Kathleen Johnson, an engineer with the Department of Environment and Labour, delivered information and advice on the Wetland Alteration Approval Process to a packed room at the Rodd Grand Hotel in Yarmouth on Jan. 17.
Municipal leaders and staff from Shelburne County, installers of on-site sewage disposal systems, realtors, surveyors and other stakeholders with an interest in wetlands, learned the definition of these protected areas and what was involved if they wanted to alter them.
At least 400,000 hectares (7.5 per cent) of the province is considered wetland excluding swamps. That percentage jumps to 20 per cent if they are included.
Approximately 75 per cent of wetlands are privately owned and Canada has 25 per cent of the world’s remaining wetlands.
The department has governed wetlands since the 1967 Water Act. Last year the policy was strengthened to require an application for approval (initial cost is $250) from the department to alter wetlands of any size.
If the approval is granted, there is an additional cost of $250 for compensation to create a new wetland habitat. If the alteration or disruption is greater than two hectares it is necessary for an environmental assessment ($5,000).
“Avoidance (of wetland alteration) must be met when possible. If you can’t demonstrate that it’s unavoidable, then you don’t move onto the next step in the process,” said Johnson.
Penalties for failing to obtain an approval could include a first summary offense ticket ($675) for unknowing action, or fines dictated by the court for deliberate infractions.
The department’s goal is to establish a policy of preventing a zero net loss of wetlands by 2009.
A wetland inventory of the province, based on visual interpretation can be viewed at
gis4.natr.gov.ns.ca
by Carla Allen/The Vanguard 
