February 2025 EAC Minutes

Meeting date:	February 6, 2025	Meeting time:	1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location:	Microsoft Teams	Prepared by:	Brenden McBain
In attendance:	Wendy Avis Yeganeh Asadian Hayley Hoikka Bijan Pourarimi Jessica Low Babak Behnia Olivia Hui Rene McKibbin Derek Jennejohn Mark Guerin	YVR, Climate and Environment – Chair YVR, Climate and Environment City of Vancouver City of Vancouver Citizen Rep Transport Canada City of Richmond City of Richmond Citizen Rep Canadian Wildlife Service (ECCC) Metro Vancouver Musqueam Indian Band
Guests/Presenters:	Bobby Asuncion Amanda Chow Simon Robinson	YVR, Climate and Environment YVR, Climate and Environment YVR, Climate and Environment
Regrets:	Shelina Sidi Myrka Manzo Eddie Uyeda Erin Weckworth Taylor Groenewoud Brenden McBain	Metro Vancouver Air Canada Transport Canada Fraser Basin Council Environment and Climate Change Canada YVR, Climate and Environment
Secretary:	Yeganeh Asadian	YVR, Climate and Environment

Meeting Minutes

1. Introductions & Welcome

Wendy welcomed the committee and shared the meeting etiquette. Wendy acknowledged that YVR is on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people and the importance of the 30-year agreement in place to support our relationship. Wendy welcomed members, ran through the meeting agenda, and encouraged participants to share their comments and questions as well as taking breaks throughout the meeting.

Wendy also introduced Mark Guerin to the committee who will be representing the Musqueam Indian Band and works with their Environmental Stewardship Department.

2. Review of previous minutes

No comments or questions were raised regarding the draft meeting minutes from the October 17, 2024, meeting. As such they will be adopted as final and posted at yvr.ca in English and French. There was no material action items from the meeting.

3. Airport Authority Updates

Wendy announced the addition of new team members, including Lisa Seip as the new manager of archaeology, Marina Saldana as the administrative assistant, and Ammaar Ghogawala as the noise information coordinator.

Wendy discussed the Prime Air flight incident on November 19th, highlighting the quick response from YVR teams to ensure safety, check for spills, and protect archaeology resources in the aircraft's removal. Wendy also mentioned the unusually dry January and the recent snowstorm, noting that snow operations at the airport have been running smoothly despite some delays and cancellations.

Wendy shared that YVR is hosting the Invictus Games from February 8th to 16th, welcoming 550 competitors and their families from up to 25 nations, with Musqueam members participating in the welcome events.

4. Environmental Audit Program and 2024 Results

Bobby Asuncion, Senior Environmental Specialist who joined YVR almost a year ago, provided an overview of YVR's Environmental Audit Program, explaining its purpose, focus areas, and the risk-based approach used to determine audit frequency and tenant selection.

Bobby summarized the 2024 environmental audit results, noting that none of the findings were classified as high risk, and there was a reduction in findings compared to previous audits. Bobby also outlined the plans for the 2025 environmental audits, which will include cargo airlines, airlines, ground handlers, and specific airport authority departments.

5. Waste and Recycling Program and Recent Waste Facility Assessments

Amanda Chow, Senior Environmental Specialist managing the Waste and Recycling program presented the key findings from the waste audits and facility assessments in 2024, including waste generation, diversion rates, capture rates, contamination rates, and discussed the potential for achieving a 90% diversion rate also known as zero waste.

Amanda shared recommendations for improving waste management at YVR, such as revising the sustainable purchasing policy, expanding recycling programs, and providing consistent information and training. Wendy provided additional context of the impacts of the pandemic on the waste management program, including diversion dropping several percent due to health and safety concerns, which has since rebounded.

6. Update on Development Projects at YVR

Simon Robinson, Senior Environmental Specialist managing the Environmental Assessment program provided updates on various development projects, including the North Runway Program, Sea Island Conservation Area upgrades, Floodbox H replacement (near MacDonald Beach), and South Airport cargo project. More specifically, Simon discussed the North Runway Program, which includes concrete preparation, drainage improvements, electrical cabling, and an asphalt overlay, with work primarily occurring at night. Simon also outlined the ongoing and upcoming upgrades to the Sea Island Conservation Area, including habitat restoration, planting, and raising the for future sea level rise. Simon explained the Floodbox H replacement project, which involves upgrading a stormwater pump station in the Sea Island Conservation Area, with design nearly complete and construction pending permits. Finally, Simon provided an update on the South Airport cargo project and the ongoing environmental and archaeological studies. Work includes a new taxiway, apron area, cargo building preparation, and the relocation of Inglis Drive at the South Terminal. This project has a completion target of 2027 to align with supporting funding for the project.

7. Round Table and Discussion

Participants shared updates from their respective organizations, including ongoing remediation work, invasive species management, and regional greenhouse gas emissions inventory and air quality monitoring reports.

Rene McKibbin from Canadian Wildlife Service provided an update on work associated with the Sea Island Conservation Area (SICA), located on the northern portion on Sea Island. Rene spoke to Marsh Restoration work by Raincoast Conservation Foundation that is underway and highlighted that off-leash dogs have continued to be an issue in the area. Rene is in talks with the City of Richmond who oversees MacDonald Beach Park. Babak Behnia, from the City of Richmond, offered to help support. Rene discussed two plans which are underdevelopment for SICA, the Beaver Management Plan and Invasive Species Management Plan.

Derek Jennejohn from the Metro Vancouver Air Quality and Climate Action Team provided an update on Metro Vancouver’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, Climate 2050 Annual Report (published late last year), and Air Quality Monitoring Report for the region, including YVR.

Babak Behnia mentioned that the City of Richmond is considering updating its development permitting guidelines to require developers to assess and manage invasive species on private lands. He suggested that a five-year monitoring and maintenance period might be necessary to effectively manage these species. Babak also discussed the presence of invasive species in the region, specifically mentioning knotweed, Scotch broom, thistle, Himalayan blackberry, and reed canary grass. He emphasized the need for a thorough assessment and management strategy for these species, particularly on private lands.

Jessica Low from Transport Canada, mentioned that the remediation work for Lot S30, in the south terminal area, underway, albeit a little challenged due to the snow and snow operations at the Airport.

8. Upcoming Meetings

Wendy outlined the upcoming meetings for 2025, including the next meeting in May, a summer tour, and the annual public meeting in May, with a focus on the new environmental management plan and zero waste action plan.

Thursday May 15th 1-3 pm
Thursday Oct 16th 1-3 pm
Summer tour – TBD

Next Meeting Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 1 p.m.