PermittingPermitting IssuesIssues(for Engineers)(for Engineers)

Kevin Henshaw, P. Eng.Kevin Henshaw, P. Eng.

May 23, 2008May 23, 2008

Permitting IssuesPermitting Issues

• IntroductionIntroduction

• Canadian Fisheries ActCanadian Fisheries Act– Department of Fisheries and OceansDepartment of Fisheries and Oceans

• Navigable Waters Protection ActNavigable Waters Protection Act– Transport CanadaTransport Canada

• Water ActWater Act– Alberta EnvironmentAlberta Environment

DFODFO

• Operational StatementsOperational Statements– Version III releasedVersion III released– Culvert Maintenance, Bridge Culvert Maintenance, Bridge

Maintenance, Clear Span Bridges, Maintenance, Clear Span Bridges, Temporary CrossingsTemporary Crossings

– New restrictionsNew restrictions•Read all measures and conditions! Read all measures and conditions!

DFODFO

• Comments from DFOComments from DFO– Cannot approve “conceptual plans”Cannot approve “conceptual plans”– More information is better for faster More information is better for faster

reviewreview– Projects generally require greater than Projects generally require greater than

1:1 compensation ratio1:1 compensation ratio– Passage depends on speciesPassage depends on species

• General ObservationsGeneral Observations– LOA / AuthorizationsLOA / Authorizations

DFODFO

• Fish Passage Fish Passage ExampleExample– Common barrier to Common barrier to

fish is steep fish is steep downstream slopedownstream slope

– Site visit can helpSite visit can help– Class “C”Class “C”– BF 71226BF 71226– BF 85148BF 85148– BF 8814BF 8814

Transport CanadaTransport Canada

• Use AT guidelines / Maps (Bridge Design Use AT guidelines / Maps (Bridge Design Bulletin #1 currently under review)Bulletin #1 currently under review)

• Determination Example – BF 71226Determination Example – BF 71226

• Application takes 8-12 monthsApplication takes 8-12 months– Requires:Requires:

•““N” DrawingN” Drawing

•AdvertisementAdvertisement

•Env. AssessmentEnv. Assessment

Transport CanadaTransport Canada

• Navigability FlowNavigability Flow– Ordinary High WaterOrdinary High Water– ““Q2” or 1:2 year flowQ2” or 1:2 year flow– Highest 10 year mean monthly flowHighest 10 year mean monthly flow– Elevation of permanent vegetationElevation of permanent vegetation– Close to bank fullClose to bank full

Transport CanadaTransport Canada

• ClearanceClearance– Smaller CrossingsSmaller Crossings

•1.5 m Minimum for paddlers1.5 m Minimum for paddlers

– Larger CrossingsLarger Crossings•2.5 m – 3.0 m Minimum for Power Crafts2.5 m – 3.0 m Minimum for Power Crafts

– No Set RulesNo Set Rules

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/10/24/SunPrincessBridge2_wideweb__470x312,0.jpg

Transport CanadaTransport Canada

• Future NWPA in AlbertaFuture NWPA in Alberta– Faster ApprovalsFaster Approvals

• Act needs to be updatedAct needs to be updated

• Amendments planned (likely ineffective)Amendments planned (likely ineffective)

• Contact Minister (Lawrence Cannon)Contact Minister (Lawrence Cannon)

– Standardized Act Across CanadaStandardized Act Across Canada• Alberta currently lagging in enforcementAlberta currently lagging in enforcement

• Restrictions on construction details – i.e. berms for Restrictions on construction details – i.e. berms for pier constructionpier construction

– Culvert Guidelines?Culvert Guidelines?

Alberta EnvironmentAlberta Environment

• Codes of PracticeCodes of Practice

• AuthorizationAuthorization– Eg. more than 20 m Eg. more than 20 m

channel disturbancechannel disturbance

• ExemptionExemption– Only for Centerline Only for Centerline

CulvertsCulverts

http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/dpr-rmr/2006-2007/inst/dfo/dfo02-eng.asp

Alberta EnvironmentAlberta Environment

• From AE on NotificationsFrom AE on Notifications– Email to EdmontonEmail to Edmonton– Fill in all informationFill in all information– Cover letter helpsCover letter helps– Provide clear mapProvide clear map– Need specific DatesNeed specific Dates– Good for 1 yearGood for 1 year– Needed for Class “D”Needed for Class “D”– Send letter for Send letter for

Revisions/UpdatesRevisions/Updates

Alberta EnvironmentAlberta Environment

• April Cormier (Northern Region) April Cormier (Northern Region) –     AENV.northwaterapprovals@gov.ab.caAENV.northwaterapprovals@gov.ab.ca

  • Tanya Berube (Central Region)Tanya Berube (Central Region)

– AENV.centralwaterapprovals@gov.ab.caAENV.centralwaterapprovals@gov.ab.ca

• Judy Tumm (Southern Region)Judy Tumm (Southern Region)– AENV.southwaterapprovals@gov.ab.caAENV.southwaterapprovals@gov.ab.ca