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The development of the recent Canadian
Species at Risk Act, as well as Alberta government initiatives to protect sensitive plant
and animal species, has accentuated the need for special treatment of these
species in pipeline developments. Accordingly, the Thicksilver
pipeline implemented a species at risk conservation program within its
application for regulatory approval. During the development of the program it
became clear that there are several regulatory issues regarding species at
risk. For example, regulatory requirements lack clarity and are not
transparent to the proponent. Furthermore, there are significant
jurisdictional inconsistencies and overlaps between federal and provincial
concerns. The species at risk conservation program presented here includes
the following chronological steps. An information review, including all
pertinent federal and provincial regulations and guidelines. A species
screening step which includes an initial full listing of potential species
from literature and unpublished surveys, and a systematic process to focus on
the most likely species at risk involved. Detailed field surveys that are
based on knowledge of the natural history and biology of the species
concerned are then conducted to provide explicit documentation on the
particular species at risk. Species assessment, including a professional
opinion on the potential impact of the activity on the livelihood of the
species at risk, is required next. A species at risk mitigation plan is then
provided to mitigate the predicted impacts. Finally, a follow up plan is put
into place to ensure that mitigation has been effective.
Keywords:
Endangered species, rare plants,
conservation biology
Ref#: 6-14
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