"Enhanced" Records of Site Condition
According to the Ministry of the Environment, one of its key changes to Reg. 153/04 (in Reg. 511/09) are its “enhancements” to the Record of Site Condition process. These “enhancements” have three major components: A quality control / audit process for Records of Site Condition, before they …
Continue reading the post titled "Enhanced" Records of Site ConditionReg. 511/09: did they really mean this?
Some of the previously unannounced Reg. 511/09 amendments to Ontario’s brownfields regulation, 153/04, seem to have unexpected effects. For example, wells for dewatering or for groundwater treatment may now require every property within 250 metres to use potable (not non-potable) clean…
Continue reading the post titled Reg. 511/09: did they really mean this?Real protection of watersheds
In the ongoing fallout of Ontario’s unfortunate response to the Walkerton water disaster, the objective of Ontario's source protection plans will be too narrow: protecting the immediate vicinity of sources of drinking water. Watersheds have many “functions” other than providing drinking w…
Continue reading the post titled Real protection of watershedsNew brownfields rules
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has quietly adopted sweeping changes to the regulation of brownfields and other contaminated sites. Some of the changes were extensively reviewed with stakeholders during the past three years; others were surprises: See the 87 pages of Regulation 511/0…
Continue reading the post titled New brownfields rulesDownloading liability on municipalities
Senior governments seem to have no shame about downloading enormous, undisclosed environmental liabilities on municipalities. In an English case, Corby Group Litigation v. Corby District Council, the Corby Borough Council (CBC) has been held liable for allowing residents to become exposed t…
Continue reading the post titled Downloading liability on municipalitiesWhy is fairness irrelevant?
Innocent parties forced to pay unfair environmental costs should seek compensation in the civil courts, and should not expect any help from the ERT.
Continue reading the post titled Why is fairness irrelevant?After Copenhagen
The biggest consequence of Copenhagen for Canada will probably be the erosion of our national reputation - instead of being nice people, we are now the Fossil of the Year, ragging on about "Climategate" when the rest of the world has moved on.
Continue reading the post titled After CopenhagenLead in Drinking Water
People who live in older buildings, especially with small children, should consider taking some precautions at home against lead in their drinking water.
Continue reading the post titled Lead in Drinking WaterSimplified list of key issues at Copenhagen
Confused by the welter of acronyms and soundbites about international negotiations over climate change? Here is an excellent list of the key issues and options, from Planet Ark. And since few, if any, of these are going to be resolved today, you’ll want to keep this list handy to score…
Continue reading the post titled Simplified list of key issues at CopenhagenBig wind projects: New Zealand no, California yes
The New Zealand Environment Court has refused to approve a $2 billion government-owned wind project (176 turbines) in the "outstanding natural landscape of the Lammermoor".
Continue reading the post titled Big wind projects: New Zealand no, California yes