The federal Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) program was developed to assess the adequacy of effluent regulations under the federal Fisheries Act. Specifically, EEM addresses possible effects of pulp and paper mill effluents on fish, fish habitat, and use of fisheries resources, and examines the sublethal toxicity of process effluents. The program is designed to achieve national uniformity in monitoring effects, while taking into consideration site-specific factors.
Since 1993, Hatfield has implemented the federal EEM program for upper Fraser River pulpmills in the Prince George and Quesnel, BC area. Mills involved in the program include:
- Canfor Pulp and Paper Limited Partnership (two mills).
- Quesnel River Pulp Company.
- Cariboo Pulp and Paper Company.
Effects from these mills have been assessed in a single program that looks at downstream (near-field and far-field) and upstream (reference) aquatic environments. The program has included assessments of mill effluent sublethal toxicity, benthic invertebrate communities, and fish populations.
