Working Groups

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Section 106 of the MVRMA states that the MVLWB “May issue directions on general policy matters concerning the use of land or waters or the deposit of waste that, in the Board’s opinion, require consistent application throughout the Mackenzie Valley”. Section 106 provides the underlying mandate for the Standard Procedures and Consistency Working Groups (WGs) which are collectively charged with reviewing existing policies and procedures and where necessary, developing new policies, guidelines, and standards, documenting them, and presenting them to the MVLWB for review and approval.

There are six working groups comprised of staff from each Board, each with an intended purpose. These are summarized below:

  1. Public Engagement and Board Consultation: The purpose of WG1 is to research and identify the role of the Boards with regard to public engagement and their consultation processes under the MVRMA. In cooperation and coordination with various agencies and communities, the working group is nearing completion of a draft public engagement and Board consultation policy and public engagement guideline document for the Mackenzie Valley.
  2. Plan Review Process and Guidelines Working Group: The purpose of WG2 is to achieve greater certainty, clarity, and consistency with respect to the submission and review of common management plans required by water licences and land use permits. To achieve this, the working group is preparing various management plan guidelines, including guidelines for aquatic effects management plans, closure and reclamation plans, and waste management plans.
  3. Water/Effluent Quality Guidelines Working Group: The purpose of WG3 is to develop an approach for creating clear and consistent policy and procedures for deriving water/effluent quality criteria for water licences. The Board recently approved  WG3′s Water and Effluent Quality Management Policy, which it released at the end of March 2011.
  4. Terms and Conditions Working Group: The purpose of WG4 is to develop standard terms and conditions that will be used by the four Boards to write water licences and land use permits. The WG will also prepare procedures for writing new terms and conditions. These efforts will result in water licences and land use permits that are consistent for all projects in the Mackenzie Valley and will streamline the process for developing licences and permits for the Boards, proponents, and reviewers.
  5. Data Resource Sharing and Standards Working Group: The purpose of WG5 is to develop clear and consistent standards and procedures for the collection, access, and sharing of data resources between the Boards and clients.
  6. Application Processes Working Group: A large portion of the Boards’ day-to-day duties revolves around the application process for water licences and land use permits. WG6 is developing consistent practices for many application-related issues and preparing guidelines for the application process. The guidelines will be used by the four Boards and will ensure that applicants and reviewers have the tools they need to smoothly navigate the application process.

The Board has set the following priorities for completion in 2011–2012:

  • Standardized list of terms and conditions (WG4);
  • Guidance documents for land use permit and water licence applications (WG6); and,
  • Standard MVLWB policy and guideline implementation, monitoring, and evaluation frameworks.

WORKING GROUP DOCUMENTS

**New Policy and Guidelines For Your Review and Comments**

Cover Letter – Request for Review of Engagement Policy and Guidelines

Draft Engagement Policy

Draft Engagement Guidelines for Applicants and Holders of Water Licences and Land Use Permits

FAQ – Engagement Policy and Guidelines

STANDARDS

Document Submission Standards

Standards for Geographic Information System (GIS) Submissions

 

Working Group Terms of Reference

Water and Effluent Quality Management Policy 

Guidelines for Developing a Waste Management Plan

DRAFT Guidelines for the Closure and Reclamation of Advanced Mineral Exploration and Mine Sites in the Northwest Territories. (with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada)

Working Group Update

Terms and Conditions Workshop Report