Approvals reform: the new application
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has published its draft requirements for complete applications for the new Environmental Compliance Approvals. These requirements are proposed to be the basis of a future regulation, which will set out generic requirements for all project types. A futu…
Continue reading the post titled Approvals reform: the new applicationProgress on approvals reform
The Ministry of the Environment is making steady progress on its 2 plus year program to modernize environmental approvals. This month, they have posted four draft regulatory amendments for public comment.
Continue reading the post titled Progress on approvals reformEPA cuts: return of the 90s?
The US Congress has cut the budget of the American Environmental Protection Agency by 16%, with especial cuts to programs to fight climate change and pollution of air and water. Other agencies with environmental mandates, such as the National Ocean Administration, also saw large cuts, such a…
Continue reading the post titled EPA cuts: return of the 90s?Suncor stormwater conviction
According to Alberta Environment, the Provincial Court of Alberta in Fort McMurray has fined Suncor Energy Inc. $275,000 for contravening its water approval at the Voyager Upgrader site 20 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.
Continue reading the post titled Suncor stormwater convictionBP spill anniversary, lawsuits growing
On the first anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, lawsuits against BP continue to spread. Individuals and public and private entities at all levels are adding their claims, before today’s deadline. All 15 members of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee are actively inviting cli…
Continue reading the post titled BP spill anniversary, lawsuits growingRequiring safe nuclear
As the Fukushima crisis continues to spread, Tokyo Electric has unveiled a plan that, it hopes, will stop ongoing radiation leaks within 6 to 9 months. It claims that evacuees will be able to return home in 6 months, although many critics doubt that this will actually happen, especially for …
Continue reading the post titled Requiring safe nuclearAlgonquin Park and the Crown Forest (Un)Sustainability Act
In 1994, Ontario adopted the grandly named Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA). A long, bruising environmental assessment (the Timber Management EA) had shown that we were ravaging Crown forests with a short term focus on extracting the most timber now, damaging the future of the forests …
Continue reading the post titled Algonquin Park and the Crown Forest (Un)Sustainability ActKeeping septic systems working
Septic systems don’t run by themselves. They need regular inspections, cleaning and maintenance, or they break down and leak raw sewage. It is therefore somewhat amazing that only last summer was the Building Code (O. Reg 350/06) amended (by O. Reg. 315/10) to require such regular inspection…
Continue reading the post titled Keeping septic systems working50 years of environmental law in Canada
While I was giving a seminar on environmental law to Turkish lawyers this week, I realised that 2011 is roughly the 50th anniversary of Ontario (and I think Canadian) environmental laws. It was in 1961 that the Ontario Water Resources Act and Ontario Water Resources Commission were created, …
Continue reading the post titled 50 years of environmental law in CanadaFail to notify gets big fine
On March 9, 2011, Scotland Agromart Ltd. was fined $75,000 for failing to notify the ministry of a pesticides spill. On a related charge, Summerville Custom Spraying Limited was fined $25,000 on October 27, 2010. Total fine, $100,000 plus the 25% Victim Fine Surcharge.
Continue reading the post titled Fail to notify gets big fine