Earth Sciences Sector - A clean environment (2006-2009)

A key question Canadians ask: how can we effectively manage Canada's groundwater resources if we do not know where they are and how they operate?

Water sustains life, and 30 % of Canadians derive their potable water supply from groundwater. Because of increasing demands on groundwater supply from agriculture and energy extraction, the Groundwater Mapping program provides government with the basic geoscience information needed for decision-making regarding the management of Canada's water resources. Through strong collaboration with other government departments and agencies at the federal, provincial and municipal levels, the program will establish and advance the National Groundwater Inventory to create a robust information base that is a source of sound science advice for decision-makers.

Outputs

Synthesis of Canada's state of groundwater knowledge.
First-order assessment of all key national aquifers.
Detailed assessment of three national aquifers, adding to the six already existing assessments, and bring it to 30 percent of the key aquifers.
Fully functional national groundwater database.

Long-Term Outcomes

Economic, social and environmental benefits accrue to Canadians through sustainable and productive use of groundwater resources.

A key question Canadians ask: can we reduce the risks to environmental and human health caused by natural or human-made disturbances to the environment?

This program will contribute earth-science knowledge to support decisions by those groups responsible for protecting human health and the environment. The results of this program will also help to monitor the state of the environment under the Canada Environmental Protection Act and support the federal government and other decision-makers in reducing the risks caused by potentially hazardous substances. In addition, through outreach, partnerships and capacity building, decision-makers will be able to use geoscience information to monitor and track progress towards achieving a clean and healthy environment.

Outputs

Increased understanding of processes governing transport and bioavailability of elements of concern in soils and water.
Geochemical baseline characterizations.
Enhanced Canadian capacity to use earth science knowledge in environment and health decision-making.
Expert advice on environmental hazards.
Environmental indicators using in situ and remote earth observation data

Long-Term Outcomes

Responsible agencies undertake risk assessments and mitigation measures informed by earth science information

A key question Canadians ask: How do we know that federal approval of land-use development and the natural resource implication of protected areas designations include expert scientific advice?

As required by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and in response to requests by federal government agencies, this program provides expert geoscience information and expertise in reviews of development projects undergoing federal environmental assessment (EA). ESS geoscience expertise contributes to ensuring that adverse environmental impacts are identified and can be minimized prior to projects (e.g. mines, hydroelectric projects, liquefied national gas terminals and facilities, groundwater supplies, highways, pipelines, waste disposal and recreational) receiving federal approval to proceed. In addition, when requested by federal government agencies responsible for specialized land-use designations and consistent with federal legislation and policy, this program provides mineral and energy resource assessments (MERA) so that the non-renewable resource potential is duly considered in the socio-economic feasibility studies undertaken before protected areas are established. These assessments apply to onshore and offshore lands under federal jurisdiction (those in the Territories and Canada Lands offshore) and lands under consideration as national parks or national marine protected areas.

Outputs

MERAs
- Products and tools to support non-renewable resource assessments
- Published mineral and energy resource assessments reports for proposed national parks and marine protected areas.
- Published geological datasets, in particular, geochemical and geophysical
- Reports on clients and community consultations.
EAs
- Expert geoscience advice on physical environmental baseline conditions and impact assessments with a focus on geological, hydrogeology, permafrost and geotechnical conditions, engineering geology, environmental geochemistry, marine/coastal/fluvial processes.
- Technical memorandum, commentary and testimony on the public record, reviewing and/or contributing to all stages of the federal EA process.
- Products and tools to support provision of geoscience expertise to federal EA process.

Long-Term Outcomes

Protection of the environment through informed federal decisions on development and land use.