Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2020 Page - 1 - ________

Initials

Lake la nd In du stry an d C o mmu n ity Ass o c iat i on 🖃🖃 Box 8237, 5107W - 50 Street, Bonnyville, AB T9N 2J5 🕾🕾 780 812-2182 🖷🖷 780 812-2186 🖳🖳 www.lica.ca

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Meeting Minutes

Thursday, April 16, 2020 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Video/Teleconference

Present: Andrea Woods Amanda Avery-Bibo Annette Hobart (arrived at 9:50 a.m.) Richard Bourgeois (arrived at 9:10 a.m.) Dana Swigart John Ilchuk Heather Harms Tanya Hintz Duane Zaraska Lorna Storoschuk Abdi Siad-Omar (arrived at 9:10 a.m.) Francis Nkemamin (arrived at 11:00 a.m.) Shawn Elgert Colin Woods Craig Copeland Lorin Tkachuk Observers and Guests: Jason Quinney Staff and Contractors: Arianne Crook, LICA Executive Director Michael Bisaga, Environmental Monitoring Programs Manager Erin Ritchie, Manager of Environmental Programs Tricia Fleming, Environmental Coordinator

Mason Unrau, Education and Outreach Coordinator Tina Martin, LICA Administrative Professional Eveline Hartog, LICA Administrative Professional Regrets: Cody Jacknife Wayne Bamber

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2020 Page - 2 - ________

Initials

1.0 CALL TO ORDER:

Arianne Crook, the LICA Executive Director, called the video/teleconference meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. 1.1 Introductions and Sector Updates

1.2 Vision, Mission, and Values 1.3 Roll Call 1.4 Approval of Agenda

#1 Moved by Duane Zaraska AND CARRIED that the April 16, 2020 Agenda be approved as presented.

1.5 Approval of Minutes

1.5.1 March 12, 2020 – Board Meeting

#2 Moved by Richard Bourgeois AND CARRIED that the Minutes of the March 12, 2020 Board meeting be approved as presented.

2.0 ONGOING BUSINESS

2.1 Education and Outreach Coordinator Report

The Education & Outreach Coordinator delivered his report.

2.2 Manager of Environmental Monitoring Programs Report

The Manager of Environmental Monitoring Programs delivered his report updating that Site 1 has been chosen for the new PAMS site in Lac La Biche. Additional slides have been attached summarizing the air quality effects of isolation since commencement of the Covid-19 pandemic. Of note are: ● a “baseline shift” down after the public health safety measures were implemented, ● the magnitude of the peaks are muted after the public health safety measures were

implemented, and ● the decreases in both of those observations are most notable in the bigger cities.

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2020 Page - 3 - ________

Initials

2.3 Manager of Environmental Management Programs Report

The Manager of Environmental Management Programs delivered her report noting that since the report was created the 2020-21 WRRP grant application was successful and LICA is awaiting the grant agreement.

2.4 Administration

2.4.1 Executive Director’s Report The Board of Directors reviewed the Executive Director’s report. The Executive Director noted that there was some capital expenditure of surplus Airshed funds spent on equipment replacement. The MD of Bonnyville representative noted that the council would like LICA to present an update at council meetings annually.

2.4.2 Financial Reports 2.4.2.1 Accounts Receivable Report to April 6th, 2020

The accounts receivable report to April 6th, 2020 was presented to the Board. Fourth quarter invoices will be forthcoming shortly.

2.4.2.2 Finances to Date March 31st, 2020

The Finances to Date to March 31, 2020 were presented to the Board.

2.4.3 2019-20 Strategic Plan Final Report

The Board reviewed the 2019-20 Strategic Plan Final Report which serves as the foundation for LICA’s grant reporting.

2.4.4 Governance Committee

No report.

2.4.5 Education and Outreach Committee

No report.

2.4.6 Technical Working Group (TWG)

No report.

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2020 Page - 4 - ________

Initials

2.4.7 Integrated Watershed Management Plan Committee (IWMPC) No report.

3.0 OTHER BUSINESS 3.1 Staffing Changes 3.1.1 Contracts and Updates

Onboarding Kristina Martel, the new Executive Director, will begin on May 1st.

3.2 Alberta Water Council

A Water for Life email was sent out to all Board members, seeking feedback. Please forward responses to watershed@lica.ca.

3.3 Alberta Airsheds Council

Information on the Alberta Airsheds Council meeting was presented in the Manager of Environmental Monitoring report.

3.4 Land Stewardship Centre Grant - Keep Our Lake Blue Campaign

The Manager of Environmental Programs notified the Board that the Moose Lake Watershed Society was successful in their grant application with the Land Stewardship Centre for the Keep Our Lake Blue Campaign.

4.0 ACTION LIST 4.1 Follow-up on action list

4.1.1 March 12, 2020 Board of Directors Meeting

The Board reviewed the action list from the March 12th, 2020 Board of Directors Meeting. Final AEP reporting has been completed and submitted. A Terms of Reference will be drafted by the Environmental Monitoring Programs Manager for the creation of the Adhoc Airshed Boundary Expansion Committee.

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2020 Page - 5 - ________

Initials

5.0 UPCOMING MEETING DATES

5.1 Board Meeting – May 14, 2020

The next Board meeting is scheduled for May 14, 2020 at 9:00 am. The Executive Director, along with the Officers, will determine if a May meeting is necessary closer to the meeting date.

6.0 ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m.

#3 Moved by Duane Zaraska AND CARRIED that the meeting is adjourned.

Approved on: _________________________

Date

_________________________ Signature

Lake la nd In du stry an d C o mmu n ity Ass o c iat i on Box 8237, 5107W - 50 Street, Bonnyville, AB T9N 2J5

780 812-2182 780 812-2186 www.lica.ca

LICA Education & Outreach Board Update

April 9, 2020

2.1 Education and Outreach Update Program Updates – 2019/2020

People Reached

Water School

Programs Youth & Summer

X-Stream Science

Community Events

LICA Workshop/

Events

Little Green

Thumbs CARS

Air School

Programs Stream of Dreams Contests

7333 141 17 12 13 11 10 0 19 2 2 Recent Events

• Postponed • We will reschedule once public events can resume. • Upcoming presenters who have been asked if they would like to present online have

declined. Stop Needless Idling Campaign

• LICA concluded the campaign at the end of March with total pledges at Paper 30

Online 31

Total 61

• The hoodie winner from the Facebook contest was Lisa Gingras

Student Action Challenge – École des Beaux-Lacs • The Air Beams need to be retrieved from the school in the Fall

Caring for our Watersheds – Dr. Bernard Brosseau School

• LICA assisted in judging the Caring for our Watershed contest submissions. Locally, Dr. Brosseau made the top 15 but did not win prize money.

Lunch ’n Learns • LICA has postponed upcoming Lunch & Learns. • Upon Covid-19 subsiding we will begin rescheduling.

Classroom Presentations • Currently we are working toward creating video content to share with students. Each

video will highlight activities and the interactive portions of LICA’s presentations. • Live online webinar style presentations are also offered to the teachers to share with

their classes.

Upcoming Events • All upcoming events have been postponed until further notice.

Environmental Monitoring Programs Update April 16th 2020, Board of Directors Meeting

Routine Operations & Reporting

COVID-19 and Business Continuity Planning:

Alberta Environment released “Temporary Amendment of Select Air Monitoring Directive Requirements: AEP Response to COVID-19” on March 31, 2020 (Ministerial order can be found here). Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) recognizes the potential impact of the ongoing COVID-19 situation on Alberta airsheds and has decided to amend select Air Monitoring Directive (AMD) requirements on a temporary basis. The intent of this interim policy is to alleviate potential pressures on airsheds while still ensuring Albertans and Regulators have access to quality assured air quality information. The amendments will allow impacted operators to focus resources on the most important issues such as safety, instrument malfunctions and repairs. Specific AMD requirement relaxation and duration:

• Reduced frequency of ambient continuous air monitoring station calibrations from monthly to quarterlyfor the remainder of 2020.

• Reduced frequency of ambient continuous air monitoring station manifold and inlet cleaning from monthly to quarterly for the remainder of 2020.

• Removal of requirement to immediately report exceedances of Alberta Ambient Air Quality Guidelines(AAAQG) until August 31, 2020.

• Two-month extension for submission of airshed monthly air monitoring summary reports and ambientdata extending until September 30, 2020.

LICA is retaining the current (non-relaxed) calibration, cleaning, and monthly reporting requirements as long as it is safe to do so.

LICA will suspend immediate reporting of AAAQG exceedances of Particulate Matter 2.5 (1h). AAAQG exceedances for PM2.5 will be documented and summarized in the monthly reports; this approach eases any potential retro-active reporting burden should AEP change the protocol. For forest fire season, AEP may implement a ‘batch reporting’ PM protocol similar to last year. Despite suspension of immediate AAAQG reporting, the public will still be made aware of high PM events through the real-time reporting of the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI).

Alberta’s Airsheds had a meeting with AEP on April 7th, 2020 during which further implications of the pandemic were discussed:

• AEP has suspended station audits. This is an impact of the pandemic that we can’t get around as it isimpossible to maintain social distancing during AEP’s audit of an air monitoring station. Airshedmonitoring stations are audited once per calendar year; LICA’s network is due for an audit in May 2020.

• The AEP air audit laboratory has been suspended. Therefore, AEP will not be providing calibration rig orgas cylinder audits. LICA is investigating alternative methods or interim measures to demonstratecalibrators and gases are meeting quality criteria.

• AEP may be able to supply air monitoring equipment parts. If vendor supply chains becomecompromised, AEP has suggested that they may be able to provide some replacement parts if Airshedsare not able to secure what is need.

LICA has setup bi-weekly meetings to assess the situation with its network operator and field staff. Our goal is to continue to generate the same quality of data and uphold the same scientific rigor in all aspects of our program throughout the pandemic; this includes field operations and all aspect of reporting, including timeliness. LICA has also implemented a few extra best-practice protocols for technicians visiting LICA-owned stations.

Special Projects

Work is underway to determine site preparation costs for the short-listed sites for the Maskwa and PAMS relocation projects. In both maps below, Site 1 is the preferred location for each project. A relocation proposal for these two stations will be presented to the Technical Working Group at its next meeting. Social distancing and reduced workforces will likely delay moving these projects forward.

Maskwa Relocation Project:

PAMS Relocation Project:

Planning & Optimization Oil Sands Monitoring Plan Implementation Update (Deposition):

Atmospheric deposition is a critical pathway that links stressors to responses. Deposition monitoring data are used by Oil Sands monitoring programs to assess responses, and to help determine the source(s) of stressors. The primary objectives for the atmospheric deposition core long-term monitoring are to:

• Determine levels and changes of atmospheric deposition for specific pollutants that pose a likely risk forforest, river, lake, and wetland ecosystem function

• Quantify the contribution of OS emissions to deposition of pollutants of concern, particularly atecological monitoring sites, and;

• Improve integration within and across themes, including documenting OSM Program deposition needs,continued model validation, and delivering improved deposition maps.

AEP and ECCC are working on a project to compile air and deposition data to compare it to simulated/modelled data; this is a task in the Oil Sands Monitoring (OSM) 2020/21 Deposition Work Plan. The objective of this task is to “compile all available air and deposition data to conduct a model-measurement comparison (i.e., model validation). This comparison exercise will help improve the model and allow us to document the specific OSM Program needs that these models can fulfill.”

LICA is working with AEP and ECCC to ensure this project progresses.

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24‐Hour Average Nitrogen Dioxide ConcentrationDecember 1, 2019 ‐ April 16, 2020

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24‐Hour Average Nitrogen Dioxide ConcentrationDecember 1, 2019 ‐ April 16, 2020

Calgary Central Inglewood Cold Lake South Edmonton Central

Fort McMurray Athabasca Valley Fort Saskatchewan Red Deer ‐ Riverside

Work From Home Temperature

Manager of Environmental Management Programs Report April 2020 Board Meeting

April 7th, 2020 To: LICA Board of Directors FROM: Erin Ritchie, Manager of Environmental Management Programs Background: To inform the Board of Directors on the various projects, duties, regional updates and WPAC operational tasks over the past month. Discussion: WPAC Operational Grant: LICA interim grant of the WPAC Operational Grant for 2019-2020 was submitted on April 15th, 2020. The report included Schedule C of the 2019-2020 budget, a report on targets completed in 2019-2020, the annual work plan for 2020-2021, and a supporting budget for 2020-2021. Working Remotely Webinar: Octopus Creative hosted a free webinar about working from home, which was attended by myself and Tina. The tips and tricks were fairly straightforward, and they provided a rundown of potential platforms to use while working from home. As LICA already subscribes to Google Suites it would be beneficial to continue to use this platform as the staff is familiar with it and it allows for collaboration while using Google Drive. To read the full report on the webinar click here. Muriel Lake Basin Management Society (MLBMS): The MLBMS has wrapped up the second year of collecting winter dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in Muriel Lake. These results show a slight increase in DO levels from 2018-2019 and a decrease in conductivity, total dissolved solids, and pH. Measurements of winter DO levels should be repeated next winter to determine if Muriel Lake is continuing to improve from year to year. A report of the results was provided to the MLBMS, to read the full report please click this link. Moose Lake Phosphorus Budget: LICA requested grant funds in our 2019 - 2020 WPAC Operating Grant to complete the phosphorus budget for Moose Lake; however, with the cut in the WPAC grant, LICA is unable to fund this project. LICA has been

working alongside the MLWS to find an alternate way to fund the phosphorus budget on Moose Lake. The Alberta Innovates Grant does not fit within the scope of the work for the phosphorous budget and is no longer a viable contender for funding. The most promising opportunity being the TC Energy Community Investment Grant. LICA has worked alongside the Moose Lake Watershed Society to complete this application in the hopes of securing funding towards the completion of the phosphorus budget. The grant will be reviewed by the officers before being submitted. Alberta Lake Management Society (ALMS): ALMS is working on a shortlist of lakes to be sampled during summer 2020. Thus far volunteers have been confirmed for sampling Moose, Skeleton North Basin, Lac Sante, Minnie, Crane, Muriel, and Wolf lakes. Unconfirmed volunteers/possible volunteers for Skeleton South Basin, Vincent, Upper Mann, Laurier lakes. The volunteers for these lakes have been contacted since the pandemic to ensure the volunteers feel safe to continue with the sampling with the ALMS technicians. WPAC Managers Meeting: The WPAC Managers met via video conference on April 7th, 2020 that included an update from Rob Harris, the Director of Community Engagement for Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP). Rob mentioned with the ongoing situation with COVID-19 that AEP will be understanding with the 2020-2021 work plans and there should be an opportunity to amend work plans in the future once business returns to normal. New Staff: Myself and Tricia Fleming have been video conferencing on a regular basis to review ongoing projects which are run by the Manager of Environmental Management Programs. Tricia Fleming will be fully taking over the role as of May 1st, 2020. Conclusion: This report provides the highlights from the Manager of Environmental Management Programs of what has occurred since the previous Board meeting. Recommendation: This report is filed with the Board Minutes for information. Erin Ritchie Manager of Environmental Management Programs