvisoryPanelof being:holisticand

comprehensive;scientificallyrigorous;adaptiveandrobust;inclusiveandcollaborative;and,

transparentandaccessible.Theresultsof Phase1,aconceptualframeworkforaworldclass

monitoringPlananddetailedwaterqualitymonitoringschemefortheLowerAthabascaRiver

wasreleasedbytheMinisterinMarch2011.

WhilePhase1focusedontheissueof waterquality,itwasrecognizedthattherewasaneed

toexpandtointegrateairandbiodiversitymonitoring,aswellasbroaderwaterquality

monitoringandeffectsassessment.Thisholisticapproachisdesignedtofocusonspecific

areaswheretherearegapsinthescientificdataandtoadapttochangingneedsas

environmentaldataandunderstandingchangeovertime.

AkeyphilosophyinthemonitoringPlanisthatboththefrequencyof samplingandthe

geographicscopeof coveragearelinkedtoaseriesof decisiontriggers.Thismeansthat

monitoringcanbeenhancedif importantchangesaredetectedatagivensite,oralternatively,

reducedwhererepeatedsamplinghasshownnosignificantchangesareoccurring.

ThePlandesignshiftstheparadigmfrommonitoringchangesthathavealreadyoccurredto

anapproachthatwillbetterassesscurrentstate,andpredictfuturemultiplestressor

impactsandultimatelycumulativeeffects.Allinformationwillbeavailabletothepublic.

xv



xvi

ThePlanretainssoundcomponentsof existingmonitoringefforts,changeselementsthat

requirechange,increasesthespatialandtemporalcoverageof monitoringlocations,and

broadenstoincludeecosystemcomponentsnotpreviouslymonitoredinasystematicway.

NotonlywillthisPlanhaveincreasedabilitytodetectchange,butitwillensureabetter

understandingof naturalvariabilityandsystemresponsestooilsandsdevelopmentactivities.

Akeyobservationbyexpertreviewersof thisPlanwasthatdespiteitstechnical

competence,soundandtimelyimplementationwilldictatewhetherthePlanwillsucceedor

failinitsgoalof generatingthedatanecessarytoprovideassurancethattheoilsandsare

beingdevelopedsustainably.

Prioritiesforimplementationarepresentedineachof thePlancomponentsthatgivespecific

monitoringdetailsforwater,airandbiodiversity.



CHAPTER1. INTRODUCTION

Thedesignof theintegrated water,air,terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity and

MonitoringPlan for thelower Athabascabasinisbased onthecore principlesof being

holistic and comprehensive; scientifically rigorous;adaptiveand robust;inclusiveand

collaborative;and,transparent and accessible.

ThisPlanensuresthat site selection, spatial and temporal sampling frequencies provide

appropriateconnectivity of relevant physical,chemical and ecological processesto

assessimpactsof oil sandsdevelopment onlocal and regional water quality/quantity,

air quality and aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity.

ThePlanbuildsonthePhase1Water Quality MonitoringPlan,and by design,is

adaptivetoaddressbothcurrent and futureemergingissuesrelated tounderstanding

the scale,durationand magnitudeof the possibleeffectsof oil sandsdevelopment onthe

aquatic

and

terrestrial

environments.

The foundationof thePlanisa solid and integrated regional monitoring strategy that

will allow for assessment of any potential changesat local and regional scalesand

short termtolonger termtime periods.It will provideabasis for separatingchanges

related tooil sandsactivities fromnatural influences suchasnatural bitumen seepages.

Relationshipsbetweenany identified changesinthiscontext will providethebasis for

cumulativeeffectsassessment.Theembedded useof decisiontriggers,toincreaseor

decreasemonitoringeffort asunderstandingof ecosystem statusand trend evolves,will

ensureeffectiveuseof resourcesto producethedatanecessary to provideassurancethe

oil sandsarebeingdeveloped responsibly.

Industryandotherobserversexpectsignificantexpansioninoilsandsoperationsoverthe

mediumtolongterm.Fromtoday'sproductionlevelsof justover1.5millionbarrelsperday,

productionisprojectedtodoubletoaround3millionbarrelsperday(MBPD)by2020,and

continueincreasingthereafter,outto2030andbeyond.Thevalueof thisproductionis

estimatedtobealmost$60billionin2012,andisexpectedtoaverage$86billionperyear

from2013to2020.However,deficitsincurrentenvironmentalmonitoringintheoilsands

havebeenfoundthatrendercurrentmonitoringinadequateforprovidingtheassurancethat

oilsandsarebeingdevelopedresponsibly.AFederalOilSandsAdvisoryPanel(FederalOil

SandsAdvisoryPanelReport,2010,

http://www.ec.gc.ca/pollution/default.asp?lang=En&n=E9ABC93B1)outlinedthe

inadequaciesandlimitationsof existingmonitoring;keyamongthemwerealackof

integrationandscientificoversight.Inaddition,thePanelreportprovidedfocused

recommendationsonapathforwardforthedesignandimplementationof aworldclass

environmentalmonitoringPlan.Itwasfurtherrecognizedthatgiventhescientific

complexitiesintheoilsandsregion,itwasnecessarytouseaphasedapproachtodevelopa

Planwithmediaspecificcomponentsforwater,airandbiodiversity.Ultimatelyhowever,it

1

http://www.ec.gc.ca/pollution/default.asp?lang=En&n=E9ABC93B%E2%80%901






Box 1: Principles that underpin aneffective “world-class” monitoringprogram.

Holistic and comprehensive: a systemicapproach that incorporates multiple essentialcomponents of the system as well as therelationships among the components,integrates multi-scale spatial measurementsand recognizes the temporal dimension, frompast to future.

Scientifically rigorous: a science-basedapproach that uses robust indicators,consistent methodology and standardizedreporting, including peer-review, that will resultin independent, objective, complete, reliable,verifiable and replicable data.

Adaptive and robust: an approach that can beevaluated and revised as new knowledge,needs and circumstances change and thatensures stable and sufficient funding.

Inclusive and collaborative: an approach thatengages concerned parties in the design and

execution, including the prioritization of issuesand setting of ecosystem goals.

Transparent and accessible: an approach thatproduces publicly available information in forms(ranging from raw data to analyses) in a timelymanner that will enable concerned parties toconduct their own analysis and draw their ownconclusions and that will make the basis for

judgment and conclusions explicit.

wasnecessarytoensureallcomponentswerefully

integratedintoasingle,holisticPlanfoundedonan

ecosystembasedapproach.Box1summarizescore

scientificelementsof aworldclassmonitoringPlan

asidentifiedbytheFederalOilSandsAdvisory

Panel.

Inresponse,inDecember2011,theFederalMinister

of theEnvironmentannouncedthefirstPhaseof a

processtodevelopaworldclassintegratedoil

sandsMonitoringPlan.Theresultof thePhase1

process,releasedinMarch2011,wasa

conceptualmonitoringframeworkandWater

QualityMonitoringPlanfortheLower

Athabascamainstemanditstributaries.

(http://www.ec.gc.ca/Publications/default.asp?lang

=En&xml=1A877B4260D74AED9723

1A66B7A2ECE8).ThePhase1reportwasauthored

byindependentacademicsandscientistsfrom

AlbertaEnvironmentandEnvironmentCanada.

EnvironmentCanadaplayedacoordinatingrole.

TheIntegratedOilSandsEnvironmentalMonitoringPlaniscomprisedof thefoundational

monitoringframework,coremonitoringconceptsandwaterqualitymonitoringscheme

developedduringPhase1,thisdocumentwhichprovidesadditionalcontextforscientific

workandintegrationperformedduringPhase2,andthreemediaspecificcomponents

developedunderPhase2whichdescribetechnicalmonitoringdetailsforair,waterand

biodiversity.

IntegratedOilSandsMonitoringPlandocuments:

1. TheLower AthabascaWater Quality MonitoringPlan� Phase1(released March2011);2. IntegratedOilSandsEnvironmentalMonitoringPlan3. Expanded Geographic Extent for Water Quality and Quantity, Aquatic Biodiversity and

Effects,and Acid SensitiveLakesMonitoring;4. Air Quality Monitoring for theOil Sands;5. Terrestrial Biodiversity and Habitat Monitoring.

Phase1of MonitoringPlandevelopmentdealtprimarilywiththephysical(hydrologicaland

climate)andchemicalcomponentsof theAthabascaRivermainstemanditstributarysystems.

Itoutlinedacomprehensivesamplingandanalyticalapproachtoquantifycontaminant

loadings,transport,andfate,fromoilsandsandotherindustrialandmunicipalsourcesinto

thesesystemstomonitorwaterqualityinthelowerAthabasca.Phase1identifiedthe

necessaryenvironmentalcomponentsandprocessestomonitorsurfacewatertoenhance

2



spatialandtemporalquantitativeunderstandingof thekeyphysical/chemical�stressors�

affectingthesystemwhileimprovingknowledgeof historicalbaselineconditions.

Inaddition,thedocumentproducedduringPhase1providedtheoverallconstructand

frameworkforanintegratedmonitoringPlanforassessingcumulativeeffectsacross

environmentalmediaandtemporalandspatialscales.Itidentifiedfivecriticalelementsto

guideallphasesof monitoringdesignandimplementation:

1. IntegratedRegionalMonitoring;

2. Productionof CoreResults;

3. TriggersforDecisionMaking;

4. ToolsforImplementation;

5. PrinciplesforSuccessfulImplementation.

RegionalmonitoringmustproducethreeCoreResultsonaconsistentandongoingbasis:

1. Assessmentof AccumulatedEnvironmentalConditionorState;

2. RelationshipsbetweenSystemDriversandEnvironmentalResponse;and,

3. CumulativeEffectsAssessment.

Theseelementsarerequiredformonitoringeachenvironmentalcomponent(air,biodiversity

andwater)andthroughthisconsistency,integratedassessmentcanbeachieved.Inthe

absenceof theseCoreResults,cumulativechangecannotbedetected,predicted,managed,or

mitigated.ThePlanrecognizesthatitisnotnecessarytomonitoreverything,everywhere,all

thetime.Toensureoptimizationof effort,adecisionsupportsystemrelyingondecision

�triggers�willbeusedthatwillallowbothdecreasesandincreasesinmonitoringeffort.Inthis

waymonitoringeffortwilladaptcontinuouslytochangingconditionsand/orchangesin

knowledge.If monitoringeffort,locationormethodologyischanged,adequateinter

calibrationwillberequired.

Phase2componentsof theMonitoringPlanbuildonandexpandPhase1byprovidingfurther

detailedmonitoringdesignsforanexpandedgeographiccoverageof relevantwatershedsand

downstreamareas,aswellasdetailsontheairquality,aquaticandterrestrialecosystem

componentstobemonitored.ThePhase2componentsalsoprovidetherationaleandmulti

mediasamplingdesigntoaddresstherelevanceof changesintheendpoints.ThePlan

identifiesthemostappropriateapproachestodetectaquaticandterrestrialecosystem

impairment,

changes

in

local

and

regional

air

quality,

and

identifies

relevant

biological

and

ecologicalindicatorsthatwillbeusedtomonitorandassesslocalandregionalimpacts,

includingcumulativeeffects.

AsoutlinedinthePhase1report,thedevelopmentandvalidationof newintegrated

environmentalmodeling,decisionsupport,andenvironmentalpredictionssystemsisacore

componentof thedesignthatallowsforimprovedassessment(CoreResult1)andprojection

of sitespecificandregionalimpacts.The�causeeffect�relationshipsthatwillbedeveloped

throughtheimplementationof thePlan(CoreResult2)willbeusedultimatelytopredict

3



cumulativeenvironmentalimpacts(CoreResult3)whichwillthenbemonitored.ThisPlanwill

beperiodicallyreviewedbyexternalexpertstoensureitstaysrelevantandcontinuesto

improveandadvanceourfundamentalscientificunderstandingof theactualandpotential

impactsof oilsandsdevelopmentontheenvironment,andtoidentifyandaddresspresent

andfuturestakeholderissuesandconcerns.

Phase1andPhase2Plancomponentsweredevelopedbyteamsof federal,provincial,

territorialandindependentscientistswhowereselectedbasedontheirpreviousinvolvement

inoilsandsmonitoringreviewexercisesand/ortheirspecificscientificexpertise.Thescientists

involvedhadexpertisein:surfaceandgroundwaterqualityandquantity;hydrology;

climatology;environmentalchemistry;paleolimnology;airemissionsandairquality;human

health;atmospherictransportanddepositionof contaminants;oilsandsprocessrelated

contaminantchemistry;aquaticandterrestrialecology;amphibian,fish,vertebrateand

invertebratetoxicology;aquaticandterrestrialmonitoringplandesignandimplementation;

cumulativeeffectsassessment;and,statisticaldesign.Manyof thescientiststhatcontributed

tothePhase1processwerealsoinvolvedinthePhase2designprocesstohelpensure

appropriatesystemdesignintegrationandsamplingnetworkoptimization.AkeyphilosophyinthemonitoringPlanisthatboththefrequencyof samplingandthe

geographicscopeof coverageislinkedtoaseriesof decisiontriggersoutlinedforeach

respectiveenvironmentalcomponent(e.g.,water,air,biota).Forexample,if astatistically

significantchangeisdetectedatasite(i.e.,changesareidentifiedrelativetohistoricor

baselinesitespecificrangeof variability),enhancedmonitoringisconductedtovalidatethe

result.If afterenhancedmonitoring,thereisaconfirmedstatisticalchangethatsignalsa

deteriorationinwaterqualityorecologicalcondition,themonitoringprogramisexpandedto

defineboththeextentandmagnitudeof themeasuredeffect.Similarly,however,if no

significantchangesareconsistentlyoccurringatalocationorsetof locationsafterrepeated

sampling,theintensityand/orgeographicscopeof samplingcanbereducedandassessedless

frequency.Inthismanner,monitoringeffortwillbecontinuallyassessedandoptimized,and

guidedbyobjectiveandpeerrevieweddatainterpretation.Implementationprioritiesarepresentedineachof theair,waterandbiodiversitycomponents.

4



CHAPTER2. CONTEXTOFTHEINTEGRATEDPLAN

Thisintegrated Planrecognizeslinkagesamongatmospheric,aquatic and terrestrial

ecosystem

processes

and

media.

Therequirement for standardized datacollection protocols,analytical procedures,

QA/QC protocolsand reportingacrossmediais fundamental toensurecompatibility,

comparability and integrationof results.

Thisintegrated ecosystembased Plancovers:

TheLower Athabascawatershed,includingthe AthabascaRiver mainstemand

itstributariesthePeace AthabascaDelta,and Lake Athabasca.Inaddition,

relevant segmentsof thePeaceand SlaveRiver systems(includingthe Slave

River Delta),acid sensitivelakesin Alberta, Saskatchewan,and theNorthwest

Territories;

Air quality and atmospheric depositioninnorthern Alberta, southernNorthwest Territories, Saskatchewanand Manitoba;

Strategic terrestrial habitatsin Albertaand Saskatchewan.

Results generated will haveapplicationintheassessment of riskstoaquatic,terrestrial

and humanhealth.

Phase2componentsof thePlanwillproducescientificallycredibleinformationtoallowfor:

improveddescriptionof currentand,wherepossible,baselineconditionsandrelevant

airquality,aquaticandterrestrialecosystemprocesses;

assessmentof changesinairemissions,airquality,aquaticandterrestrialecosystem

conditionandtrends;

effectsinvestigationandlocalandregionalimpactassessments;

performancemeasurementandStateof Environment(SOE)reporting;

collectionof datathatcouldbeusedforevaluationof environmentalandhuman

healthrisk;

supportandfeedbackformodeling,management,andpolicydevelopment;

evolvingstakeholderissues.

Implementationof thePlanwillbefoundedontheprincipleof inclusionof Traditional

EcologicalKnowledge,andthetrainingandinvolvementof membersof localcommunitiesin

theactualmonitoringactivities.

ThisPlanrecognizesthatinordertoremainworldclass,itmustadapttochanging

environmental,technologicalandsocialconditions.Onewaytoensureadaptationisto

optimizemonitoringeffortusingatriggeringapproachthatwillincreaseordecrease

monitoringbasedonchangesinknowledgeaboutthemonitoredenvironment.Inthisway

5



monitoringcandecreasewherenolongerneededandincreasewherenecessary.Another

techniquetoensureadaptationistocontinuouslytestnewmonitoringtechniquesand

analyticalapproaches.Tothisend,appropriatelevelsof techniqueandanalyticalapproach

developmentwillbeperformedunderthePlanandbeconsideredacriticalelement.

2.1 DevelopmentContext

Phase2expandsthegeographicscopeof watermonitoringtoincludesmallstreamsin

tributarycatchments,thePeaceAthabascaDelta,LakeAthabasca,andrelevantsegmentsof

theSlaveandPeaceRiverssystems(includingtheSlaveRiverDelta).Itprovidesforan

improvedscientificcharacterizationof primaryemissions,theatmospherictransformation

productsandtheconcentrationsanddepositionof pollutantsinnorthernAlberta,

Saskatchewan,NorthwestTerritoriesandManitoba,andlinkstoacidsensitivelakes.Italso

includesmonitoringof terrestrialhabitatsandtargetedspeciespopulationsinstrategicareas

inAlbertaandSaskatchewan.

Inaddition,thePhase2designwilldeliverdataof sufficientquantityandqualitytodetector

quantifytheeffectsof oilsandsdevelopmentinaholisticandintegratedmanner.The

integratedPlanhasbeendevelopedbyincorporatingthesoundcomponentsof existing

monitoringinitiatives,thenpresentingnecessaryadditionsorchangesthatwillallow

assessmentof contaminantsources,transport,andtheirultimatefateandeffectsonaquatic

andterrestrialbiotaandrelevantecologicalprocesses,aswellastheeffectsof habitat

disturbance.

Whilethescienceandpracticeof monitoringhasbeenfairlywellestablishedforsome

environmentalcomponents,keyknowledgegapsexist.Asaresulttheconceptof continous

improvementisembeddedinthePlan,ensuringthePlanisadaptivetonewconditions,

evolvingtechnologies,societalissuesorchangesinknowledge.Additionally,integrationof a

monitoringdesignacrosscomponentstoproducecoreresultsunderoneframeworkfor

assessingcumulativeeffectsishighlycomplex,rareintheworld,andhasnotexistedtodatein

theoilsandsregion.Keyelementsof thisintegrateddesignthatdonotexistincurrent

monitoringsystemsisthecolocationof samplingsitesforwater,biodiversityandairwhere

appropriate,andarchivingalldatasetsincommon,accessibleformatsthatareexplicitlygeo

referencedallowingdatatobeeasilyinterpreted.

Figure1summarizestheoilsandsminingdevelopmentandassociatedlandusechangesasof

June2011nearFortMcMurray.Theoilsandsminingandsubsurfaceextractiondevelopments

(e.g.,SteamAssistedGravityDrainage �SAGD)havemultiplepotentialenvironmentalimpacts

ontheair,waterandlandrelatedtostackandparticulateemissions(e.g.,minedust,coke

stockpile,etc.),minefleetandairemissions,wateruse(bothsurfaceandgroundwater),

productionof wastestreamsincludingtailingspondsandassociatedcontaminants,potential

groundwatercontamination,landdisturbanceandassociatedalterationsinhydrological

connectivity,andhabitatlossandfragmentation.Themediaandecosystemspecific

componentsof thePhase2componentsrecognizethelinksbetweenthevariouspotential

6



contaminantsourcesandtheirpotentialimpactsonwater,airqualityandaquaticand

terrestrialbiodiversity.

Figure1.Summaryof thecurrentoilsandsdevelopments(miningandinsitu)andassociatedlanduse

changesintheFortMcMurrayregion,highlightingsomeof thechallengestheintegratedmonitoring

designaddresses.

7



CHAPTER3. INTEGRATEDMONITORINGSAMPLINGNETWORKDESIGN

Theintegrated Planaddressesidentified scientific and design shortcomingsof

previous

monitoring

programs.

ThePlanbuildsonexistingmonitoringactivitieswhereappropriate,expands

therangeof coreenvironmental parameters,and increasesthe spatial extent

and temporal resolutionthat would beroutinely monitored.

ThePlanisdesigned toachieveaconsistent regional approachintermsof

sampling strategies,improved coordinationof monitoringapproachesand

standardization and comparability of data.

ThePlanwillprovidethedatanecessaryforanintegratedcumulativeeffectsassessment

approach.Suchanapproachshiftsthefocusfromassessingeffects(bothstressorspecificand

cumulative)onaprojectbyprojectbasis,andinsteadprovidesaregionalbasisforaddressing

keyquestionsof concern.Thisprovidesopportunitiesforcostefficiencies,developssynergies

byfocusingquestions,andreducesduplicationof effort.Theresultisaframeworkthat

underpinstheecologicalassessmentcomponentsrequiredforEnvironmentalImpact

Assessment(EIA),focusesmonitoringandresearch,providesregionalbaselines,providesthe

datatodevelopenvironmentalthresholdsforresponseswhererequired,anddetects

cumulativeeffects.

ThePlanimprovesboththespatialandtemporalresolutionof thedatabeingcollectedunder

existingmonitoringefforts.Thiswillenhancetheabilitytodetectchangeinatimelyfashion

andpredicteffects,andadaptivelymanageforchangingenvironmentalconditions.Notonly

willthisincreasethestatisticalpowertodetectchange,butalsoincreasethefundamental

understandingof thevariabilityandresponsesinthesysteminrelationtopointandnonpoint

sourcesof contaminants(includingthosebroughttotheregionthroughlongrangeaerial

transport),naturalversusminedbitumendeposits,varyingtypesof habitatdisturbance,and

cumulativeeffects.

Sincebiologicalendpointscanoftenbemoresensitiveandecologicallyimportantthan

chemical

endpoints,

(e.g.,

Palmer

et

al.

2010),

the

design

incorporates

biological/ecological

endpointsaskeyindicatorsof stressandimpactswherepossible.Continuedeffortswillbe

madetoimproveandquantifytheseendpointstoassessthedegreeof impactandwhether

acceptableenvironmentallimitshavebeenexceeded.

8



3

.1 ExpandedMonitoringPlanComponents:Water,Air,Biodiversity

TheIntegrated Oil SandsEnvironmental MonitoringPlanincludes four integrated

components:

(1) Water Quality MonitoringPlan(Phase1 AthabascaRiver Mainstemand

Tributaries);

(2) Expanded Geographical Extent for Water Quality and Quantity, Aquatic Biodiversity and Effects,and Acid SensitiveLakesMonitoring;

(3) Air Quality Monitoring for theOil Sands;(4) Terrestrial Biodiversity and Habitat Monitoring.

Theintegrationof these four componentsimprovesthecapability toaddresshypothesis

drivenquestionsrelated tocurrent and projected area specific and regional impactsof oil

sandsdevelopmentsonenvironmental quality.

TheIntegratedOilSandsEnvironmentalMonitoringPlanisstructuredaroundfourcore

components:

1. WaterQualityMonitoring(Phase1AthabascaRiverMainstemandTributaries)

(releasedMarch2011 �EnvironmentCanadaandAlbertaEnvironment);

2. ExpandedGeographicalExtentforWaterQualityandQuantity,AquaticBiodiversity

andEffects,andAcidSensitiveLakesMonitoring;

3. AirQualityMonitoring;

4. TerrestrialBiodiversityandHabitatMonitoring.

Theintegrationof thefourcomponentsimprovesthecapabilitytoaddresshypothesisdriven

questionsrelatedtocurrentandprojectedreachspecificandregionalimpactsof oilsands

developmentsontheaquaticandterrestrialenvironments.

Understandingthefate,distribution,transportandeffectsof oilsandsrelatedcontaminants

requireseachof themonitoringcomponentstohavepurposefulintegrationandoverlapinthe

geographicalareaswheremonitoringisperformed.Thisfactwasincorporatedinthespatial

arrayof monitoringsitesforeachcomponent.Thereisalsorecognitionthatbothmineableoil

sandsandinsitudevelopmentsareoccurringintheregion,affectingfishandwildlifethrough

both

direct

and

indirect

effects

via

habitat

loss,

landscape

fragmentation

and

degradation,

directmortality,toxicology,andalteredmovementsamongecosystemsandhabitats.The

determinationof localandregionalenvironmentaleffects,andultimately,cumulativeeffects

atbroaderlandscapescalesnecessitatesthatdatafromeachof thecomponentsshouldbe

collectedinacompatibleandcomparablemanner(i.e.,similaranalyticalapproaches,

detectionlimits,etc.)(seesections8and9).

Sections47of thisdocumentdescribeandprovidetherationalebehindtheproposeddesigns

foreachof themediaandecosystemspecificmonitoringcomponentsaddressingWhat,Why,

9



Where,WhenandHow monitoringwillbeperformed.Eachmediaspecificcomponentalso

describeshownewdesignsareimprovementsovertheexistingmonitoring,andwhich

environmentalvariablesandecosystemprocessesareintegratedacrosscomponents,focusing

onenvironmentalparametersrelevanttoassessingoilsandsdevelopmentimpactsrelatedto

contaminantreleasesandlanddisturbances.

10



CHAPTER4. WATERQUALITYMONITORING(PHASE1)

Phase1(Environment Canada,2011)outlinesthedesign for awater quality/quantity and localized airshed monitoring plan for themainstemof the AthabascaRiver,and itsmajor tributaries,betweenFort McMurray totheboundary of Wood BuffaloNational Park.The primary goal of the planwasto present acomprehensiveand integrated approachthat quantifiesand assessesthesources,transport,loadings, fate,and typesof oil sandsand other industrial and municipal contaminantsintothe AthabascaRiver system.Phase1istargeted at obtainingabetter spatial and temporal quantitativeunderstandingof thekey physical/chemical �stressors� affectingthesystemand alsoimprovingknowledgeonhistorical baselineconditions.

ThePhase1document(EnvironmentCanada2011)isthedetaileddesignformonitoringwater

qualityalongthemainstemof theAthabascaRiver,anditsmajortributaries,betweenFort

McMurraytotheboundaryof WoodBuffaloNationalPark.Itisatechnicalplanaboutwhen,

where,whyandhowtomonitorsurfacewaterquality.Itfocusesonthephysicalandchemical

componentsandstressorsof thesystem.Theprimarygoalof thistechnicalplanistopresenta

comprehensiveandintegratedapproachthatquantifiesandassessesthesources,transport,

loadings,fate,andtypesof oilsandscontaminantsintotheAthabascaRiversystem.Phase1is

targetedatobtainingabetterspatialandtemporalquantitativeunderstandingof thekey

physical/chemical�stressors�affectingthesystemandalsoimprovingknowledgeonhistorical

baselineconditions.

Phase1wasdesignedtoaddressquestionssuchas:

Whatisthecurrentstateof thewaterqualityof theAthabascaRiverbasin?

WhichcontaminantsandlevelsareenteringtheAthabascaRiverdirectlyorindirectly

fromoilsandsoperations?

Whatisthedistributionof contaminantsintheaquaticecosystemwithparticular

referencetowaterandsediments?

Cancontaminanttypesandloadsbeattributedtospecificsources?

Aretoxicsubstancessuchasmercury,naphthenicacids,PACsincreasingordecreasing

andwhatistheirrateof change?

Arethesubstancesaddedtotheriversbynaturalandmanmadedischargeslikelyto

causedeteriorationof thewaterquality,andwhatistherelativeimportanceof both

inputs?

Whatarethecumulativeeffectsof landusealterationsandmanmadedischargeson

thewaterandaquaticenvironment?

Isthedataavailabletoassesswhethercurrentcontaminantloadsorconcentrations

posethreatstohumanhealthorsubsistence?

11



Keyelementsincludetakingmeasurementsmorefrequently,inmoreplaces,toensure

sufficientdataisavailabletotrackchangesinwaterquality.Figure2summarizesthewater

qualityandquantitymonitoringnetworksitesdesignedunderPhase1,andFigure3showsthe

locationof theatmosphericdepositionmonitoringsites.

Figure2.Phase1waterquality/quantitymonitoringsitesontheAthabascaRiver

mainstemandmajortributaries.Reddenotesmainstemsites,greendenotestributary

sites(fromEnvironmentCanada,2011).

12



Figure3.Mapshowingtheproposedlocationsforanexpandedsamplingnetwork.Reddotsare

WoodBuffaloEnvironmentalAssociation(WBEA)andEnvironmentCanada(2010)passiveair

amplers.GreendotsareWBEAsamplingsites,+signsareproposedadditionalpoweredhi

olumeairandprecipitationmonitoring(fromEnvironmentCanada,2011).

s

v

13



CHAPTER5. EXPANDEDAQUATICECOSYSTEMMONITORING

Buildingontheoutcomesof thePhase1Plandevelopment process,theExpanded Aquatic

EcosystemMonitoring for water quality,quantity,aquatic biodiversity and ecological effects

under Phase2includes:

Expandingthe geographic coverageof water and habitat monitoringactivitiesto

include:the AthabascaRiver mainstemand itstributaries(including streams);the

Peace AthabascaDelta;Lake Athabascaand the SlaveRiver culminatinginthe Slave

River Deltaonthe southern shoresof Great SlaveLake,

Incorporatingecological and biological indicatorsand endpointstoassess potential impactsof oil sandsdevelopment onecosystemhealthand integrity,and,

Assessing potential impactsof air emissions fromoil sandsoperationsonacid

sensitivelakesinnortheastern Alberta,northwestern Saskatchewanand southern

portionsof theNorthwest Territories.

Thismonitoringcomponentensuresthatsiteselection,andspatialandtemporalsampling

frequenciesprovideappropriateinterconnectivityof relevantphysical,chemicaland

ecologicalprocessestoassess(i)sources,fateandtransportof oilsandsrelatedcontaminants,

and(ii)potentialimpactsof oilsandsdevelopmentatsitespecificandregionalscales.In

addition,timeintegrativesampling(e.g.,useof passivesamplers)andsamplearchiving(e.g.,

fishtissuesamples,sediment)willbeperformed.Archivalsampleswillserveasimportant

reference/baselinessamplesforcomparisonagainstfuturechangeif necessary.

5.1 ExpandedGeographicScope

Thiscomponentexpandsthegeographicscopeof monitoringbeyondtheAthabascamainstem

anditstributaries,asoutlinedinPhase1,toincludekeydownstreamreceivingaquatic

ecosystemsandhabitats.Thesamplingdesignincludesportionsof theAthabascaOilSands

regionthathaveheadwaterareasthatdraindirectlyintothePeaceAthabascaDelta(e.g.,

BirchRiver)andtothePeaceRiverwestof theWoodBuffaloNationalPark(includingthe

MikkawaandWabascarivers),andLakeAthabasca.Samplingsitesalsoincorporaterelevant

segmentsof thePeaceandSlaveRiversystems,includingtheSlaveRiverDelta.

Keysciencequestionsthathaveguidedthedevelopmentof theexpandedwaterplaninclude,

forexample:

Whatisthehistoricalandcurrentstateof waterqualityinregionsof theLower

Athabascabasin,nowincludingkeydownstreamreceivingenvironments?

Whatarethelevelsandfate(transport,transformation,deposition)of oilsands

contaminantsindownstreamdeltaicandlakeenvironments?

Whatarethebiologicalandecologicalimpactsof oilsandscontaminantsand

operationsonecosystemhealth?

14



Whatisthequalityof fishhabitat,andareanychangesrelatedtooilsands

development?

Withtheexpansionof thegeographicarea,itisrecognizedthatanincreaseinhydrologicand

ecologicalcomplexitymustbeconsidered.Thisaddedcomplexityrequirescareful

considerationof thequestionsthatneedtobeansweredaswellasthetypeandapproachto

monitoringintheexpandedgeographicarea.Atabroadregionalscale,theexpansionof the

geographicscopetakesintoaccounttheprimaryvectorsof transport(airandwater)andkey

environmentsforthedeposition(fate)andpotentialbioaccumulationof oilsandsrelated

contaminants.Giventheexpandedgeography,thesamplingprogrammustnowdealwith

increasingcomplexchemicalphysicalenvironments(e.g.,deltas),includingtheirbiota.

WaterqualityandquantityparametersidentifiedinPhase1willbesampledsimilarlyatthe

identifiedgeographicallocationsinPhase2;however,newhabitatspecificprotocolsarealso

identified.Aseriesof coresiteshavebeenidentifiedtobroadentheregionalassessmentof

contaminant

fate,

distribution

and

transport.

In

addition,

these

sites

will

further

quantify

baseline/referenceconditions,andbeusedtoassessexceedancesinwaterquality/quantity

guidelinesandthresholdsfurtherdownstream.

5.2 AquaticEcosystemBiodiversityandEffects

Theobjectivesof theintegratedaquaticecosystembiodiversityandeffectscomponentof the

Planistousekeyfreshwaterspeciesandcommunities,andassociatedecologicaland

biologicalendpointstoassesswhetheroilsandsdevelopmentsareaffectingecosystem

integrityandhealth.Therearetwomainelementstothiscomponent;(i)fishpopulations,and

(ii)invertebratesandotherbiota.Monitoringof fishandbenthicinvertebrateswillbe

prioritizedinPlanimplementationasoneof themostlikelysensitiveendpointstooilsands

developmenteffects.

5.2.1 Fish

Theobjectivesof thefishcomponentaretoprovidethenecessarydatatoaddresskey

questionsrelatedtobothenvironmentalhealthof fishpopulations,andfishhealthissues

relevanttouseandconsumption.Considerationsof lessonslearnedfromcurrentandpast

regionalandnationalfishmonitoringprogramshaveguidedthedevelopmentof the

component(e.g.EnvironmentalEffectsMonitoringProgram �http://www.ec.gc.ca/esee

eem/).

Keysciencequestionsthathaveguidedthedevelopmentof thefishcomponentof theplan

include,forexample:

Whatisthehistoricalandcurrentstateof fishpopulationhealthintheLower

Athabascamainstem,tributaries,andkeydownstreamenvironments?

15



Whatarethelevelsof toxicsubstancessuchasmercury,naphthenicacids,andother

contaminantsinfishtissues,andarethelevelsincreasingordecreasing?

Whatarethecumulativeeffectsof oilsandsdevelopmentonfishandfishhabitat?

Thefishmonitoringcomponentdesignwilldevelopenhancedbaselinedataforfuturesite

specificcomparisonsandtoimprovetheabilitytoexaminecumulativeeffects.Overtime,site

specificinformationwillbeusedtodevelopanunderstandingof thekeydriversorecological

responsestoallowthedevelopmentof acumulativeeffectsapproach,andcontributetothe

developmentof betterpredictivecapabilitiesforoilsandsenvironmentalimpactpredictions.

Examplesof biological/ecologicalattributestobemeasuredincludeassessmentsof overallfish

health(e.g.,assessmentof age,growth,liversize,gonadsize),fishdistributions,tissue

contamination,andabnormalitieswithinthemainstemAthabasca,itstributaries,and

downstreamhabitats(e.g.LakeAthabasca;Peace,AthabascaandSlaveDeltas).Fishsampling

siteswillbelinkeddirectlytoinvertebratesamplinglocationsandtowaterqualityand

quantitysitesasoutlinedinPhase1andtheexpandedplan.Figure4summarizesfish

population

sampling

sites

in

the

Lower

Athabasca

region.

16



Figure4.FishpopulationsamplingsitesintheLowerAthabascaregion.

17



5.2.2 InvertebratesandOtherBiota

Aquaticinvertebrateandotherbiologicalmonitoringwillbeconductedtoassesschangein

benthicandpelagicbioticcommunitiesinrelationtoreferencecondition(s),andtoassess

ecologicaleffectsof cumulativestressorsrelatedtooilsandsdevelopment.Usedtogetherwith

thechemicalandphysicalmonitoringcomponents,invertebratemonitoringwillintegrate

�effect�measurementsassociatedwithcausalfactors.Examplesof effectsendpointsinclude

changesincommunitystructure,tissuecontaminantlevels,changesinfunctionalgroupsand

traitpatterns.Theproposedareaof studywillincludesitesonthemainstemof the

Athabasca,PeaceandSlaverivers,sitesinsmallriversandstreamsintheLowerAthabasca

RiverbasinincludingsomeintheLakeClaireBirchRiverandChristinaRiverwatersheds.In

addition,asamplingplanisoutlinedfordeltaicwetlandhabitatsindownstreamareasof the

basin.

Keysciencequestionsthathaveguidedthedevelopmentof theinvertebratecomponentof

theplaninclude,forexample:

Whatisthehistoricalandcurrentstateof invertebratecommunitystructureand

functionintheLowerAthabascamainstem,tributaries,andkeydownstream

environments?

Whatarethelevelsof toxicsubstancessuchasmercury,naphthenicacids,andother

contaminantsininvertebratetissues,andarethelevelsincreasingordecreasing?

Whataretheimpactsof oilsandsdevelopmentsoninvertebrateandotherbiota(e.g.,

algae)foodwebcomplexityandstability?

Whatarethecumulativeeffectsof oilsandsdevelopmentoninvertebratehabitat?

Thiscomponenthasbeendesignedspecificallytoaddresstheshortcomingsof existing

programsidentifiedinrecentexpertreviews(e.g.,FederalOilSandsAdvisoryPanel2010,

Dillonetal.2011).Itusesinternationallyestablishedsamplingandenumerationmethods,and

diagnosticindicators,whilerecognizingthebenefitsof previousmonitoringforbackground

information.Thedesignforsiteselectionandfrequencyof samplingutilizesbothBACI(Before

AfterControlImpact)forreachspecificassessmentsandabroadermultivariateReference

ConditionApproach(RCA)forregionalsynopticanalyses.Thiscomponentfocusesonusing

benthicandpelagicinvertebrateandalgalcommunitiesgiventheirecologicalimportancefor

fishhabitatqualityandcontaminanttransferandpotentialbiomagnificationthroughaquatic

foodwebs.Figure5summarizestheintegratedinvertebrateandfishsamplinglocationsinthe

broadgeographicareaof interest.

18





5.3 AcidSensitiveLakes

Atmosphericemissionsof acidifyingpollutants(mostimportantlySOx,butalsoNOx)fromoil

sandsindustryinAlbertahavebeenincreasing,resultinginincreasedregionalacidic

deposition.Thecoincidenceof elevatedorincreasingdepositionlevelsandacidsensitive

receptorsisprescriptiveforanaciddeposition�regionof concern�wheremonitoringshould

occurtodeterminewhetheratmosphericdepositionof acidifyingpollutantsisproducing

discernableimpactsonthegeochemistryandhealthof aquaticecosystems,andwhetherthe

pollutantsareof oilssandsorigin.

Theacidsensitivelakescomponentisdesignedtoaddresstheshortcomingsidentifiedby

variousrecentreviews(e.g.,FederalOilSandsAdvisoryPanel,2010),andisbasedupon

>30yearsof informationobtainedthroughsimilarstatisticallybasedlakemonitoringonacid

sensitivelakesineasternCanada,theUSAandEurope.Theobjectivesof themonitoringplan

areto:

Establishamonitoringnetworkof representativelakeecosystemsinacidsensitive

regionsof Saskatchewan,AlbertaandtheNorthwestTerritoriesthatare(potentially)

influencedbySOxandNOxemissionsfromoilsandsindustry;

Establishbaselineconditions;

Presentasamplingdesignwithsufficientstatisticalpowertodetectchemicaland

biologicalchangesfrombaselineconditions;and

Identifyasubsetof monitoringsitesforintensiveinvestigationtodeterminethecause

of observedchanges.

The

geographical

monitoring

extent

of

the

acid

sensitive

lake

component

is

linked

to

the

Air

QualityComponentandisdefinedbypresentoccurrencesof aquaticcriticalloadexceedances

(innorthwesternSaskatchewanandnortheasternAlberta)andgeologicallysensitiveterrain

wherenocriticalloadinformationexists(NorthwestTerritories).

Theacidsensitivelakecomponentincorporatesahierarchyof integratedmonitoringlevels:

1. Statisticallybased(stratifiedrandom)regionalsurveysof hundredsof lakestoestablish

currentregionalacidificationstatus(alreadyavailablefor715lakesinSaskatchewan,

butwillhavetobeconductedinAlbertaandtheNorthwestTerritories);

2. Monitoring4060lakes,mostlyselectedfromtheregionalsurveyabove,todetect

changesinacidificationstatusovertime(sampledseasonally/annually).

Paleolimnologicalanalysesof lakesedimentswilldefinehistoricalconditionsandhow

theydifferfromthepresent.Thesamplingdesigntakesadvantageof historicaldata

records.Thesedatawillbeusedtodefineregionalbaselineconditionswhere

appropriate,andquantifycriticalloadsforacidityandwaterqualityexceedances(e.g.

majorionsandDOC).Somebiologicalsampling(i.e.,zooplankton)willbeconductedto

establishbaselinecharacterization;however,additionalsamplingwillbe�triggeredin�

wheredeemednecessaryasresultsdictate;and

20



3. Intensivemonitoringof 23lakesforassessmentof causalchangesingeochemistryvia

amassbalanceapproach,toidentifythecauseof anychangedetectedin2above.

Thismonitoringhierarchywillprovidecrucialinformationneededtoaccuratelyestimate

resourcelevelacidificationstatus,detectchange,identifythecausesof change,andpredict

futureconditions.Thiscomponentrecognizesthatalakecannotbedivorcedfromits

terrestrialcatchment,andthattheentirelakeecosystemmustbeconsideredwhenspecifying

monitoringcomponents.Thecomponentfocusesonlakeslocateddownwindof mostof theoil

sandsatmosphericemissions,andislinkedtotheairqualityandatmosphericdeposition

componentplanoutlinedinSection6below.

21



CHAPTER6. AIRQUALITYMONITORING

Emissionsof air pollutantstotheatmospherearea significant by product of the

oil sandsindustry. Aneffectiveair quality monitoring programisneeded tounderstand and quantify theemissions fromtheoil sandsoperations,toquantify

their impactsonlocal and regional air quality, providedatatoallow assessment

of ecosystemand humanhealth,and tolink acrossenvironmental mediato

relateemissionstoacuteand cumulative,longtermeffects. Air quality

monitoringisintegral tothemanagement of air pollutant emissions.

Environmentalmanagementof theoilsandsisacomplexissuethatrequiresacomplexair

monitoringapproach.Theairemissionsandairqualitycomponentisbasedonstateof the

sciencemeasurement,datamanagementanddataanalysistechniquesthatareattheleading

edge

of

science

and

air

pollution

management.

Thiscomponentisfocusedonthemonitoringneedsrequiredtounderstandthetemporaland

spatialtrendsinairpollutantemissions,theirchemicaltransformationintheatmosphere,

longrangetransportandsubsequentdepositiontothelocalandregionalenvironment.Itis

comprehensiveinthatitincludesmonitoringatthepointof emissionthroughtomonitoring

systemsthatwillprovidethedatathatwillenabletheevaluationof potentialecosystemand

humanhealthimpacts.Thegeographicscopeincludestheimmediateoilsandsregion,aswell

asupwindanddownwindareasinAlberta,theNorthwestTerritories,Saskatchewanand

Manitoba.Thisgeographicscopereflectsthetransboundarynatureof airpollution,andthe

predictedgeographicalextentof potentialhumanandecosystemhealthimpacts.

Keysciencequestionsthathaveguidedthedevelopmentof thiscomponentinclude:

Whatisbeingemittedintotheairfromtheoilsandsoperations,howmuchand

fromwhatsources?

Whatistheatmosphericfate(transport,transformation,deposition)of oilsands

emissions?

Whataretheimpactsof oilsandsoperationsonecosystemandhumanhealth?

Whatadditionalimpactsonecosystemhealthandhumanexposurearepredictedas

aresultof anticipatedfuturechangesinoilsandsdevelopment?

Increasedmonitoringof airpollutantemissionsfromtheoilsandsregionisrecommended,

includingenhancedmonitoringof industrialstacks,mobilesourcesandareasources(including

tailingspondsandminefaces).Improvedquantificationandcharacterizationof emissionswill

provideasciencebasedemissioninventorywithincreasedspatialandtemporalresolution,

includingmorechemicalspecies,leadingtoimprovedunderstandingof airemissionsandtheir

impactonlocalandregionalairquality.

22



Tounderstandhowairpollutantemissionsaretransformedandtransportedinthe

atmosphereandtoprovidedatatoassesstheresultingimpactonhumanandecosystem

health,amulticomponentambientmonitoringsystemispresented.Fourteennewambient

monitoringstationsarerecommended,inadditiontothesixnewatmosphericdepositionsites

includedinthePhase1component,asacomplementtoexistingmonitoringsites,tomonitor

theimpactof theoilsandslocallyandregionally,andtoevaluatethetransboundary

movementof airpollutants(Figure6).Thenewsitesincludetwostationsinlocationsprimarily

upwindof oilsandsactivitiestomonitorairqualitythatisnotinfluencedbytheoilsands

region,andtwo�sourcecharacterization�sitesincloseproximitytooilsandsoperations.Sixof

themonitoringsiteswillalsomeasurethedownwinddepositionof airpollutants,whichis

criticaltoevaluatingpotentialimpactsonsensitiveecosystems.

Inadditiontotraditionalmonitoringtechniques,thiscomponent�sapproachusesairquality

modelsandsatellitebasedinformationtointegratetheinformationgatheredfromthe

ambientandemissionsmonitoringwork.Thisstepiscriticaltointerpolatebetween

monitoringsitestoareasof theregionthatwillnotbesampledthroughconventionalinsitu

monitoring,andwillgiveinsightintothetransportandfateof airpollutantsfromtheoilsands.

Informationfromairqualitymodelscanbelinkedtoecosystemmodelstoprovideadditional

insightintothepotentialecosystemandhumanhealthimpactsfromtheoilsands.

Theassessmentof impactsof atmosphericemissions/depositiontoaquaticandforest

ecosystemhealthcanbeintegratedusingacriticalloadsapproach.TheWaterQualityPhase1

componentincorporatesamassbalanceapproachforassessingcriticalloadimpactson

aquaticecosystems.TheAirQualitycomponentincludesmonitoringeffortstoassesscritical

loadstoforestsandsoilsinandaroundtheoilsandsarea.Bothactivitiesrelyupon

atmosphericdepositionfluxesquantifiedbytheAirQualitymonitoringcomponent.This

integrativeapproachallowsforthegenerationof groundtruthedmapsof terrestrial/forest

criticalloadsandexceedances.Thiswillallowforanevaluationof forestresourcesatriskin

northernAlberta,northernSaskatchewanandtheNorthwestTerritories.Moreover,this

informationwillbeintegratedwiththeaquaticcriticalloads/exceedanceassessment,thereby

furtherintegratingatmospheric,aquaticandterrestrialmonitoringactivities.

TheAirQualitycomponentreflectsasciencebasedapproachthatisbroaderthanthe

individualresponsibilitiesof government,industryandmultisectororganizationsengagedin

airqualitymonitoringinAlberta,andcomplementsexistingairqualitymonitoringinAlberta.It

willprovidesupportfortheAirQualityManagementSystem(AQMS)requirementsforairshed

monitoring

and

reporting.

23



Figure6.GroundlevelairmonitoringsitesinAlberta,Saskatchewan,ManitobaandtheNorthwest

Territories.Sites4,5,6,8,9,10havebeenidentifiedinthePhase1waterqualityplan.Installationof

ites12,17,18and19hasbeeninitiatedthroughtheEnvironmentCanadaCanadianAirandPrecipitation

onitoringNetwork(CAPMoN).

s

M

24



CHAPTER7. TERRESTRIALBIODIVERSITYANDHABITAT

Althoughdevelopmentof theoilsandswillimpactterrestrialbiodiversityinavarietyof ways,

themostconsequentialimpactsareanticipatedtoresultfromtwomainindustrialactivities:

thereleaseof contaminantstotheenvironment;andthelossanddegradationof wildlife

habitat.Asaresult,theterrestrialbiodiversitymonitoringcomponentisstructuredaround

twoimportantelements:

1. Monitoringtheimpactsof oilsandsrelatedcontaminantsonselectedwildlife

indicators,includingbirds,mammals,amphibiansandplants,withaviewtoidentifying

broaderimplicationsforbiodiversityintheregion;and

2. Monitoringtheimpactof habitatdisturbancebyoilsandsactivitiesonwildlife,in

conjunctionwithmonitoringthesuccessof mitigationefforts.

Theprimaryobjectiveof thewildlifecontaminantscomponentistomonitorthelevelsand

effectsof oilsandsrelatedcontaminants,andtheirinfluenceonthehealthof individual

wildlifeandwildlifepopulations,atvaryingdistancesfromoilsandsoperations.This

componentwillproducedataonanannualbasisonavarietyof oilsandsrelatedcontaminants

of concern(includingPAHs,mercury,arsenic)measuredinwildlifetissues(birds,mammals,

amphibiansandplants)atvariouslocations.Theproposedsamplingschemeswillpermitthe

determinationof contaminantlevelsandtrends(usedtotracktheeffectivenessof

managementactions).Inaddition,contaminantconcentrationsintissueswillbecomparedto

publishedthresholdlevelsforcontaminanteffectstoidentifywildlifepopulationsthatmaybe

atriskof healthimpairment(e.g.lowerproductivity,increasedsusceptibilitytodisease)inthe

oilsandsregion.Wheretoxicitystandardsandthresholdsdonotexist,thetoxicityinformation

generatedcanbeusedtoassesseffects.

Tomonitorwildlifecontaminationandcontaminanttrendsandeffects,therearefiveinter

relatedmonitoringcomponents:

Monitoringtheeffectsof oilsandsactivitiesonbreedingwaterbirdpopulations,diet,

andeggcontaminantsdownstreamfromtheoilsandsontheAthabascaRiverandLake

Athabasca;

Monitoringtheimpactsof contaminantsassociatedwithoilsandsprocessingonthe

healthanddevelopmentof amphibian(woodfrog)indicatorspecies;

Monitoringtheeffectsof oilsandscontaminantsonavianhealthusingnonlethal

measuresof stressandphysiology;

Toxicologicalassessmentsof hunter/tapperharvestedwildlife(waterfowland

mammals),anddeadandmoribundbirdsinoilsandsimpactedareasandlower

reachesof theAthabascaRiver;and

25



Theuseof nativeplantstomonitortheconditionof oilsandsassociatedwetlands.

Thehabitatdisturbanceelementof thismonitoringcomponentfocusesonidentifyingthe

impactof habitatdisturbance(causedbydevelopmentof theoilsands)onterrestrial

biodiversityovertime,andassessingthesuccessof mitigationefforts.Thisrequirespopulation

monitoringforstatusandtrends,andeffectsassessment(causeeffectmonitoring)toidentify

causalmechanismsof wildliferesponses.Whileitisclearthatsurfaceminesresultinavirtual

completelossof biodiversityonthosesitesuntilreclamation,thereareotherimportant

thoughlessobviousimpactsfrominsituoperationsthataffectsamuchbroaderarea.

Giventhelargepotentialscopeof suchmonitoring,astagedapproachmustbepursued.This

componentinitiallyfocusesonthedevelopmentof aconceptualmodelof ecosystemfunction

andaclearerunderstandingof howthedevelopmentof oilsandsinteractswithecosystem

components.Thisinturnwillinformtheidentificationandprioritizationof arefinedsetof

questionsthatthemonitoringplanwilladdress,andsubsequently,theparameters,design,

protocols

and

analyses

necessary

to

answer

those

questions.

Intermsof scope,thefirststageprimarilyinvolvesthemonitoringof keyvertebratewildlife

andwildlifehabitats,wherethereismorecurrentknowledgeandwherethereishighsocietal

interest.Selectionof targetspeciesformonitoringwillreflectarangeof considerations

including:

Speciesthatrelyontheoilsandsregionsforbreedinghabitat;

Speciesthathaveknownpopulationdeclines,arefoundinarelativelysmallgeographic

range,orarestronglydependentuponvulnerableanddifficulttoreplacehabitats;

Selectionof asuiteof speciesthatshowarangeof response(positiveornegative)to

gradientsof stressors/activities;and

Speciesthathavecultural,traditional,nutritional,economic,aestheticorothervalue

beyondtheirinherentvalue.

Thegeographicscaleof thiscomponentisnotonindividualoilsandsoperations,butis

boundedbyhabitatdisturbancefromoilsandsactivitiesatthescaleof bitumendeposits

acrossAlbertaandSaskatchewan.Withinthisgeographicarea,monitoringwillfocusonoverall

statusandtrendscombinedwithcauseeffectstudiesof thecumulativeandindividualimpacts

tohabitatfromlineardisturbance,suchasseismiclines,pipelinesandroads,andpolygonal

disturbancesuchaswellpads,compressorstations,andminesites.Somemonitoringoutside

of

the

bitumen

deposits

will

be

needed

for

ecological

context.

Beyondclearingof habitat,thereisdisturbancetohabitatthroughfactorssuchasnoise

generatedbymachineryandvehicles,throughalteredwaterregimesarisingfromdisturbance

tohydrologicalsystems,andthroughinvasivespecies,eitherintroducedspeciesorthrough

landscapeconversionthatcreateshabitatforspeciesthatwouldnottypicallyoccupy

contiguousborealforest.

26



Articulationof thepotentialpathwaysof theeffectsof oilsandsandsubsequentmitigationon

wildlifeiscrucialtothedesign.Theoveralldesignforlongtermcollectionof monitoringdata

willberobustenoughtoallowreportingonthechangesinwildlifethroughtime,butalso

providecomplementaryinformationontherelationshipof wildlifetothesedisturbance

gradients.Thedesignof thismonitoringcomponentwilltakeexistingmonitoringactivities

intoaccountandwillbenefitfrominteractionwithorganizationsandagencieswhere

appropriate.

27



CHAPTER8. QA/QC:FIELD,LABORATORYANDDATACONTINUUM

Open,transparent , field and laboratory protocols, Standard OperatingProcedures,analytical standards,dataevaluationanalysesand evaluation

techniques,and reportingand accessrequirements,areeither presented ineach

of thecomponent documents,or wherethey donot exist,will bedeveloped.

Toensurescientificrigourandtomaintainconsistenthighqualitydata,eachcomponentwill

havemediaspecificsampling,handlingandprocessingQA/QCrequirementsthatwillbe

followedandauditedaspartof theoverallQA/QCmanagementsystem.Stateof theart

QA/QCprotocolswillbeusedandstandardizedwithinandamongeachmonitoringcomponent

to

allow

appropriate

data

comparability

and

integration

(e.g.,

Environment

Canada

2011).

As

outlinedinthePhase1report,arobustQA/QCprogramwill:

bedesignedtoassurecomparabilityamongparticipatinglaboratoriesintheanalysisof

abroadrangeof analytesandtotakeactionwhenlabresultsareoutof linewith

consensusorreferencevalues;

evaluatelabperformanceannuallyforacorelistof contaminantsfollowingISO

guidelines;

bedesignedtodemonstratethathighqualityismaintainedoverthelifetimeof the

program;

include

appropriate

handling

procedures

regarding

sampling,

data

reporting,

and

archivingof data/samples/extracts;

encompassinterlabcomparisonof allmediaof interest;

involveaQAauditprogramthatwillberunbyanindependentaccreditedlaboratory;

ensurefieldandlaboratorypersonnelareappropriatelytrainedinstandardized

operatingprocedures;

evaluateandincorporate,whereappropriate,newandemergingstateof theart

technologiesandanalyticalmethods;and

supportfocusedstudiesforsamplingoranalyticalmethoddevelopmentwhen

required.

28



CHAPTER9. DATAMANAGEMENTANDDECISIONSUPPORT

ThisPlanisfoundedontheprinciplesandrecommendationsintheFederalOilSandsAdvisory

Panel�sReport(2010)thatemphasizedtheneedforadatamanagementframeworkwhere

informationcanbeuploaded,organizedandaccessedinastandardizedcoordinatedmanner

suchthatitistransparentandfreelyaccessible,inatimelymanner.Itshouldenable

concernedpartiestoretrievedata,conducttheirownanalysesanddrawtheirown

conclusions,andthatwillmakethebasisfor judgmentandconclusionsexplicit.

Afirststeptoinachievingefficiencyindataarchivingandaccesswillbetheimplementationof

adatamanagementsystemthatmakesallrawdatacollectedthroughtheintegratedoilsands

monitoringprogram,valueaddeddata/information,scientificinterpretationof thedata,and

communicationproductseasilyandfreelyavailable.Basedonexpertconsultations,an

appropriatewebbasedportalwillbeestablishedthroughwhichallinformationcanbe

accessed.

Initially,

the

portal

will

summarize

what

is

being

measured,

where,

when,

why,

how

andbywhom,alongwiththestandardoperatingprocedures(SOPs)andQA/QCprotocols

usedfordatacollectionanddataarchiving.Subsequently,whereappropriateandrequired,

furtherdatabasescontainingrawandvalueaddeddata,andrealtimedatawherepossible,

willbelinkedorincorporated.

Itisrecognizedthatdevelopmentandimplementationof anintegrateddatabasemanagement

system(i.e.,loadingandorganizingdatainaneasilyretrievablemanner)isonlythestarting

pointforwhatisnecessaryforaworldclassmonitoringprogram.Moreimportantly,

integratedassessmenttoolsneedtobedevelopedandimplementedtoproducekeyresults

suchas:

CoreResultsonaccumulatedstates(trendsandexceedancesincludingthoserelativeto

baseline/referencestates);

Relationships,andultimatelypredictivemodels,forcumulativeeffectsassessments;

and

Timelydatainterpretationtoaddressdesignatedtiersandtriggers,whereapplicable,

and/orthresholdexceedancesthatinforms/adjuststhemonitoringprogramdesignand

relatedsamplingimplementation(intimeandinspace).

Ideally,integratedassessmenttoolswillbecoreautomatedfeaturesof thedatamanagement

andrelateddecisionsupportsystem.

29



CHAPTER10. SUMMARY

Theoutlinedintegratedoilsandsmonitoringprogramframeworkandproposedsampling

designmeetsthekeyprinciplesthatwereidentifiedbytheFederalOilSandsAdvisoryPanel

forthedesignandimplementationof a�worldclass�monitoringprogram.Althoughthe

MonitoringPlanwasdesignedintwophases,thefinalintegrateddesignfullycaptures

geographicandmediaspecificsamplingcomplexitiesinvolved.

Anecosystembasedapproachwasusedthatincorporatedmultipleessentialcomponentsof

thesystem(e.g.,hydrology,surfaceandgroundwaterqualityandquantity,climatology,

sedimentdynamicsandquality,localandregionalairqualityandatmosphericdeposition,

aquaticandterrestrialbiologicalindicatorsandendpoints)aswellastherelationshipsamong

thecomponents.Samplingsiteswerechosentointegratemultiscale,spatialmeasurements

(e.g.,linkagesbetweentributary,mainstem,deltaicandlakesystem;impactedvs.baselinein

the

watershed

context;

emissions,

local,

transformation

and

transboundary

transport

scales

forairquality)recognizingtheimportanceof addressingthespatialandtemporalvariability,

andimprovingtheabilitytodefine�baseline�orhistoricalenvironmentalconditions.

Thebestavailablesciencebasedapproachwasusedtoselectthechemical,hydrological,

atmospheric,biologicalandecologicalvariablestobemeasured,methodologiesforfield

samplingandlaboratoryanalyses,andfieldandlaboratoryqualityassuranceandquality

control.Standardizedreporting,includingpeerreviewedandplainlanguagepublications,will

alsobecoreoutcomesof Planimplementation.

30



CHAPTER11. REFERENCES

Dillon,P.,G.Dixon,C.Driscoll,J.Geisy,S.Hurlbert,andJ.Nriagu,2011.WareeQualityData

Review

Committee

Final

Report.

Prepared

for

Government

of

Alberta,

March

7,

2011.

Availableathttp://environment.alberta.ca/03380.html.

EnvironmentCanada.2011.EOALRSD Analytical Chemistry Scheduleof Services� Oil Sands

Project ,30pp.

EnvironmentCanadaandAlbertaEnvironment,2011.LowerAthabascaWaterQuality

MonitoringPlan �Phase1.Governmentof Canada,88pp.

FederalOilSandsAdvisoryPanelReport2010

(www.ec.gc.ca/pollution/default.asp?lang=En&n=E9ABC93B1).ß

Palmer,M.A.,E.S.Bernhardt,W.H.Schlesinger,K.N.Eshleman,E.FoufoulaGeorgiou,M.S.

Hendryx,A.D.Lemly,G.E.Likens,O.L.Loucks,M.E.Power,P.S.White,andP.R.Wilcock,2010.

EnvironmentalandHumanHealthConsequencesof MountaintopRemovalMining,Science,

327,148149.

http://environment.alberta.ca/03380.html





http://environment.alberta.ca/03380.html

Documents

Integrated Oil Sands Low e