finding the balance

FINDING THE BALANCE

A presentation of the draft CSC Responsible Aggregate Standard

Cornerstone Standards CouncilThe Cornerstone Standards Council (CSC)

A collaboration of aggregate operators, environmental leaders, community advocates and experts in certification.

CSC believes in an aggregate sector that is:• Prosperous;• Respectful of the natural environment;• A good neighbour and employer;• Impacting communities in a positive manner; • Using recycled materials to reduce virgin demand; and is• Responsive to Ontario’s building needs.

CSC’s work addresses the need for a less confrontational approach to the planning, siting and operation of aggregates sites in Ontario. CSC’s Board of Directors believes a collaborative approach is urgently needed.

Cornerstone Standards CouncilCSC Board of Directors

• Peter Kendall, Schad Foundation (CHAIR)

• Maia Becker, Independent Consultant• Bob Cartmel, Lafarge Canada• Ryan Essex, Miller Group• Bill Galloway/Nick Caccavella, Holcim

Canada• Ken Lucyschyn, Walker Industries• Moreen Miller, OSSGA• Thomas Mueller, Canada Green

Building Council • Ron Reid, Couchiching Conservancy • Caroline Schultz, Ontario Nature• Eric Stevenson, Environmental

Defence• Andrew Stewart, McLean Foundation

Voluntary Certification – Well Established, Well Respected

CSC is a voluntary and market-based certification system for the responsibleextraction of aggregates.

Certification is the process by which aggregate sites are independently Evaluated against an environmental and social standard

Certification is not a substitute for regulatory and planning processes but provide incentives for individual operations that are willing to go above and beyond regulatory requirements.

CSC follows in the footsteps of successful, credible and achievable certification programs in other resource and construction sectors (FSC – forestry, MSC – fisheries, LEED – building)

By certifying sites that meet growing expectations for social and environmental rigour CSC provides green builders with a responsible option

CSC’s current focus is on the certification of aggregate sites in Ontario. This may evolve to include other provinces and other products (e.g. asphalt, concrete)

In order to be CREDIBLE and EFFECTIVE, CSC certification must deliver:•A Responsible Aggregate Standard that establishes the requirements against which an aggregate site’s performance is assessed;•An Assurance System that establishes the processes, mechanisms and requirements for how sites are assessed against the standard.

Developing the Standard – Collaboration and Consultation

In 2011, CSC established a Standards Development Panel (SDP) made up of individuals from community organizations and First Nations affected by aggregate operations and experts in aggregate extraction, municipal planning, and environmental protection.

The SDP was tasked with producing an effective and functional Final Standard that establishes credible, practical and measurable requirements for socially and environmentally responsible aggregates.

Through a consensus based, participatory and balanced process, the SDP participated in:•30+ face-to-face meetings;•300+ hours of discussion, debate and review;•30+ early drafts of the Standard;•6 sub-committees focused on key issues; and•Field-testing at two aggregate sites.

The result of this work is the draft CSC RESPONSIBLE AGGREGATE STANDARD

Benefits of CSC’s Responsible Aggregate Standard

Community Benefits•Improved communications processes and involvement•Improved environmental protection and targeted net-gain approach to rehabilitation•More certain outcomes for siting of proposed operations•Increased knowledge of progress towards final extraction•More opportunities for Aboriginal communities to be engaged

Industry Benefits•Competitive advantage when supplying materials to responsible purchasers•Improved communications processes with neighbours, public agencies and Aboriginal communities•Clear expectations of operating practices •More certain outcomes for siting of proposed operations

Understanding the CSC Certification System

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ConsultationCSC certification

SitingRequirements

Contact usOperational & Planning Requirements

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Understanding how CSC certification Works

VOLUNTARY: Companies choose to be audited against CSC’s Responsible Aggregate Standard.

INDEPENDENT: Audits are conducted by independent, third-party auditors.

VERIFIED: Auditors verify whether an aggregate site is in compliance with the requirements set-out in the CSC’s Responsible Aggregate Standard.

SITE SPECIFIC: CSC’s standard is applied and audited at the level of the aggregate site (not company-wide).

ENGAGES STAKEHOLDERS: Auditors consult with stakeholders to verify and evaluate whether aggregate sites are in compliance with CSC’s requirements.

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STEP 1: Applicant submits application to CB.STEP 2: CB verifies eligibility of applicant. Contract between applicant and CB.

STEP 3: CB selects audit team. Contract between CSC and audit team.STEP 4: Audit team engages with stakeholders and conducts site auditSTEP 5: Auditors submit Audit Report to CB

STEP 6: CB makes certification decision. Issues 10 year certificate or non-conformances to be addressed by applicant.

The CSC Certification Process

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STEP 7: Auditors conduct observation audit 5 years after certification is granted and evaluate whether there is continued conformance. Non-conformance may result in withdrawal or suspension of certificate

AUDIT CERTIFICATION 10 Years with a 5 year observation audit and conformance

audits as required

STEP 8: Applicant submits application to renew certification. Process begins again at Step 3.

Participants

Applicant

Certification Body (CB)

Audit Team

Stakeholders

AUDIT

Slide 9


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Slide 10

CSC Certification Requirements

CSC certificates are granted for 10 years, withmandatory surveillance audits 5 years after a certificate is granted.

CSC offers two types of certification: CSC Candidate and CSC Certified.• CSC Candidate sites have not yet achieved regulatory approval.

These sites seek certification as a tool to inform their planning processes.

• CSC Certified sites have achieved regulatory approval. These sites seek certification as a tool to inform their operational processes.

Both CSC certification types require independent, third-party audits against the CSC Responsible Aggregate Standard.

The standard identifies which core requirements apply to sites eligible for CSC Candidate or CSC Certified status.


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Slide 11

CSC Certification Types

Submit CSC Registration application

Evaluation Audit

Evaluation Audit

Observation Audit

Observation Audit

Re-evaluation

Audit

CSC CANDIDATEi.Promotes site as a “Candidate” siteii.Site meets CSC requirements related to community engagement and siting

CSC CERTIFIEDi.Promotes site and products as “Certified” ii.Site meets CSC requirements related to operation and rehabilitation planning

5 yrs. 5 yrs.5 yrs.1 yr. 1 yr.5 yrs.

Regulatory approvals achieved, OR Site is, or has previously, been operating

Not all approvals are achieved, ANDConsultation has commenced, ANDSite is not, or has not, been operating


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Slide 12

Now it’s your turn to be heard.We are seeking your input on the draft CSC

Responsible Aggregate Standards

Public consultation of the standard


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Slide 14

Public Consultation of the draft CSC Responsible Aggregate Standard

You may submit your comments on the draft Standard from January 6 to March 6, 2014 (60 days)

CSC is hosting a number of sessions across the province to provide information on the certification system and draft Standards and answer questions related to the draft Standards. Comments made during these sessions are not considered formal comments.

To submit formal comments to CSC, they must:•Be attributed: Name, affiliation and contact information must be included.•Be in writing: All comments must be in writing.•Be within consultation period: The last day for submitting comments is 4 pm EST on March 6, 2014.•Be sent to: email ([email protected]) or mail (Cornerstone Standards Council, 285 McLeod St. Ottawa, K2P 1A1)

Please note that following consultation, ALL comments, and who they are attributed to, will be posted on the CSC website at

www.cornerstonestandards.ca


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Slide 15

Once comments have been submitted

The Standard Development Panel will consider all comments that are attributed, in writing, and submitted within the required time period.

Comments will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with no weighting or scoring of comments.

How comments are addressed will be identified in a ‘comment response table’, which will be posted on CSC’s website.

After the SDP’s review of comments, a revised standard will be posted for a 30-day consultation period.

The CSC Board of Directors is responsible for the final approval of the CSC Responsible Aggregate Standard.


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Timeline

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE60-day consultation of draft standard begins(January 6, 2014)

Information sessions

Meetings with affected groups and individuals

End of consultation on draft standard (March 6, 2014)

Comments reviewed and considered by SDP.

Revised standard is submitted to CSC Board.

30-day consultation of revised standard

CSC Board reviews and considers all comments received during the two consultation periods

Launch of CSC

certification.

Aggregate sites may apply for

certification once final

standard is released.

finding the balance

Documents