Qualified Person ProgramThe Nova Scotia Environment Experience

Adrian Fuller & Christine PenneySeptember 29, 2008 ENVIRONMENT

Presentation Objectives• Qualified Person Program Overview• What Challenges was Nova Scotia facing?• What Nova Scotia hoped to achieve?• How did we decide Next Steps? • How we moved from the current situation to results?• How are we doing now?• Key Elements of the Success of the Program• Current Challenges• Questions

Qualified Person Program Overview•Onsite Sewage Applications supported by

selection/design by a Qualified Person (2000)

•Role previously carried out by NSE staff

•2 types of Qualified Persons – QP 1 & 2’s

•QP 2’s issued certificate of approval each year

•QP 1’s are engineers, licensing through APENS

The Challenges Nova Scotia faced in the 1990’s?

▫6,400 permits issued annually

▫Average waiting period of 4 to 6 weeks

▫Staff compliment was significantly reduced

The Challenges Nova Scotia faced in the 1990’s?

▫Great regulatory responsibility/liability on the Department

▫Little Enforcement ability▫Heavy Supportive Structure – 23 Municipal Boards of Health

What Nova Scotia hoped to achieve?

Outcomes•Cultural Shift for▫Inspection staff▫Industry

•Increase capacity▫Technical/Human

•Improved Client Service▫Turnaround times

Public Policy Consideration•Review of instruments

▫User fees•Behavioural Conscientiousness

▫Industry•Compliance

▫Approvals and auditing•Efficiencies

▫Public, Government, Industry

Public Policy Consideration•Review of instruments

▫ User fees•Behavioural Conscientiousness

▫ Industry•Compliance

▫ Approvals and auditing•Efficiencies

▫ Public, Government, Industry

The Move from Situation to Results•Administrative Changes Necessary

▫New Regulations -1997

▫Repealed Boards of Health

•New Approach▫Private Sector Participation

▫Define private sector capabilities

The Move from Situation to Results•Increase staff capacity

▫50 (1997) to 72 (2008)

•Time to Transition ▫3 years for Phase 1

▫Still evolving

How are we doing now?Enforcement required has decreased

How are we doing Now?The number of Approvals issued since 2000 has decreased by 31% based on 2008 projections

How are we doing Now?

•Turnaround Times have Decreased by 92% since 2001

Turnaround times have decreased by 92% since 2000 and continue to do so

Keys Elements to the Programs Continued Success

•Setting Targets▫Business Plan▫Corporate Initiatives

Better Business Competitive & Compliance

•Continuous Improvement Model▫Constant Re-evaluation of the program

Keys Elements to the Programs Continued Success

•Demonstrated Commitment to Industry▫Annual Engagement Opportunity▫Memorandum of Understanding (2003)

with Waste Water Nova Scotia

Keys Elements to the Programs Continued Success

•Supportive Policies/Infrastructure▫Update to guidelines 2000, 2004 & 2006▫Revisions to regulation in 2007▫EIMAS 2000

•Ensuring Compliance▫On-Site Services Advisory Board▫Streamlined approval and auditing

process

Current Challenges•Continue to decrease Approval turnaround times

•Consistency in program delivery•Administrative Burden on Industry/Public/Staff

•Revising Performance Target

Thank you

QUESTIONS ?