MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
THE FRASER BASIN COUNCIL
AND
THE BURRARD INLET ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PROGRAM
AND THE FRASER RIVER ESTUARY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

1. PURPOSE
The Fraser Basin Council (FBC), the Burrard Inlet Environmental Action Program (BIEAP) and the Fraser River Estuary Management Program (FREMP) share common goals concerning the sustainability of Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River estuary. This Memorandum of Understanding provides a framework for continued cooperation in pursuit of these common goals.

2. BACKGROUND
The FBC is a not-for-profit, non-government organization dedicated to the sustainability of the Fraser Basin. The 36 Directors of the Fraser Basin Council include, in addition to an impartial chair, representatives from the federal, provincial and local governments; representatives from the eight First Nations language groups traditionally living in the Basin; private sector representatives from each of the five geographic regions within the Basin; and Basin-wide representatives reflecting social economic and environmental considerations. The FBC acts as a catalyst, multi-party facilitator, and inter-jurisdictional conflict resolution agent to promote implementation of its Charter for Sustainability throughout the Basin. The Charter is a good-faith agreement among Fraser Basin residents and organizations to work towards the social, economic and environmental sustainability of the Fraser Basin.

The BIEAP is a partnership of five agencies initiated in 1991 to respond to concerns about environmental degradation in Burrard Inlet. BIEAP's vision for a sustainable future for Burrard Inlet is a thriving port and urban community co-existing with a healthy environment. To fulfill that vision, BIEAP is currently sponsoring preparation of an Environmental Management Plan to consolidate resource management objectives, guide the environmental assessment of projects, and provide a reference point for environmental stewardship efforts.

The FREMP is a partnership of six agencies created in 1985 in response to public concerns about the effects of development, population growth, and communication problems between government agencies. FREMP's vision for the estuary is a living, working river. In 1994, the FREMP partners completed a plan for sustainable management of the estuary organized around this vision. Today FREMP is implementing this plan, which reflects a consensus among private citizens, industry, environmental advocacy groups, and government agencies about how the water, shoreline and upland resources in the estuary should be managed.

The FBC, BIEAP and FREMP share four government partners: Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks and the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

3. PRINCIPLES
The following principles underpin this MOU:

a) Recognition that sustainability requires the integration of efforts to provide for the social well-being of communities in the Fraser Basin and Burrard Inlet ecosystems and will involve measures to maintain a healthy economy that contributes to a healthy environment.

b) Mutual respect for the roles of BIEAP, FREMP and the FBC, as well as for the mandates of their individual government partners.

c) Recognition that this MOU does not constrain or duplicate any of the partners' activities to fulfill their mandates.

d) Cooperation in the development and distribution of information.

e) Harmonization of projects to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.

f) Full involvement of the public in key sustainability initiatives, such as the biannual conferences sponsored by the Fraser Basin Council.

g) Coordinated joint action on areas of mutual concern.

4. FRASER BASIN COUNCIL CONTRIBUTIONS
The FBC agrees to take the following actions to promote sustainability in and around Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River estuary:

a) Continue to provide leadership toward a sustainable future for the Fraser Basin through implementation of the Charter for Sustainability;

b) Assist in the measurement of progress toward sustainability by facilitating the development and monitoring of a set of sustainability indicators;

c) Encourage non-government organizations representing environmental, economic and social interests to develop their visions and goals for the sustainability of Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River estuary;

d) Work with BIEAP and FREMP to achieve consistency between the Charter for Sustainability and BIEAP's Consolidated Environmental Management Plan and FREMP's Estuary Management Plan;

e) Recognize, in the Fraser Basin Five Year Action Plan, BIEAP's Consolidated Environmental Management Plan and FREMP's Estuary Management Plan as key plans for delivering sustainable management of the inlet and estuary;

f) Facilitate the coordination of sustainability initiatives dealing with broad economic or social issues that transcend the BIEAP and FREMP focus on water resources under federal and provincial jurisdictions, with an emphasis on complementing the work being done by other organizations; and

g) Facilitate resolution of multi-party and/or inter-jurisdictional sustainability challenges that cannot be resolved without the intervention of an impartial third party.

5. BIEAP AND FREMP CONTRIBUTIONS
BIEAP and FREMP agree to take the following actions to promote sustainability in and around Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River estuary:

a) Continue to foster dialogue and coordinated action among government, industry, First Nations, special interests and the general public in toward integrated resource management of Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River estuary;

b) Utilize the strategic directions established by the Charter for Sustainability and other FBC strategic planning efforts as context for BIEAP and FREMP plans;

c) Complete development and coordinate implementation of the Consolidated Environmental Management Plan for Burrard Inlet;

d) Continue implementing the FREMP Estuary Management Plan, including monitoring and evaluating its effectiveness and sponsoring updates as required;

e) Obtain FBC recognition of these plans, in the Fraser Basin Five Year Action Plan, as key vehicles for delivering sustainable management of the inlet and estuary;

f) Provide a streamlined, one-window approach to project environmental assessments and approvals and coordinate dialogue between industry and government about that process;

g) Look for opportunities to develop active partnerships with non-government organizations and interests in management activities; and

h) Facilitate resolution of multi-party and/or inter-jurisdictional conflicts that fall within the scope of BIEAP and FREMP.

6. AREAS OF COOPERATION
BIEAP and FREMP and the FBC agree to take the following actions intended to produce greater cooperation and harmonization of their respective programs and activities.
BIEAP and FREMP and the FBC will jointly:

a) Develop and regularly update an overview of government agency mandates and planning processes relevant to the sustainability of Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River estuary. This overview will be distributed to environmental, economic and social non-government organizations with interests in the inlet and estuary.

b) Encourage non-government organizations representing environmental, economic and social interests to participate in activities relevant to the sustainability of Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River estuary.

c) Jointly develop work plans for addressing issues of mutual interest in order to maximize efficiency and effectiveness and ensure joint efforts are carried out in a complementary fashion and conducted in accordance with the intent of this MOU.

d) Include the BIEAP-FREMP partners in the biannual conferences sponsored by the Fraser Basin Council

e) Arrange for periodic meetings between the FBC Greater Vancouver, Squamish, Pemberton Regional Directors and the BIEAP and FREMP Management Committees to allow for discussion of issues of mutual interest.

f) Convening an annual meeting of the Parties with the Chair of FBC.

g) Cooperate on other initiatives as they arise.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The Parties have executed this Memorandum of Understanding.