What's the right brownfields regulation?
Many consultants are confused about the correct way to refer to the Ontario regulation on contaminated sites and records of site condition. As one wrote,
Continue reading the post titled What's the right brownfields regulation?Blackberry – Blessing or Curse?
As summer wanes, I’m wringing every last ray of sunshine out of the ever-shortening days. One of the ways I’m doing this is by sometimes extending weekends into Friday afternoons or Monday mornings, relying on my trusty BlackBerry to keep on top of work while still enjoying the beach or the …
Continue reading the post titled Blackberry – Blessing or Curse?Major changes proposed for shale gas fracking
Advisors to US Energy Secretary, Stephen Chu, have recommended major changes to improve regulation and environmental performance of shale gas fracturing (fracking) in the US. Public consultation is continuing, and the final report will be released in November. Canadian regulators should be …
Continue reading the post titled Major changes proposed for shale gas frackingCrops hit by summer heat wave
One of the many ways that climate change damages the economy is the sucker punch it delivers to agriculture. For example, increasing summer heatwaves can slash corn yields. During silking, it only takes 4 hours of leaf rolling (from heat and dryness) to cut yield 1%; consecutive hot days c…
Continue reading the post titled Crops hit by summer heat waveThe up to date brownfields tables, with 2004 comparisons
Maxxam Analytics has kindly allowed me to post their very useful Reg 153 Comparison Charts (2004 vs 2011) tables, comparing the 2004 soil and groundwater cleanup standards to the new ones that came into effect July 1, 2011. The Ministry of the Environment confusingly named these the Soil, Gr…
Continue reading the post titled The up to date brownfields tables, with 2004 comparisonsWaste diversion, odour and climate change
Clare Booth Luce, the famous American playwright, journalist, ambassador, and Congresswoman, used to say, “no good deed goes unpunished”. To my regret, this sardonic and rather depressing phrase is, all too often, a good description of environmental laws. One example is the management of odo…
Continue reading the post titled Waste diversion, odour and climate changeFriends of Wind public meeting
On July 26, about 90 people gathered in Clinton, Ontario, for an enthusiastic public meeting of the Friends of Wind, a group of volunteers dedicated to counteracting “anti-wind” advocacy. One of the goals of Friends of Wind is to encourage community groups to develop and operate …
Continue reading the post titled Friends of Wind public meetingManitoba bottled water ban
Manitoba government has stopped using public money to buy single use bottles of water. The new policy bans the use of provincial funds to buy water in small (1L or less) bottles, if safe tap water is reasonably available. Another outbreak of common sense!
Continue reading the post titled Manitoba bottled water banSocial Cost of Carbon
How much should we spend reducing carbon emissions? What will the cost be if we don’t? US federal lawmakers are required to consider the “social cost of carbon” when issuing significant rules, as part of their overall cost/benefit analysis. But how do they calculate it?
Continue reading the post titled Social Cost of CarbonGet It In Writing! (Reason # 324 and Counting)
One of the messages that we deliver to clients all the time is the importance of using written employment agreements for all employees. A recent case from the Ontario Court of Appeal stands for the proposition that the unskilled nature of employment is no longer much of a factor in determini…
Continue reading the post titled Get It In Writing! (Reason # 324 and Counting)