What we do
Why we do it
Who we are
Our Science
Our Partners and Stakeholders
Recent Publications
EEM Reports
Contact information

What we do:

Provide national leadership for the regulated environmental effects monitoring (EEM) programs for the pulp and paper and metal mining sectors. Work includes:

• ensuring national consistency in implementation of EEM programs
• developing and maintaining databases for national EEM programs
• managing scientific evolution of EEM programs
• developing technical guidance documents on how to conduct EEM
• conducting national analysis of EEM data
• developing and promoting biological tools and methodologies for assessment of water quality independent of stressor type

Arial view of a secondary treatment pond at a pulp and paper mill in northern Ontario.

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Why we do it:

• Under the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations and the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations, both under authority of the Fisheries Act, the metal mining and pulp and paper sectors are required to conduct receiving environment studies to determine if their effluent is causing an effect on the aquatic ecosystem. The information generated by the EEM program is used by Environment Canada to assess the adequacy of regulations in protecting the environment. The National EEM Office provides the national focal point for both regulated EEM programs.
• The National EEM office ensures the science-based EEM program evolves as the science of aquatic environments and our understanding of them evolve. Current efforts are focussed on understanding the long-term implications of some of the effects detected in receiving environments near pulp and paper mill dischargers.
• The metal mining regulations were promulgated in 2002 and as a result the metal mining EEM program is in progress. The National EEM Office is working with the regional Environment Canada offices to ensure the program is implemented in a meaningful, cost-effective, and nationally consistent manner.

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Who we are:

• Kathleen Hedley, Manager, National EEM Office
• Deni Gautron, Head, Metal Mining EEM Program
• Greg Kaminski, Head, Pulp and Paper EEM Program
• Dr. Alan Willsie, EEM Specialist
• Sherry Walker, EEM Specialist
• Céline Tessier, EEM Specialist
• Dr. Richard Lowell, EEM Specialist
• Gilles Champagne, IM-IT Programmer Analyst
• Michelle Bowerman, EEM Officer

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Our science:

• Based on research conducted by scientists in the National Water Research Institute, the National EEM Office manages the scientific evolution of the EEM program. This entails tracking current research on monitoring and assessment methodologies and incorporating proven successful methodologies into national monitoring programs. The National Office provides the bridge between research into monitoring techniques and applied monitoring of aquatic ecosystems.
• The National EEM Office develops guidance documents on how to conduct cost-effective and scientifically defensible studies that assess impacts on aquatic ecosystems using biological indicators. These documents are updated frequently and include guidance on how to conduct newly developed techniques such as mesocosms and caged bivalves. They are widely used by stakeholders interested in assessing the health of aquatic ecosystems.
• The Office conducts national analysis of data generated by regulated EEM programs. The EEM program in Canada is the only one of its kind in the world, and provides unique information on the impacts of pulp and paper and metal mining effluents on aquatic environments. Due to the distinctive nature of the EEM database, we can develop unique analysis and assessment tools for the EEM program.
• Assessment tools and methodologies synthesize detailed scientific information into a format that can be understood by risk managers, regulated industries and other stakeholders. This involves understanding what level of changes in fish and benthic invertebrate communities an aquatic ecosystem can handle without impact on the long-term sustainability of the system.

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Our partners and stakeholders:

• Environmental Protection Branch in all Environment Canada regions where EEM programs are implemented
• Research branches of the National Water Research Institute
• University of New Brunswick and the Canadian Rivers Institute
• Toxics Pollution Prevention Directorate, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Environment Canada
• Environmental Assessment Division, Environment Canada
• Forest Products Association of Canada
• Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada
• Mining Association of Canada
• Environmental consulting industry
• Non-government environmental organizations

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Recent publications:

Cash, K.J., J.M. Culp, M.G. Dubé, R.B. Lowell, N.E. Glozier and R.B. Brua. 2003. Integrating mesocosm experiments with field and laboratory studies to generate weight-of-evidence risk assessments for ecosystem health. Aquat. Ecosyst. Health Manage. 6: 177-183.

Culp, J.M., M.E. Wiseman, R.C. Bailey, N.E. Glozier, R.B. Lowell, T.B. Reynoldson, L. Trudel, and G.D. Watson. 2003. New requirements for benthic community assessments at Canadian metal mines are progressive and robust: reply to Orr et al. SETAC Globe 4: 31 32.

Dubé, M.G., J.M. Culp, K.J. Cash, N.E. Glozier, D.L. MacLatchy, C.L. Podemski and R.B. Lowell. 2002. Artificial Streams for Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM): Development and application in Canada over the past decade. Water Qual. Res. J. Can. 37:155-180.

Dumaresq, C., K. Hedley and R. Michelutti. 2002. Overview of the Metal Mining Environmental Effects Monitoring Program. Water Qual. Res. J. Can. 37:213-218.

Glozier, N.E., J.M. Culp, T.B. Reynoldson, R.C. Bailey, R.B. Lowell and L. Trudel. 2002. Assessing metal mine effects using benthic invertebrates for Canada’s Environmental Effects Program. Water Qual. Res. J. Can. 37:251-278.

Lowell, R.B. and J.M. Culp. 2002. Implications of sampling frequency for detecting temporal patterns during environmental effects monitoring. Water Qual. Res. J. Canada 37(1): 119-132.

Lowell, R.B., K.R. Munkittrick, J.M. Culp, M.E. McMaster and L.C. Grapentine. 2004. National response patterns of fish and invertebrates exposed to pulp and paper mill effluents: metabolic disruption in combination with eutrophication and other effects. Pages 147-155 in Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent Environmental Fate and Effects, D.L. Borton, T.J. Hall, R.P. Fisher, J.F. Thomas, eds. DEStech Publ., Lancaster, PA, 578pp.

Lowell, R.B., K. Hedley and E. Porter. 2002. Data interpretation issues for Canada’s environmental effects monitoring program. Water Qual. Res. J. Canada 37(1): 101-117.

Parker, R., C. Dumaresq. 2002. Effluent Charaterization, Water Quality Monitoring and Sediment Monitoring in the Metal Mining EEM Program. Water Qual. Res. J. Can. 37:219 – 228.

Reynoldson, T.B., J.S. Richardson, J.M. Culp and R.B. Lowell. 2005. Chapter 14. Fraser. In Rivers of North America, A.C. Benke and C.E. Cushing , eds.,Academic Press, New York.

Ribey, S.C., K.R. Munkittrick, M.E. McMaster, S. Courtenay, C. Langlois, S. Munger, A. Rosaasen and G. Whitley. 2002. Development of a monitoring design for examining effects in wild fish associated with discharges from metal mines. Water Qual. Res. J. Canada 37(1): 229-249.

Walker, S.L., K. Hedley and E. Porter. 2002. Pulp and paper environmental effects monitoring in Canada: an overview. Water Qual. Res. J. Canada 37(1): 7-19.

Walker, S.L., S.C. Ribey, L. Trudel and E. Porter. 2003. Canadian environmental effects monitoring: experiences with pulp and paper and metal mining regulatory programs. Environ. Monitor. Assess. 88: 311-326.

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EEM reports

Environment Canada. 1998. Pulp and paper technical guidance document for aquatic environmental effects monitoring. National EEM Office, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario (EEM/1998).

Environment Canada. 2000. Guidance for determining follow-up actions when effects have been identified in environmental effects monitoring (EEM). National EEM Office, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. 6 p.

Environment Canada. 2002a. Alternative monitoring methods. National EEM Office, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. 82 p.

Environment Canada. 2002b. Guidance for data assessment. National EEM Office, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. 37 p.

Environment Canada. 2002c. Metal mining guidance documents for aquatic environmental effects monitoring. National EEM Office, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

Environment Canada. 2002d. Revised guidance for sample sorting and sub-sampling protocols for EEM benthic invertebrate community surveys. National EEM Office, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. 26 p.

Environment Canada. 2003a. Additional technical guidance for conducting redox and sulphide measurements in marine sediments. National EEM Office, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

Environment Canada. 2003b. National assessment of pulp and paper environmental effects monitoring data: a report synopsis. National Water Research Institute, Burlington, Ontario. NWRI Scientific Assessment Report Series No. 2. 28 p.

Environment Canada. 2003c. Revised technical guidance on how to conduct effluent plume delineation studies. National EEM Office, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

Environment Canada. 2004. Understanding the Pulp and Paper Environmental Effects Monitoring Program. Environment Canada, National EEM Office, National Water Research Institute, Gatineau, QC., Canada.

Environment Canada. 2005a. Further Guidance for the Annual Effluent and Water Quality Monitoring Report for the Metal Mining Environmental Effects Monitoring Program. Environment Canada, National EEM Office, National Water Research Institute, Gatineau, QC., Canada.

Environment Canada. 2005b. Further Guidance for Non-Lethal Sampling. Environment Canada, National EEM Office, National Water Research Institute, Gatineau, QC., Canada.

Environment Canada. 2005c. Pulp and paper technical guidance document for aquatic environmental effects monitoring. Environment Canada, National EEM Office, National Water Research Institute, Gatineau, QC., Canada.(revised from EEM/1998).

Lowell, R.B. 1997. Discussion Paper on Critical Effect Size Guidelines for EEM Using Benthic Invertebrate Communities. National Hydrology Institute. Environment Canada. Report for EEM Program.

Lowell, R.B., S.C. Ribey, I.K. Ellis, E.L. Porter, J.M. Culp, L.C. Grapentine, M.E. McMaster, K.R. Munkittrick and R.P. Scroggins. 2003. National assessment of the pulp and paper environmental effects monitoring data. National Environmental Effects Monitoring Office, National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. 124 p.

Lowell, R.B., B. Ring, G. Pastershank, S. Walker, L. Trudel and K. Hedley. 2005. National Assessment of Pulp and Paper Environmental Effects Monitoring Data: Findings from Cycles 1 through 3. National Water Research Institute, Burlington, Ontario. NWRI Scientific Assessment Report Series No. 5. 40 p.

Walker, S.L., S.S. Dixit, D. Andersen, P.Y. Caux, P.A. Chambers, M.C. Charlton, L.A. Howes and L. Kingsley. 2003. Scoping science assessment of the impacts of freshwater aquaculture on the Canadian environment. Environment Canada, National Water Research Institute, NWRI Contribution No. 03-522.

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For further information, please contact:

Kathleen Hedley, Manager
National EEM Office
Science and Risk Assessment Directorate

Mailing Address:
351 St. Joseph Blvd, 8th Floor
Gatineau, QC
K1A 0H3
tel.: (819) 953-1553
fax: (819) 953-0461
e-mail: kathleen.hedley*ec.gc.ca
Note: To use the email address, please replace the asterisk (*) with an at symbol (@)
Web site: www.ec.gc.ca/eem