Read more great environmental blogs
I'd like to take this time to personally congratulate you as we have selected your EnviroLaw blog as one of the leaders in the environmental law field.
Continue reading the post titled Read more great environmental blogsWhy 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?How long does a prosecution take?
Average prosecutions in Toronto now take 239 days, after the charges are laid, and 11.7 court appearances, according to the Ministry of the Attorney General. Unsurprisingly, cases move a little faster outside Toronto. In the Ottawa region, for example, the average charge is resolved in 193 d…
Continue reading the post titled How long does a prosecution take?Ian Hanna, redux
On October 19, I wrote about Ian Hanna, the Big Island resident who is suing for an injunction to block the Ministry of Environment from issuing any renewable energy approvals for wind projects. Such an injunction would prevent the construction of almost all new commercial wind projects. Bas…
Continue reading the post titled Ian Hanna, redux