Subject:  Requested documents, recent emails, and path forward
From:  "Darrell L Taylor" <taylordl@gov.ns.ca>
Date:  Fri, 10 Nov 2000 14:06:50 -0400
CC:  "Catriona M Moir" <MOIRKM@gov.ns.ca>

Hi Shalom,

This is just to bring you up to speed on follow-up actions from the ROD for the Oct 12, 2000 meeting. Also after reading your emails subsequent to that meeting I have given things more thought and propose a path forward.

Requested Documents

1) Last Friday, Nov 3rd we mailed 2 documents which you requested;
- NS Standards and Guidelines Manual for the Collection ,Treatment,&Disposal of Sanitary Sewage
- P Export Study from CWRS.
Additionally we mailed;
- Interim On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems Technical Guidelines.

2) Please be advised that the amended On- Site Sewage Disposal Systems Regulations that you requested are still draft and therefore not available. The On- Site Sewage Disposal Systems Regulations dated May 20, 1997 are currently in force and will be mai led to you today. They also can be accessed through the NS Government website at http://www.gov.ns.ca .

3) I have asked Bob Carlson via email, to directly send you the Secchi Dip-In reports that you requested.

Springfield Lake STP Upgrades

4) I have contacted Bernie Matlock regarding the status of the Springfield lake STP upgrade. He will get a status report from HRM and inform us shortly. Thereafter I will pass along to you.

Modelling and Water Quality Objectives

5) From your emails received subsequent to our Oct 12th meeting I believe I understand your position on modelling to be the following;

(a)- you are interested in application of science through predictive modelling to prevent nutrient-related water quality impacts and see the need for water quality objectives to be established for the receiving water
(b)- you believe the OECD Program on Eutrophication to provide an appropriate basis for modelling and establishing suitable limits in Nova Scotia
(c)- you have identified over 30 models used in North America and have incorporated aspects of many of these in your model for use in HRM
(d)- you do not see forming a committee at this time as the most productive way to proceed in getting appropriate models used in Nova Scotia
(e)- although unable to contribute a lot of volunteer time to ongoing committee work you would be interested in contibuting as an experienced modeller and as a scientific advisor
(f) - if funding for specific modelling related products or deliverables was available you would be interested in obtaining this work, pending specific terms of reference
(g)- you believe consultants have used inappropriate models or inputs to models when predicting impacts from proposed development in HRM
(h)- only qualified persons should use models for consulting purposes
(i) - you would be interested in partnering with NSDOE&L in protecting lakes, as well as water quality in general, in Nova Scotia.
(j) - engineers, limnologists, and planners should be able to work collaboratively to prevent nutrient impacts to receiving waters through predictive and preventative measures
(k)- you would prefer an informal meeting of knowledgeable parties ( including Joe Kerekes and Geoff Howell) to a rigid, formal, ongoing committee structure.

Kate and I have discussed this and can appreciate this position.

Therefore, instead of striking a committee at this time I propose that we hold a 1 day workshop. It could be held sometime during the first two weeks of December . Interested parties from the scientific, engineering, and planning communities as well as go vernment, could share modelling experiences in NS, identify needs and opportunities, and recommend how a practical application of science can be used to protect our water resources. This would be intended to get consensus from knowledgeable people on pra ctical use of a decision-making tool for all of NS. The local people who you have suggested having knowledge in this area could be invited such as Joe, Tony, Geoff, as well as yourself. Also in order to benefit from the experiences of those who have been involved in modelling in other areas of the province, I would suggest broadening the discussion to include Bill Hart ,as well as Mike Brylinsky, Mike MacIntyre, Wes White, and perhaps Margo Cantwell and/or, Norm Gridley. John Shepherd or Rene Roberge ar e also possibilities to bring an engeering perspective to the table. From this one day session, specific deliverables could be expected and indicated in a workshop program. This could lead to a subsequent contract for work if required.

I believe this workshop could serve to do the following things;
- facilitate scientifically defensible decision-making in NS
- ensure appropriate model use in that decision-making
- create efficiencies and avoid redundancies or duplication through uncoordinated independent work
- steer future focussed research, if required
- and allow ongoing, productive, practical, collaborative work through true partnerships between the science, planning, and regulatory communities.

I am hopeful that this could bring together a core group of people, all interested in modelling as a tool for protecting Nova Scotian waters, and make meaningfully progress in this area.
Please advise if you see this proposed collaborative work is an appropriate way to proceed.


Regards,

Darrell





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Darrell Taylor
NS Dept. of the Environment
P.O.Box 2107
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 3B7
Phone: (902) 424-2570
Fax: (902) 424-0503
Email:TAYLORDL@GOV.NS.CA
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