ID: 2052
Presenting Author: Corey Tucker
Session: 541 - EsIA and Permitting Improvements for Efficiency and Effectiveness: Lessons Learned
Status: pending
Explores opportunities to improve regulatory effectiveness and efficiency through improved IA / permitting linkages, and the associated use of digital technologies.
Although impact assessment (IA) review is usually the first and largest environmental regulatory requirement for a major development proposal, numerous permits and authorizations must often then be obtained for specific project components and activities. The boundaries of and inter-relationships between these regulatory functions can be somewhat blurry, however, especially in terms of the type and level of information and analysis required, appropriate and feasible for each. Attempts at improving the efficiency of IA processes often look to strengthen their linkages to subsequent permitting, by pushing unnecessary details and deliberations to subsequent approval processes. There can be practical challenges with doing so, however, including in distinguishing between IA- and permit-level issues and requirements.
This presentation will explore these issues through a number of illustrative case studies from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada that show both opportunities to improve regulatory processes in this manner, as well as some of the key challenges involved. It goes on to demonstrate how the use of digital IA and permitting tools can – and have – optimized IA / permitting linkages, and provided real benefits by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of these regulatory processes for proponents, regulators and participants.
Corey Tucker is the President of ICI Innovations Inc, a Canadian company providing IA information management, planning and engagement services to clients in the resource development sector.
Coauthor 1: Steve Bonnell