ARCHIVED - Key Result 4: NRCan demonstrates its commitment to sustainable development in its operations
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Final Progress Report on NRCan's Sustainable Development Strategy - Moving Forward
Summary
Of the 20 Targets:
- 11 targets have been completed.
- 2 targets are in progress (on schedule to be completed with the timeframe outlined in the target).
- 7 targets have been revised (to reflect operational conditions and to ensure their successful completion).
A Snapshot of Some Accomplishments
- Through its work on greening its operations, NRCan has demonstrated its commitment to the principles of sustainable development. A key focus for the Department within its own house was to further its work to implement a comprehensive environmental management system (EMS). An EMS facilitates managing the Department’s assets responsibly while minimizing environmental impacts and facilitates pursuing more comprehensive tracking. NRCan has finalized the environmental aspects managed within the EMS and completed an environmental risk assessment of custodial facilities as well as secondary interest and third party facilities. This has enabled the creation of environmental data sheets for all occupied NRCan installations across Canada. This work has enabled the identification of priorities, the improvement in the quality of historical data for some sub aspects, and filled gaps in environmental data for secondary interest and third-party facilities. EMS action plans for each environmental aspect were developed and updated, with possible objectives and targets, which will be finalized shortly.
- Management of effluents and emissions included some air emissions studies, wastewater sampling, and groundwater monitoring.
- Furthering the goal of sustainable land use involved increasing the rigor of contamination screening criteria, continuing environmental site assessment activities, which will be completed by 2015, coinciding with the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan 2005-2015 mandate. Also of importance was the advancement of a Booth Street Redevelopment Strategy. The Booth Street Complex is considered a ‘brownfield’, defined as an idle or underused property where past activities have caused contamination, but exhibit good potential for other uses (or upgrading). Discussions with Treasury Board Secretariat have commenced and it is likely that a proposal will have to be submitted to Cabinet (2007/2008). Implementation will proceed once approval is received, with potential completion scheduled by 2012.
- During the timeframe of this SDS, the ability to affect national progress on GHG emissions reductions (and other environmental objectives) was enhanced by the development of a national real property Governance Model, which came into effect April 1, 2007. While study of the components of the Department’s portfolio in the National Capital Region found no opportunity during the timeframe of this SDS to implement the Federal Buildings Initiative, subsequent developments in the field of energy contracting may mean that further projects can be considered, the feasibility of which will be evaluated following the undertaking of energy audits and opportunity assessments. The timeline for the Booth Street Redevelopment Strategy anticipates delivery of a new energy efficient building in 2011/2012.
- NRCan’s draft Water Conservation Strategy has been completed and approved. Quality assurance work was undertaken on historical NRCan water use data, new data was collected and a water consumption trend analysis report was completed, enabling the establishment of a performance target in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
More information on NRCan’s progress for Key Result #4 can be found in the tables below.
| Number | Target | Status | Achievements / Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1.1.1 | By 2005, review and update Departmental Environmental Policy (2000) to incorporate the requirements of new legislation/regulation and government policies. | Target revised | It has been determined that it would be more appropriate to divide the current policy into two new policies, the Environmental Assessment Policy and the Environmental Management Policy. The new EA Policy is currently under development and a complete draft will be available by September 2007. Progress on this aspect of the target is ongoing. An Environmental Management Policy was drafted during this period and it has moved to the approvals stage. When this stage has been completed, the new Environmental Management Policy will be implemented. |
| 4.1.1.2 | By 2005, review all the environmental aspects related to NRCan operations and conduct baseline studies for aspects identified as significant. | Completed | Target completed. |
| 4.1.1.3 | By 2005, complete a consolidated database on environmental information. | Completed | Target completed. |
| 4.1.1.4 | By 2006, complete conformity assessments of all petroleum storage tanks with respect to new federal storage tank regulations. | Target revised | Storage Tank Compliance Audits and Management Plans were completed for Bells Corners and Devon. A final assessment cannot be performed, and consequently completion of this target cannot be achieved, until the new federal tank regulation is posted in the Gazette. Environment Canada is currently estimating April 2007 for Gazette II posting. |
| 4.1.1.5 | By 2006, establish improvement targets for significant aspects. | Target revised | The objectives and targets for significant aspects will be finalized in the 2007-08 fiscal year. |
| 4.1.2.1 | By 2005, complete further assessment activities where required for currently identified potentially contaminated sites. | Target revised | ESAs at Bells Corners and Yellowknife were conducted during this period and both reports are presently in draft form. The final reports are expected in April 2007. Three Phase 1 ESAs and three Phase 2 ESAs are planned to be performed for the 2007-08 fiscal year. As indicated in the reporting period from October 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006, the new target date for completion of assessments of custodial sites currently in NRCan’s real property inventory is 2015 and coincides with the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan’s 2005-2015 mandate. |
| 4.1.2.2 | By 2005, present a strategy to Treasury Board for remediation of contaminated sites where required. | Completed | Target completed. |
| 4.1.2.3 | By 2009, complete remediation of contaminated sites (contingent on Treasury Board approval). | In progress | No action steps required during this period. Sites that have been evaluated were not classified as NCS Class 1 sites and thus do not qualify for remediation. |
| 4.1.2.4 | By 2004, complete the Booth Street Redevelopment Strategy. | Target revised | NRCan and PWGSC continue to work under a MOU to move the Strategy forward. The functional program and the redevelopment plan are completed. The business case is being finalized. Senior management is fully engaged. |
| 4.1.2.5 | By 2005, present redevelopment strategy to the Treasury Board. | Target revised | Discussions with Treasury Board Secretariat officials have commenced. A preferred option has been identified. It is likely that a proposal will have to be submitted to Cabinet. This is planned for 2007-2008. |
| 4.1.2.6 | By 2008, implement strategy (contingent on Treasury Board approval). | In progress | Implementation will proceed once Treasury Board approval is received. PWGSC schedule to complete project by 2012. |
| Number | Target | Status | Achievements / Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2.1.1 | By 2004, complete a background and feasibility study with the view to develop a national Sustainable Buildings Policy (new construction, demolition, recapitalization and maintenance). | Completed | This target is completed. |
| 4.2.1.2 | By 2006, draft and implement the Policy. | Completed | Implementation of the new governance model is scheduled for April 1, 2007 (DM Directive). |
| 4.2.1.3 | By 2006, identify and develop business cases for custodial facilities that have not participated in the Federal Buildings Initiative. | Completed | The Environmental Management group is currently preparing energy audits and opportunity assessments. If opportunities are identified, the Real Property Management Division will action |
| 4.2.1.4 | By 2004, investigate the feasibility of realizing, either through innovation, lease or new construction, a sustainable building project. | Completed | PWGSC timeline for Strategy implementation anticipates delivery of a new energy efficient building in 2011/12. If new construction is chosen, PWGSC has agreed to a LEED Gold Certified general purpose office building. Funding still needs to be identified. |
| 4.2.1.5 | By 2004, make necessary changes to departmental service agreement with Public Works and Government Services Canada to reflect sustainable real property considerations. | Completed | This target is completed. |
| 4.2.2.1 | By 2004, consultation on NRCan’s Draft Water Conservation Strategy completed, Strategy finalized and approved. | Completed | This target is completed. |
| 4.2.2.2 | By 2004, provide input into the feasibility study for the development of a national Sustainable Buildings Policy. | Completed | This target is completed. |
| 4.2.2.3 | By 2005, establish baseline data of water consumption. | Completed | Water consumption data was collected during this period. In addition, a water consumption trend analysis report for all custodial sites was also completed. This target is considered complete. |
| 4.2.2.4 | By 2006, establish a target to reduce water consumption at NRCan facilities. | Target revised | No activity during this reporting period. Based on the results of the water consumption trend analysis report, a performance target will be established during the 2007-08 fiscal year and this target 4.2.2.4 will be considered complete at that time. |
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