A note to commenters
A reminder to those posting or reading comments on this blog. We spend a great deal of time writing this blog, pro bono, as a service to the environmental community and to participate in the public debate on issues of importance. We don’t provide free legal advice, and we delete post c…
Continue reading the post titled A note to commentersCompost v soil: which is “clean”?
The oddest things breach MOE soil cleanup standards. Compost, for example.
Continue reading the post titled Compost v soil: which is “clean”?Northern Gateway, oil tankers and spills
One of the issues in the Northern Gateway pipeline hearing is the threat that oil tankers will pose in the dangerous channels and sensitive ocean environments near the proposed port, Kitimat. Enbridge soothingly predicts that major spills will be inconceivably rare:
Continue reading the post titled Northern Gateway, oil tankers and spillsOffshore wind moving ahead… in the US
Off shore wind turbines in designated Wind Energy Areas have cleared a major environmental review, according to the US Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
Continue reading the post titled Offshore wind moving ahead… in the USAlternative fuels breach zoning?
In St. Mary’s Cement v. Clarington (Municipality), 2011 ONSC 4631, an industrially zoned, operating cement company proposed to supplement its fuel with alternative fuel derived from recycled materials. Alternative fuels are used as fuel extensively in US and UK cement kilns, but they are not…
Continue reading the post titled Alternative fuels breach zoning?Environmental Assessment: Foreigners keep out?
According to Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, “Anyone looking at the record of approvals for certain major projects across Canada cannot help but come to the conclusion that many of these projects have been delayed too long. In many cases, these projects would create thousands upon th…
Continue reading the post titled Environmental Assessment: Foreigners keep out?Municipal liability for flooding?
As climate change increases the intensity of storms, and as insurers become more reluctant to insure basements that are known to flood, we notice more and more lawsuits against municipalities for basement floods. Municipalities generally benefit from statutory immunities against lawsuits in …
Continue reading the post titled Municipal liability for flooding?The Limits to Growth: looking good at 40?
Forty years ago, The Limits to Growth explored what would happen if we allowed the world’s population and industry to continue to grow rapidly. They compared humanity’s use of energy and materials to the globe’s long-term, sustainable capacity, and concluded that urgent ac…
Continue reading the post titled The Limits to Growth: looking good at 40?Class actions for historic contamination
Class actions for historic contamination: Sydney Tar Ponds and Smith v. Inco The class action by neighbours of the notorious tar ponds in Sydney, Nova Scotia, is going ahead, although neighbours of Inco’s Port Colborne plant have lost theirs.
Continue reading the post titled Class actions for historic contaminationSpilling Drinking Water: $285,000
Is spilling drinking water an offence?
Continue reading the post titled Spilling Drinking Water: $285,000