Find us on Mondaq too
This week, Mondaq’s most popular environmental article, worldwide, was our 10 Things that You Need to Know about Contaminated Sites. According to Mondaq, it is the world’s largest legal news network, so this is quite a compliment. Of course, faithful readers of this blog see th…
Continue reading the post titled Find us on Mondaq tooCan anyone comply with O.Reg. 419/05?
Standard Development Branch's interpretation of O.Reg. 419/05 is making it difficult for responsible industries to obtain the air permits that they need to operate in Ontario.
Continue reading the post titled Can anyone comply with O.Reg. 419/05?Read all about it
What are the prospects for litigation relating to green energy projects, especially wind? Dianne is quoted on this today in both the National Post and the Globe and Mail. Whenever the law is unclear or counterintuitive, it is always good for lawyers.
Continue reading the post titled Read all about itWhy can't we protect trees?
Theoretically, some laws are supposed to protect trees, they aren't actually effective in practice.
Continue reading the post titled Why can't we protect trees?Fair limits on liability
Many engineering consulting firms have adopted standard terms and conditions that we think lack fundamental fairness between client and consultant.
Continue reading the post titled Fair limits on liabilityAboriginal consultation and renewable energy approvals
In order to implement the Green Energy Act, Ontario has recently adopted O. Reg. 359/09, to set up a new regime for accelerated approvals of renewable energy projects (wind, solar, anaerobic digestion and biomass combustion). One key element of the new regime is a six month “service guaran…
Continue reading the post titled Aboriginal consultation and renewable energy approvalsRenewable Energy Approvals- Plain Language Guide
The Ontario government is hurrying to release plain language guides to its new renewable energy approvals regime. A Renewable Energy Approval Guide is expected to be released shortly, followed by public consultation on draft Technical Guidance. In the meantime, an overview of the approvals r…
Continue reading the post titled Renewable Energy Approvals- Plain Language GuideWind and the precautionary principle
I don't expect Ian Hanna to succeed in his lawsuit to block the Ministry of the Environment from issuing renewable energy approvals for wind projects
Continue reading the post titled Wind and the precautionary principleGreenhouse gas reporting
The US EPA has published its final rule on greenhouse gas reporting for 31 American industrial sectors; see the Federal Register (www.regulations.gov) under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0508-2278. The rule will be effective December 29, 2009. EPA is still considering reporting rules for t…
Continue reading the post titled Greenhouse gas reportingHow do you measure a setback?
As I am writing my commentary on the new renewable energy approvals regulations, I have noticed an unusual wrinkle. Unlike all other Ministry of the Environment setbacks, noise setbacks are measured from the centre of the noise receptor property/building, not from the property boundary. See…
Continue reading the post titled How do you measure a setback?