Environmental Effects Monitoring Program Research Articles

Evaluation of Lethal Fish Sampling and the Nonlethal Alternative Under the Canadian Metal and Diamond Mining Environmental Effects Monitoring Program

The Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) program, federally mandated to metal and diamond mines and mills in Canada, aims to ensure that fish, fish use, and their environment are sufficiently protected by the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations (MDMER). Concerns have been raised regarding lethal fish sampling conducted for the program and the potential risk to fish populations. This study endeavored to calculate the extent of fish sacrificed during lethal EEM fish surveys to provide a more informed characterization for stakeholders. By extrapolating data from 28 studies conducted at 8 metal mines in Saskatchewan between 2004 and 2017, it was conservatively estimated that 60 060 ± 19 978 fish have been sacrificed for the program nationwide since its promulgation in 2002. This is almost 2 times greater than guidance recommendations due to numerous factors. Challenges faced when implementing the nonlethal fish population survey alternative were also evaluated, and some of these included data interpretation inconsistencies due to the lack of critical effect sizes (CES) included in the regulations for nonlethal effect endpoints, and reliance on capturing young of the year fish to assess the prescribed effect endpoints. Finally, a case study conducted to evaluate the congruity of lethal and nonlethal fish population survey results identified that the effect endpoints often produced conflicting conclusions for the same response variable. Ultimately, this study highlights that in order to strengthen and promote the use of nonlethal fish sampling as an alternate to the current standard of conducting lethal fish population surveys under the EEM program, the effect endpoints, study designs, and adoption of CES need to be thoroughly evaluated and included in the MDMER. If nonlethal sampling designs adequately provide the required data and meet program objectives, then there would be no need to continue sacrificing fish for the Canadian metal and diamond mining EEM program. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:1-10. © 2019 SETAC.

An Adaptive Environmental Effects Monitoring Framework for Assessing the Influences of Liquid Effluents on Benthos, Water, and Sediments in Aquatic Receiving Environments.

Environmental effects monitoring (EEM) has been traditionally used to evaluate the effects of existing facilities discharging liquid effluents into natural receiving waters in Canada. EEM also has the potential to provide feedback to an ongoing project in an adaptive management context and can inform the design of future projects. EEM, consequently, can and should also be used to test the predictions of effects related to new projects. Despite EEM's potential for widespread applicability, challenges related to the effective implementation of EEM include the use of appropriate study designs and the adoption of tiers for increasing or decreasing monitoring intensity. Herein we describe a template for designing and implementing a 6-tiered EEM program that utilizes information from the project-planning and predevelopment baseline data collection stages to build on forecasts from the initial environmental impact assessment project-design stage and that feeds into an adaptive management process. Movement between the 6 EEM tiers is based on the exceedance of baseline monitoring triggers, forecast triggers, and management triggers at various stages in the EEM process. To distinguish these types of triggers, we review the historical development of numeric and narrative triggers as applied to chemical (water and sediment) and biological (plankton, benthos, fish) endpoints. We also provide an overview of historical study design issues and discuss how the 6 EEM tiers and associated triggers influence the temporal-spatial experimental design options and how the information gained through EEM could be used in an adaptive management context. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;14:552-566. © 2018 SETAC.

Reproductive strategies and seasonal changes in the somatic indices of seven small-bodied fishes in Atlantic Canada in relation to study design for environmental effects monitoring.

Small-bodied fishes are more commonly being used in environmental effects monitoring (EEM) studies. There is a lack of understanding of the biological characteristics of many small-bodied species, which hinders study designs for monitoring studies. For example, 72% of fish population surveys in Canada's EEM program for pulp and paper mills that used small-bodied fishes were conducted outside of the reproductive period of the species. This resulted in an inadequate assessment of the EEM program's primary effect endpoint (reproduction) for these studies. The present study examined seasonal changes in liver size, gonad size, and condition in seven freshwater and estuarine small-bodied fishes in Atlantic Canada. These data were used to examine differences in reproductive strategies and patterns of energy storage among species. Female gonadal recrudescence in all seven species began primarily in the 2-month period in the spring before spawning. Male gonadal development was concurrent with females in five species; however, gonadal recrudescence began in the fall in male three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus). The spawning period for each species was estimated from the decline in relative ovary size after its seasonal maximum value in spring. The duration of the spawning period reflected the reproductive strategy (single vs multiple spawning) of the species. Optimal sampling periods to assess reproductive impacts in each species were determined based on seasonal changes in ovary size and were identified to be during the prespawning period when gonads are developing and variability in relative gonad size is at a minimum.

Environmental effects monitoring at the Terra Nova offshore oil development (Newfoundland, Canada): Program design and overview

An environmental effects monitoring (EEM) program was developed by Suncor (formerly Petro-Canada) in 1997/98 to assess effects of the Terra Nova offshore oil and gas development on the receiving environment. The Terra Nova Field is located on the Grand Banks approximately 350km southeast of Newfoundland (Canada), at approximately 100m water depth. The EEM program was developed with guidance from experts in government, academia and elsewhere, and with input from the public. The EEM program proposed by Suncor was accepted by Canadian regulatory agencies and the program was implemented in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010, with pre-development sampling in 1997. The program continues to be implemented every two years. EEM includes an assessment of alterations in sediment quality through examination of changes in sediment chemistry, particle size, toxicity and benthic invertebrate community structure. A second component of the program examines potential effects on two species of commercial fishing interest: Iceland scallop (Chlamys islandica) and American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides). Chemical body burden for these two species is examined and taste tests are performed to assess the presence of taint in edible tissues. Effects on American plaice bioindicators are also examined. A final component of the program assesses potential effects of the Terra Nova development on water quality and examines water column chemistry, chlorophyll concentration and physical properties. The papers presented in this collection focus on effects of drill cuttings and drilling muds on the seafloor environment and, as such, report results on sediment quality and bioaccumulation of drilling mud components in Iceland scallop and American plaice. This paper provides information on drilling discharges, an overview of the physical oceanography at the Terra Nova Field, and an overview of the field program designed to assess environmental effects of drilling at Terra Nova.

Repeated-measures regression designs and analysis for environmental effects monitoring programs

This paper provides a general overview of repeated-measures (RM) regression designs and analysis for marine monitoring programs, in support of sediment chemistry, particle size and benthic macroinvertebrate community analyses provided as part of this series. In RM regression designs, the same n replicates (usually stations in monitoring programs) are re-sampled (i.e., repeatedly measured) at t>1 Times (usually years). The stations provide variation in the predictor, or X variables. In the Terra Nova environmental effects monitoring (EEM) program, n=48 stations were sampled in each of t=7 years from 2000 to 2010. Two distance measures from five drill centres (sources of drilling wastes) were fixed predictor variables. RM regression designs are rarely used in environmental monitoring programs, but are often suitable and would be appropriate if applied to data from many monitoring programs. For the Terra Nova EEM program, carry-over effects, or persistent and usually small-scale variations among stations unrelated to distance, were strong for most sediment quality variables. Whenever natural carry-over effects are strong, RM designs and analysis will usually be more powerful and suitable than alternative approaches to the analysis.

Evaluation of an in situ early life stage test with cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarki, for environmental monitoring – a case study using mine effluent

This study evaluated an in situ early life stage test using cutthroat trout for potential use in Canada's Metal Mines Effluent Regulations' Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) program. Current field monitoring approaches focus on either adult fish surveys or mesocosm studies, but both of these have inherent limitations that may affect their suitability on a site-specific basis. This study evaluated an alternative approach, namely an in situ toxicity test, as part of an EEM program for a zinc, copper and gold mine. Hatchboxes containing cutthroat trout embryos were placed in a creek that receives treated effluent from the mine, and monitored through the swim-up stage to evaluate hatching success, survival, normal development and growth. Advantages of the method include: no feeding requirement during exposure, fixed exposure locations, relevant endpoints and high statistical sensitivity. In addition, the extended exposure period integrated long-term exposure variables, including low-flow and freshet events. This approach also has application to other salmonid species and types of discharges.

Can natural variability trigger effects on fish and fish habitat as defined in Environment Canada's metal mining environmental effects monitoring program?

The Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER) took effect in 2002 and require most metal mining operations in Canada to complete environmental effects monitoring (EEM) programs. An "effect" under the MMER EEM program is considered any positive or negative statistically significant difference in fish population, fish usability, or benthic invertebrate community EEM-defined endpoints. Two consecutive studies with the same statistically significant differences trigger more intensive monitoring, including the characterization of extent and magnitude and investigation of cause. Standard EEM study designs do not require multiple reference areas or preexposure sampling, thus results and conclusions about mine effects are highly contingent on the selection of a near perfect reference area and are at risk of falsely labeling natural variation as mine related "effects." A case study was completed to characterize the natural variability in EEM-defined endpoints during preexposure or baseline conditions. This involved completing a typical EEM study in future reference and exposure lakes surrounding a proposed uranium (U) mine in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Moon Lake was sampled as the future exposure area as it is currently proposed to receive effluent from the U mine. Two reference areas were used: Slush Lake for both the fish population and benthic invertebrate community surveys and Lake C as a second reference area for the benthic invertebrate community survey. Moon Lake, Slush Lake, and Lake C are located in the same drainage basin in close proximity to one another. All 3 lakes contained similar water quality, fish communities, aquatic habitat, and a sediment composition largely comprised of fine-textured particles. The fish population survey consisted of a nonlethal northern pike (Esox lucius) and a lethal yellow perch (Perca flavescens) survey. A comparison of the 5 benthic invertebrate community effect endpoints, 4 nonlethal northern pike population effect endpoints, and 10 lethal yellow perch effect endpoints resulted in the observation of several statistically significant differences at the future exposure area relative to the reference area and/or areas. When the data from 2 reference areas assessed for the benthic invertebrate community survey were pooled, no significant differences in effect endpoints were observed. These results demonstrate weaknesses in the definition of an "effect" used by the MMER EEM program and in the use of a single reference area. Determination of the ecological significance of statistical differences identified as part of EEM programs conducted during the operational period should consider preexisting (background) natural variability between reference and exposure areas.

Negative Consequences of Using α = 0.05 for Environmental Monitoring Decisions: A Case Study from a Decade of Canada’s Environmental Effects Monitoring Program

Using the traditional α = 0.05 significance level for null hypothesis significance tests makes assumptions about relative costs of Type I vs relevant Type II errors and inflates their combined probabilities. We have examined the results of 1254 monitoring tests conducted under the Canadian Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) program from 1992 to 2003, focusing on how the choice of α affected the relative probabilities and implied costs of Type I and Type II errors. Using α = 0.05 resulted in implied relative costs of Type I vs Type II errors that were both inconsistent among monitoring end points and also inconsistent with the philosophy of the monitoring program. Using α = 0.05 also resulted in combinations of Type I and II error that were 15-17% larger than those for "optimal" α levels set to minimize Type I and II errors for each study, and 12% of all monitoring tests would have reached opposite conclusions had they used these optimal α levels for decision-making. Thus, if the Canadian EEM program used study-specific optimal α levels, they would reduce the incidence of relevant errors and eliminate inconsistent implied relative costs of these errors. Environmental research and monitoring programs using α = 0.05 as a decision-making threshold should re-evaluate the usefulness of this "one-size-fits-all" approach.

Rebuttal to Lowell et al. (2012) regarding Canada's environmental effects monitoring (EEM) program

Huebert et al. (2011) suggested that the current methodused by the EEM program for calculating the BCI ispredisposed toward finding significant differences betweenreference and exposure areas because replicated exposure andreference stations are compared to the reference median.They further suggested an alternative method for calculatingthe BCI, using all pairwise comparisons between replicatedreference stations, and all pairwise comparisons between thereference and exposure stations. Whereas Huebert et al.(2011) were correct that using this alternative methodologyresults in smaller measured differences between referenceand exposure areas, they neglected to point out that it alsoartificially increases sample size (well beyond the number ofstations actually sampled). The result is that the alternativecalculation method has an equal probability of findingsignificant differences as does the method currently recom-mended by the EEM program. Thus, Environment Canadadoes not recommend incorporation of the alternativemethodology, because it provides no net gain and usesthe questionable practice of artificially increasing sample size.In conclusion, Environment Canada welcomes all newinformation with respect to good scientific practice that leadsto continued improvements to the EEM Program. In thisinstance, Environment Canada considered and addressed mostof the points made in the Huebert et al. (2011) article duringthe initial design of the program. Furthermore, carefulconsideration of the Huebert et al. (2011) calculation methodfor the BCI indicates that its disadvantages outweigh itsadvantages. The EEM program continues to evolve based onevaluation of new EEM data and methods of analysis as theybecome available.For further information regarding the regulations (includ-ing EEM requirements) please refer to the following websites: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations and http://www.ec.gc.ca/esee-eem.Acknowledgment—The authors thank the EnvironmentCanada EEM ScienceCommittee members for their contribu-tion to this article.

Seasonal reproductive patterns and recommended sampling times for sentinel fish species used in environmental effects monitoring programs in Canada

Canada’s environmental effects monitoring (EEM) program is currently in its fifth cycle of monitoring for the pulp and paper industry and second cycle of monitoring for the metal mining industry. More than 60 different sentinel fish species have been used in the EEM fish population surveys and reproductive impacts have been identified as an issue of concern in the pulp and paper program. A review of the literature was conducted to obtain details of the reproductive biology of each fish species that has been used in EEM studies in Canada. Using available data on seasonal changes in gonadosomatic indices, the seasonal reproductive patterns of Canadian fish species were divided into categories based on reproductive strategy and the timing of initiation of gonadal recrudescence. Recommended sampling times were developed for each reproductive pattern based on periods of temporal stability, minimum variability, and maximum value in gonadosomatic indices within a reproductive cycle. The reproductive strategy, spawning time, spawning temperature, and recommended sampling time were provided for the each sentinel fish species as well as life history characteristics including longevity, age and size at maturity, and mobility. Examination of the fish surveys using small bodied forage species from the EEM pulp and paper program revealed that approximately 72% of these studies were not conducted at the developed recommended sampling times and the magnitude of impacts may be underestimated by failing to sample at the recommended time.

Guidance for Site-Specifically Assessing the Health of Fish Populations with Emphasis on Canada's Environmental Effects Monitoring Program

Abstract Techniques have been developed over the past two decades to site-specifically assess effects of contaminants on the health of fish populations using a sentinel species approach. National environment effects monitoring (EEM) programs have been implemented in Canada for pulp and paper effluents since 1992 and liquid metal mining effluents since 2002 to monitor effects of these discharges on the health of fish populations. The major criticisms of past EEM fish population surveys can be separated into concerns about the adequacy of the reference sites, the potential impacts of confounding factors, the ecological relevance of endpoints used, the influences of natural variability, concerns over statistical design issues, and potential genetic influences on species characteristics. This paper provides input to deal with these issues and guidance on the selection of sentinel species, timing of sampling, and nonlethal sampling methods to evaluate the health of fish populations. Sample size requirements, effect sizes, and power analysis are also discussed as well as data analysis guidance needed to obtain reliable results.

Effects of pulp and paper mill effluent on fish: A temporal assessment of fish health across sampling cycles

The Canadian environmental effects monitoring (EEM) program is a regulated, cyclical, industry-funded program designed to determine whether receiving water impacts exist when a mill is in compliance with its discharge limits. The results from three cycles of the fish monitoring program (1992 to 2004) are available from over 200 surveys of fish compared between sites located upstream and downstream of pulp and paper mill effluent outfalls. Previous meta-analyses have shown a national average response pattern across cycles characterized by an increase in endpoints measuring energy storage and growth and a decrease in a reproductive endpoint, consistent with a response of nutrient enrichment in combination with some form of metabolic disruption. Although the national average pattern of effects was temporally consistent, there was some variability in the magnitude of effects among cycles. Questions were raised as to whether the intercycle variability was due to changes in effluent quality or due, at least in part, to other factors. The present study compares responses over the first three cycles, and shows that the choice of sentinel species is likely to be a major contributing factor to the variability in observed effects. Subset analyses using studies from mills that used the same sentinel species across cycles reveal fairly uniform responses and little evidence of significant improvements in overall fish health from cycles one to three. However, a meta-analysis using 1991 data collected from 10 mills before the implementation of the EEM program and data from the same mills collected during cycles one to three of the program reveal significantly reduced effects on relative liver weight and potential improvements in other endpoints.

Dealing with heterogeneous regression slopes in analysis of covariance: new methodology applied to environmental effects monitoring fish survey data

Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) is a powerful statistical method which incorporates one or more covariates into the analysis to reduce error associated with measurement. ANCOVA (modeling response as a function of fish size) is frequently used to analyze environmental effects monitoring (EEM) fish survey data. In approximately 12% of fish survey data sets taken from cycles 1 to 3 of Environment Canada's EEM database for pulp and paper mills, the standard assumption of parallel regression slopes is not met. For the first three cycles of the EEM program, these data sets were classified as indicating a mill effect, but for the most part were excluded from subsequent analyses aimed at quantifying the effect. We present two different methods for initially dealing with data sets that exhibit heterogeneous slopes so that they can be analyzed using the parallel slope model. The first method identifies data sets where heterogeneous slopes are forced by a few high-influence observations. The second approach identifies data sets where a model with heterogeneous slopes is statistically, but not practically, significant: with a high coefficient of determination for the parallel slope model. These new methodologies are applied to EEM pulp and paper data sets and about 55% of cases with heterogeneous slopes can be described by a parallel slope model. We also discuss a third method that can be used to describe mill effects when regression slopes remain heterogeneous even after applying the above two methods, enabling comparison with a critical effect size. These new methodologies could benefit the EEM program by enabling more data sets to be incorporated into meta-analyses and be used to make more equitable mill monitoring decisions in the future.

A Decade of Research on the Environmental Impacts of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluents in Canada: Field Studies and Mechanistic Research

Studies conducted in Sweden in the early 1980s provided some of the first evidence that effluents from some pulp mills were capable of inducing toxic responses in fish at very low concentrations in the receiving environment. In response to these findings, studies were initated in Canada and impacts of primary treated bleached kraft mill effluent on reproductive function in fish were found. Reproductive impacts in fish were not limited to mills that used chlorine in the bleaching process and were also evident at some mills that employed secondary effluent treatment. In 1992, new federal regulations were passed under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to control releases of dioxins and furans, and a new Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulation under the Fisheries Act set stricter limits for biological oxygen demand and total suspended solids. Very importantly, the new regulations included requirements for environmental effects monitoring (EEM) at all mill sites. This allowed the effectiveness of the control limits in protecting fish, fish habitat, and human use of fisheries resources to be assessed. At the same time, the Minister of the Environment launched an intensive government, industry, and university research program. Results from this research program along with feedback from the EEM program would then be used to define what additional control actions might be necessary. This article reviews the field studies and mechanistic research conducted in Canada following the implementation of the new federal regulations. Great progress has been made in this area, first demonstrating reproductive effects at various locations, then determining the mechanisms responsible for the reproductive effects at specific sites, followed by the demonstration of partial recovery in reproductive function following process and treatment changes in response to the new regulations. However, it is clear from the results of the first two cycles of the EEM program that mill effluents still affect the local receiving environments at a number of locations across Canada, and that continued research combining field studies, bioassay application, and chemical identification is required. Completion of this assessment would not have been possible without the helpful comments and scientific reviews provided by Drs. John Carey, Jim Maguire, Kelly Munkittrick, Glen Van Der Kraak, Jim Sherry, and Olöf Sandstrom.

Preliminary Analysis of Pulp and Paper Environmental Effects Monitoring Data to Assess Possible Relationships between the Sublethal Toxicity of Effluent and Effects on Biota in the Field

Abstract Data from the sublethal toxicity testing of effluents may or may not be predictive of field effects. Although qualitative studies have attempted to support a predictive relationship at select sites, few quantitative studies have been undertaken to establish whether general predictive relationships exist for diverse recipient environments. Since Canada's Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) Program encompasses a strong field component as well as a suite of sublethal toxicity tests, the Cycle 2 data set of the Pulp and Paper EEM Program presented an opportunity to elucidate whether relationships exist between various sublethal toxicity endpoints used in EEM and field effects that were determined in surveys of benthic invertebrate communities and fish populations. Sublethal toxicity data and key endpoints from the fish (gonad weight, liver weight and condition) and invertebrate surveys (taxon richness and abundance) were quantitatively analyzed using simple bivariate correlation analysis. Our preliminary analysis of the data did not reveal any meaningful general relationships between the field biomonitoring and sublethal toxicity data collected under the Pulp and Paper EEM Program. Although the sublethal toxicity tests are useful to assess changes in effluent quality, their ability to predict the field effects for the key endpoints that are currently measured for fish and benthos in the Pulp and Paper EEM Program remains unsubstantiated.

Caging Small-Bodied Fish as an Alternative Method for Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM)

Abstract The utility of using fish held in cages for investigating the potential effects of industrial and municipal effluents has been demonstrated. These types of exposures are able to control the influence of some confounding factors and also provide a measure of certainty with regard to exposure. However, Canada's current Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) Program for metal mines does not accept caged fish as a viable alternative for use in place of wild fish surveys. Concerns appear to be focused on the confounding influences of confinement stress on typical EEM endpoints. Confinement stress may be reduced in smaller-bodied fish relative to larger fish, increasing the relevance of their use for EEM. A standardized technique for deploying small-bodied fish in cages that may be useful for EEM programs is described.

Proposing a coordinated environmental effects monitoring (EEM) program structure for the offshore petroleum industry, Nova Scotia, Canada

Abstract Environmental effects monitoring (EEM) identifies, quantifies, and compares predicted environmental impacts of a proposed industrial project to those observed after the project has been developed. Several EEM program structures exist, while the structure used by Environment Canada to monitor impacts of the pulp and paper industry has proven to be effective. The aim of this study is to provoke discussion on the development of an effective and coordinated petroleum EEM program structure for the offshore of Nova Scotia, Canada. A structure that supports development of a national EEM program for the petroleum industry is then proposed. Advantages of a coordinated EEM program structure include: (1) reduced cost of the EEM; (2) fewer gaps and less overlapping of responsibilities; (3) fewer calculated risks to the marine environment; and (4) improved environmental safeguards.

Canadian environmental effects monitoring: experiences with pulp and paper and metal mining regulatory programs.

In Canada, Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) programs exist within two regulations: the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations and the new Metal Mining Effluent Regulations under the Canadian Fisheries Act. EEM provides a biological, effects-based feedback loop to assess the effectiveness of technology-based regulations in protecting receiving environments. The promulgation of the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations, in 1992, represented a significant step forward in the Canadian regulatory approach by incorporating directly into a regulation a requirement to assess the effects of effluent discharges on receiving environments using proven scientific monitoring methodologies. Similarly, an assessment of the aquatic impacts of mines resulted in recommendations to amend the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations, recently promulgated in 2002, and includes an EEM program as a science-based feedback loop. As such, these regulations recognize the possibility that national, technology-based standards may not necessarily protect all receiving environments because of the diversity and variability of both discharges and receiving sites across the country. Since that time, EEM has improved its flexibility by considering both advances in science and the uniqueness of monitoring sites across Canada to allow the most appropriate and cost-effective monitoring approaches at each site while maintaining national consistency. This paper discusses the use of monitoring under two Canadian regulations to assess effects on aquatic ecosystems. As well, the National EEM approach to maintaining up-to-date scientific practices in a national regulatory program is discussed using examples.

Data Interpretation Issues for Canada's Environmental Effects Monitoring Program

Abstract As part of Canada's National Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) Program, regulated pulp and paper mills are (and metal mines will be) required to submit an interpretive report describing monitoring results. General guidance has been prepared on how to interpret these EEM data—specifically: 1) which effect endpoints to use, 2) the statistical (or other) approach to use for each endpoint to determine the presence or absence of an effect associated with exposure, and 3) the role of power analysis, α, β, and effect size in determining effects. A statistically significant difference (relative to reference conditions) in any of the effect endpoints is to be considered an exposure-associated effect for the purposes of warranting possible follow-up action. Such an effect does not, however, necessarily indicate ecological, social, or economic significance sufficient to require corrective action. Power analyses should be conducted both at the beginning of a study to determine required sampling effort and at the end of a study to determine whether the power that was actually achieved was sufficient to detect the effect size of interest. A key recommendation is to set α = β as a starting point for data interpretation. The initial recommendations of the general guidance are expected to evolve as environmental effects become better understood.

Effluent Characterization, Water Quality Monitoring and Sediment Monitoring in the Metal Mining EEM Program

Abstract The metal mining Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) program will require mines to conduct effluent characterization and water quality monitoring on an ongoing basis. Samples will be collected four times a year, and will be analyzed for a range of parameters. This information will be used to aid in the design and interpretation of fish surveys and benthic invertebrate community surveys. There are also a number of water quality monitoring methods that may be used to help determine the cause of any effects identified by the EEM program. Mines will also be required to collect sediment samples for determination of particle size distribution and total organic carbon. This information will be used in the design and interpretation of benthic invertebrate community surveys. A range of sediment monitoring techniques are available to aid in the determination of the causes of effects on the benthic invertebrate community.