Minutes of 14th Meeting of the WFD Co-ordination Group,
31 October, 2002 held at Custom House Dublin 1
Attended:
Mr David Moore (DELG) – Chair
Mr Gerry Flannery (DELG)
Mr Pat Duggan (DELG)
Mr Andy Bogie (DELG)
Mr Jim Ryan (DELG Dúchas)
Dr Matt Crowe (EPA)
Mr Peter Cunningham (EPA)
Mr Larry Stapleton (EPA)
Dr Garrett Kilroy (EPA)
Ms Margaret Keegan (EPA)
Mr Phillip McMahon (DCMNR)
Mr Trevor Champ (CFB)
Dr Greg Forde (WRFB)
Mr Peter Britton (LGCSB)
Mr Billy Moore (CCEA)
Mr Matt Sinnott (DAF)
Mr Tom Bolger (OPW)
Dr Elizabeth Sides (Heritage
Council)
Ms Beatrice Kelly (Heritage
Council)
Mr Angus Mc Robert (EHS NI)
Apologies:
Mr John Sadlier (DELG)
Mr Connor Barry (DELG)
Dr Paul Toner (EPA)
Dr Conor Clenaghan (EPA)
Mr Geoff Wright (GSI)
Mr Donal Daly (GSI)
Introduction
Mr Moore opened the 14th Meeting of the Group.
1. Adoption of the Agenda
An amended version of the agenda issued by email was distributed and
adopted.
2. Minutes
Minutes adopted subject to minor amendment.
3. Matters arising from the Minutes
None
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4. Presentation to finalise public Irish WFD website
Mr Bogie gave a presentation on the Irish public information website,
www.wfdireland.ie, which is under development. The website now reflects
the feedback given by the Group in March.
It was agreed that the website should now be launched. It was also
agreed that the website should remain ‘stand-alone’ to enable a diverse
range of Departments and Agencies and other organisations to link
directly to the site from their own website.
Action 1 – Irish Public Information website, www.wfdireland.ie to be
launched.
5. Working group Profiles and Objectives for WFD Co-ordination
Group private website
Mr Flannery requested that all Working Group leaders who have not yet
submitted templates on their ‘schedule of output’ to do so as soon as
possible as this will be of great assistance to the individual river basin
management projects and the Co-ordination Group as a whole.
Action 2 – Working Group Leaders to complete and submit schedules
of output to Mr Bogie as soon as possible
6. Presentation by Fisheries on Fish Stock Assessment
Mr Champ gave a presentation to the Group on progress on fish stock
assessment to date.
A short discussion followed. Mr Duggan said that the CFB document on
fish stock assessment is currently being assessed by the DELG at the
request of DCMNR.
Dr Crowe asked if there were any other less labour intensive ways of fish
stock assessment. Mr Champ said that hydro-acoustic assessment
offered some possibilities but expects the bulk of the work having to be
done via the labour intensive electric fishing method.
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Mr Moore said that the EU Guidance Document on Monitoring (p21) –
Working Group 2.7, allow for representative sampling of lakes.
Action 3 – Comments on the CFB document to be finalised by DELG.
7. Discussion of ‘open issues’ relating to EU Common Implementation
Strategy guidance documents
Mr Duggan said that all of the guidance documents are now in final draft
form and are at the stage where they will be submitted as final report
very soon. The documents are due to be submitted to the Meeting of the
Water Directors on 22 November 2002 for final adoption. Mr Duggan
said that if any of the Group Members have any outstanding issues on any
of these documents they must be submitted to him by Tuesday 5
November 2002.
Action 4 – Co-ordination Group members to advise Mr Duggan of
any outstanding issues in relation to the Draft EU Guidance
Documents by 5 November 2002
-
Pilot River Basin testing
The testing of Guidance documents will form a key work area in 2003. Dr
Kilroy and Mr Stapleton will be handling this procedure. PRB testing will
take place in conjunction with the Shannon RBD Project.
-
Intercalibration
The Draft Register of Intercalibration sites and supporting information
must be submitted to the EU by June 2003. The draft register will be
formally adopted by end 2003.
8. Update of issues of Working Groups
Lakes
Mr Stapleton said the Working Group is making good progress on data
gathering and the assessment process.
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Rivers
Mr Stapleton said that work is progressing on testing of draft river
typology and the approach is consistent with that of other Member
States. Work is currently being prioritised in the South Eastern River
Basin District.
Transitional and Coastal Waters
Mr Cunningham said that there had not been a meeting of the
SNIFFER/EPA Typology Project since June 2002. The next meeting of
the Project Team/Steering Group will be held on 12 November 2002 in
Peterborough (England). The Marine Monitoring Programme is currently
under review by Marine Institute and a consultation document will be
produced by the end of November.
Mr Stapleton said that the EPA has a Marine Forum with the Marine
Institute and Dúchas, the next meeting will be held on 16 November
2002.
Groundwater
The Working Group on Groundwater last met on 22 October 2002 and
agreed that Mr Daly will give a presentation to the Co-ordination Group
on the delineation of groundwater bodies. The EU Guidance Documents,
Horizontal and Monitoring, were discussed at the meeting.
A draft Daughter Directive on groundwater is expected in March 2003.
Ms Keegan will forward the minutes of the EAF Groundwater meeting to
Mr Bogie to be uploaded onto the private website.
Action 5 – Mr Daly to give presentation at the next Co-ordination
Group Meeting on the delineation of groundwater bodies
Action 6 – Ms Keegan to forward EAF minutes to Mr Bogie for
uploading on to the private side of the WFD website
Pressures and Impacts
Dr Crowe said that the Pressures and Impacts Working Group aim to set
up a smaller working group to look at the EU Guidance Document on
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Pressures and Impacts to see how the guidance could best be
implemented. The initial focus will be on the SERBD and then include the
other River Basin Districts as they come on stream.
Action 7 – Smaller Working Group to be set up to examine the EU
Guidance Document on Pressures and Impacts
Hydrology
Mr Stapleton said the next meeting of the Hydrology Working Group
would be held on 8 November 2002.
Mr Bolger said that flood defence/management will be considered at the
next meeting of the water directors. Mr Duggan said that flood
defence/management has yet to be raised in the context of the WFD
within any of the Guidance Documents.
Economic Analysis
No developments to report.
Geographical Information Systems, IT Compatibility
The Final Guidance Document is due to be issued today (31 October
2002). The Draft document is available now for downloading on the
private wfd website, as is the Irish Document by EPA/Compass
Infomatics.
Public Consultation/Participation
Mr Flannery said that following his discussion with COMHAR they are
considering including public participation in the WFD as part of the
COMHAR work programme.
Ms Kelly said that the Heritage Council had produced a draft document
on water issues aimed at the general public. Ms Kelly will forward the
Heritage Council document and the EU Guidance document on public
participation to Mr Bogie for uploading onto the private website.
Dr Byrne said the SERBD will be holding a public consultation forum on
Tuesday 5 November 2002. 45 expressions of interest in participating in
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the SERBD Management Project have been received from NGO’s. Two
observers will be invited as observers on the SERBD Management Project
at the next meeting on 20 November 2002.
Action 8 – Ms Kelly to forward copy of Heritage Council document
on water issues to be uploaded onto the private WFD website
9. Research Developments
Dr Kilroy said that to date two GIS fellowships, one desk study, one
large-scale study and a consultancy contract have been awarded. In
addition four existing fellowships examining monitoring methodologies for
the ecological assessment of lakes have been extended for two more
years. One fellowship (PRB) and two desk studies have been approved and
will be awarded in the coming days. Four remaining projects are under
negotiation and are due to be awarded by the end of November 2002.
One consultancy contract is at the tender evaluation stage.
10.
Register of Protected Areas
Mr Stapleton said he would still welcome feedback on the draft report
circulated at the 12th meeting of the WFD Co-ordination Group (18 June
2002). Work is still ongoing in putting the register of protected areas
together.
Action 9 – Co-ordination Group Members to submit feedback to Mr
Stapleton on the Draft report on ‘Register of Protected Areas’
11.
North – South Working Group on Water Quality
Nothing further to report.
12.
North – South TAG
Mr Duggan said that the work of the NS TAG would be looked at and
brought forward at the meeting at Bushmills on 4 November 2002. A
Work Programme for NS TAG is to be finalised by 11 November 2002.
Action 10 – Work programme for NS-TAG to be finalised by 11
November 2002
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13.
UK Developments
Mr Mc Robert said there had been no major developments. A new public
consultation document by DEFRA is available on their website. The
Northern Ireland Water Management Report 2000 has been published
and copies are available from Mr Mc Robert.
14.
South Eastern River Basin District Management Project
Dr Byrne said the policy and legislation report is due to be circulated
soon.
The data for characterisation has almost been completed and loaded into
the GIS. The date for the completion of the characterisation has been
revised from October 2002 to January 2003, as further data sets are to
be included.
Monitoring proposals been approved in principle by the local authorities.
The monitoring will be phased in by March 2003.
A public information website for the SERBD Management Project is
currently under development.
Action 11 – SERBDMP to circulate policy and legislation report
15.
Other Developments
Dangerous Substances (ECJ Court Case, pollution prevention/reduction
programme)
Mr Moore said that a response to the ECJ case on Dangerous Substances
is being prepared.
WQO’s completion of data from catchment-based and RBD projects
etc
Mr Moore said the data from inter alia, catchment based projects will be
used to support the defence of the ECJ case on Dangerous Substances.
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River Basin Management Projects: general update
Mr Flannery said that Shannon River Basin District Management Project
is at an advanced stage and formal approval is expected soon. Both the
Eastern and Western are at the stage where a preferred contractor has
submitted draft proposals. Draft Proposals have been submitted by Cork
County Council for the South West River Basin District Management
Project.
Soil Survey Mapping Project
Mr Flannery said that DELG had written to the EPA inviting them to take
over the over the soil-mapping project started by the forestry section in
DCMNR. Teagasc will carry out the project. The EPA Board is considering
the proposals.
Bathing Waters proposed directive
Mr Duggan said that the EU Commission has published proposals on a new
bathing water directive. A UCD/EPA project has already compiled data
for Irelands bathing water sites to make it easier to assess the
implications Ireland. More information on the implications for Ireland
will be provided at the next meeting.
Action 12 – Mr Duggan to provide more information on the
implications for Ireland of the proposed new bathing water
directive at the next meeting of the Co-ordination Group
Good Agricultural Practice (Waste, Water Quality, Nitrates Etc)
No further developments since Mr Morris’s account at the last meeting (3
September 2002) of the Co –ordination Group.
16.
Date of Next Meeting
Wednesday 8 January 2002, 10:30am
17.
A.O.B
Mr Flannery said that DELG had received a request for a copy of the
minutes of the Co-ordination Group. After a short discussion the Group
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agreed in principle that future minutes of meeting being made publicly
available.
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Summary of Action Points
Action 1 – Irish Public Information website, www.wfdireland.ie, to be
launched
Action 2 – Working Group Leaders to complete and submit schedules of
output to Mr Bogie as soon as possible
Action 3 – Comments on the CFB document to be finalised by DELG and
DCMNR
Action 4 – Co-ordination Group members to advise Mr Duggan of any
outstanding issues in relation to the Draft EU Guidance Documents by 5
November 2002
Action 5 – Mr Daly to give presentation at the next Co-ordination Group
Meeting on the delineation of groundwater bodies
Action 6 – Ms Keegan to forward EAF minutes to Mr Bogie for uploading
on to the private side of the WFD website
Action 7 – Smaller Working Group to be set up to examine the EU
Guidance Document on Pressures and Impacts
Action 8 – Ms Kelly to forward copy of Heritage Council document on
water issues to be uploaded onto the private WFD website
Action 9 – Co-ordination Group Members to submit feed back to Mr
Stapleton on the Draft report on ‘Register of Protected Areas’
Action 10 – Work programme for NS-TAG to be finalised by 11 November
2002
Action 11 – SERBDMP to circulate policy and legislation report
Action 12 – Mr Duggan to provide more information on the implications
for Ireland of the proposed new bathing water directive at the next
meeting of the Co-ordination Group
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