The city of St. Albert and its' Environmental Management System
- Sanduni Dissanayake
- Oct 30, 2022
- 9 min read
The city of St. Albert
The city of St. Albert is located in Canada. It is the 5th largest city in the province of Alberta and was founded by father Albert Lacombe in 1861 as a Metis settlement. There are over 60000 residents, one thousand permanent and casual employees and more than two thousand and three hundred local businesses. The city of St, Albert is famous for its outstanding cultural and sports amenities. Including red willow park and trail system and Arden theatre. The city has a reputation for hosting many famous events like Alberta International Children’s Festival, Alberta 55 plus winter games and Alberta special summer games.
It's Environmental Issues
The city of St. Albert faces several natural disasters. Strom, heavy rain, floods, droughts, and wildfires can take as examples. Flooding is the most frequent natural disaster that the city of St. Albert faces any time of the year and costliest in terms of property damage. Heavy rainfall, ice jams, and rapid melting of the thick snowpack can be the reason for it. These flooding events occur centralizing Sturgeon River. Yearly St. Albert city faces wildfires or is smothered with smoke due to surrounding fire events
This climate change will affect the land-use pattern in the city of St. Albert. Its’ current forest-dominated land use will be transferred to grassland land use in 2050 according to the statistics.
The Sturgeon River is the main source of discharging the city’s stormwater. This can create sediment deposits which exceed the capacity level of the river. Development along the riverside, erosion and deposition within the river can also be taken as effects of the capacity level of the river. This will be the reason for the increased flood levels, and the impact on fish, biodiversity, water quality and wildlife of the city.
City's Environmental Management System
The environmental management system of a city provides a better orientation for the city's activities. This will provide a systematic approach for the city’s organizations to bring environmental considerations into decision-making and day-to-day operations. Implementation of an environmental management system helps governments to provide a framework for evaluating and improving environmental performance and environmental goals. This will help to ensure that major environmental risks and obligations are identified minimized and managed.
The utilities and transit sector and public work sector are the two sectors that improved under the Environmental Management System in the city of St. Albert. And it certifies ISO 14001.
The city council is one of the major stakeholders when achieving the ISO 14001 certification for the city of St. Albert. The city council has implemented policies, plans and guidelines to achieve successfully this certification. Environmental sustainable policy, environmental master plan, and contractors' guidelines are some of them.
Environmental Sustainable Policy
Environmental Sustainable Policy Purpose:
To provide a guiding framework for setting Environmental goals and targets.
To state the City’s commitment to environmental management of its Operations
To implementing initiatives that will support community and City Environmental Sustainability
Policy statement -
The city recognizes that community environmental sustainability is a shared responsibility and it shall work with stakeholders to take action to conserve, protect & enhance the natural and built environment.
The city is committed to being a leader in environmental management and Environmental sustainability of its operations for the benefit of all.
The city strives for continuous improvement by implementing progressive Environmental management practices.
2003 is the year in which the environmentally sustainable policy was developed and implemented in the city of St. Alberta. This provides an overall direction and gives a framework to achieve the organization’s and society's environmental goals.
The administration has to use these policies and guidelines to guide the development of every plan, and system of procedures, that will prevent or reduce environmental impacts in St. Albert. This policy is upgraded every five years to ensure the changing trends, and conditions and to represent the accurate state of the city’s environment.
Three sectors have to take responsibility for environmental sustainability. They are the responsibilities of the council, the responsibilities of the chief administrative officer and the environmental advisory committee.
Mainly city council have responsibilities regarding, the implementation of bylaws, policies and long-term plans which support the environment sustainable policy, use them when making decisions on environment-related issues, provide strategic direction by considering the environment as the first place, make these policies appropriately and lead the community, society by acting as an example of protecting the environment.
The chief administrative officer has to fulfil these policies by taking them into the society, managing stakeholders(residents, businesses, organizations- both government and non-government and other orders of government who have an interesting role in the environment), identifying environmental risks and opportunities relevant to city operations, utilizing these environment management systems, protect the continues improvement of the environment of the city and address the issues in new legislations and external influence.
The environmental advisory committee has to give strategic advice, represent the public perspective on environmentally related issues, conduct programmes and give feedback to the administration on related topics. Service standers/ expectations which should fulfil by the city are divided into two groups. They are city environmental performance and community environmental sustainability.
Under the city environmental performance city have to; recognize and complete all environmental rules and regulations and develop and support better management practices which helps to environment; implement and maintain environment management systems in according to obligations , identification of risks and opportunities and improve environmental performance; use environmental policy standers to decision making process and maintain continuous improvement; monitor and measuring the processes of environmental preferments and inform public, government and other stakeholders; encourage environmental sustainable development, urban planning, and construction principles; consider climate change and resilience and maintain the usage of natural resources when providing city facilities and services; highlight the importance of identification potential environmental impacts of the every work done by employees, contractors and consultants and finally issuing annual updated environmental report considering the environmental targets, performance and policy.
Under the community sustainability, the city has to reduce the community’s environmental footprint, introduce programmes and services in sustainable environment usage concept ( enhance air quality, renewable resource use, energy efficiency, leadership in those activities, waste management etc.), develop and sustain city’s wildlife and biodiversity, develop a partnership with the stakeholders –use of shared resources, practice community management events and programmes, public awareness and ensure the making of climate-resilient community.
As another main stakeholder in the city development and environment, contractors have to work under all environmental laws and regulations to improve the city’s environmental promenade. The City council have implemented two main documents to process contractors' work they are, Contractors Environmental Responsibility Package, Environmental Construction Operation Plan Framework(ECO)
The contractor’s environmental responsibility form is a document between the contractor and authorized the company to provide permission for the development activity. It has all guidelines about the development process under the environmental requirements provided by the city council. The contractor has to sign these requirements by agreeing they will do the development activity according to these guidelines. The authorized company have to check those form of requirements. The signed copy of the contractors' environmental responsibilities acknowledgement form has to forward to the Environmental Management System Coordinator. ECO plan consists of written procedures and drawings addressing the environmental mitigation and protection relevant to construction activities performed on a specific project site.
ECO Plan Objectives
The objective of an ECO Plan is to identify and prevent and/or minimize environmental impacts.
The development and implementation of the ECO Plan will:
• Ensure environmental considerations are part of the decision-making process;
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, bylaws and guidelines;
and
• Demonstrate environmental commitment by all parties involved, both in writing and
in action, to stakeholders and the public.
More information from
Environmental Master Plan
Environmental Master Plan is a cooperative and long-term community plan which addresses environmental issues and provides goals and targets for them. Environmental Master Plan is integrated with the other plans implemented by the city council, which are, environmental plans, economic plans, education and social plans.
The key areas and goal switch address here are, the management of air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emission and energy consumption, management of natural areas, parks and trees, promoting sustainable transportation system, promoting sustainable neighbourhood system, waste management, minimize the water consumption, improve water quality, and protect Sturgeon River watershed. For each of these areas, the master plan provides a vision statement by covering, the current position of the condition, focus areas and how to reach targets and goals. The Environmental Management System plays a major role when achieving the targets and goals of the Environmental Master Plan of the city of St. Albert.
Involvement of Intelex Technologies Company.
Intelex Technologies Company did a major role when achieving ISO 14001 certification for the city of St. Albert. Making upgraded internal processes and data management systems through the city’s departments was the 1st step that has to be achieved. Before Intelex, most of the city’s documents were reported on the papers. Finding a correct sheet or spreadsheet was very difficult and time-consuming. A better approach for recording environmental data is needed to find and Intelex provides an online tracking and reporting system for all city’s environmental data. It provides easy, increased security and ensures version control. It makes it easy to access updated documents.
After implementing this system city of St. Albert achieve ISO 14001 certification in less than two years. It helps the government to identify what areas need more resources than others, can reduce 80% nonconformance from the city’s public work and transit department, $14000 saved roughly from reducing surplus resources for sectors and more achievements.
From all of these efforts and help from stakeholders, the city of St. Albert was able to achieve the certification of ISO 14001.
Effectiveness of the EMS System.
Improved Air Quality.
City of St. Albert air quality is measured through a system called the Index of Quality of the Air. This is integrated with the Alberta province air quality measurement system. The province is divided into 5 areas and is monitored by the Alberta Environment Department.
Transportation and automobile do a major role when considering the air quality of St. Albert city. With the help of the EMS system and the Environmental and transport departments, St. Albert improved its public vehicle usage and reduces alternative fossil burning. Increase usage of electric buses introduced with the cooperation of the Alberta Municipal Solar Program.
Improved Water Quality
The main resource of water consumption in St. Albert is the Saskatchewan River via EPCOR’s E. L. smith water treatment plant. There is a network of pipelines connected with reservoirs and units. Sturgeon, Lacombe and Oakmont are the reservoirs that store treated water for St. Albert. EPCOR regularly monitors water quality and reports it. Overall water storage and distribution system of St. Albert is monitored 24-7 by the city’s Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition System. It provides System status, water quality, and quantity data through the operational staff.
St. Albert has one of the most purified water and the best quality water in the world.
Wastewater management is one of the criteria controlled by the Environmental Management system of the city.
Red Fish Programme, stormwater management- pond quality monitoring programme, city’s stormwater management plan, infiltration and inflow (INI) program and Hydrocarbon grit system are some of the main programmes, a policy implemented by the EMS to control, manage and improve the water quality of the city of St. Albert.
Community Engagement
Home Energy Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) is the toolkit which the city of St. Albert supplies for its residents. It has tools, tips and strategies for how to use, how to reduce, and how can efficiently use energy in homes. The city has to implement Idel Free Bylaw 16/2017 and water conservation Bylaw 22/2015
The city promotes Clean Air Day and Bike Month, every June to active living and sustainable transportation.
Upcoming Climate action plans
There are a few upcoming plans related to climate change and the environment which developed through the interaction of the Environmental Management System.
LED lighting Upgrade at Servus Place recreation centre.
Solar Project (286 kW) on Public work building
Clean energy improvement program.
RCMP building recommission Pilot Project
EV Charging Infrastructure Project.
Advice from the City of St. Albert.
Many things can apply to present cities from the city of St. Albert. Having an integrated organization system is one of the main concepts which can use to sustain cities, including the environmental side. Many countries' departments, and organizations work separately than working in an integrated manner. Having an integrated system will help to manage, identify and provide solutions more efficiently. Cities shall have their specific guidelines in an integrated manner for improving their performance environmentally.
The engagement of stakeholders is another key factor that can apply to cities. Spreading the information among stakeholders, involving them in the planning process, clear communication, take internal and external support for work will develop sustainable plans.
Having an upgraded data management system, centralized with an online tracking system will help to organize the city’s work. We know how time-consuming and costly the procedure for accessing information from one department to another is. Managing up-to-date data is another best method we have to fulfil when going on the road to achieving ISO 14001 certification.
Moreover educating the community, and improving community engagement in green cities, is must learn factor from St. Albert city. Cities can implement different programmes, to achieve the green city concept. For example, St. Alber city uses the Red Fish Programme to educate and maintain the biodiversity and water quality of the Sturgeon river, they use many waste management programmes with the collaboration of the public community, and they develop specific guidelines for both eco-friendly and human- friendly; the programmes like Home Energy Assessment Toolkit. These programmes and concepts will motivate people o to do their best to protect the environment. Clean Air Day Concept and Bike Most Concept help to keep air quality sustainable and help for energy efficiency.
Finally, the city council have to act in a friendly manner by notifying people "What the council is doing for people’s well-being, not for council members well being”.
References
· https://mccac.ca/2020/09/09/partners-for-climate-protection-spotlight-city-of-st-albert/
· https://stalbert.ca/site/assets/files/6403/reportontheenvironment-2003.pdf
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