New federal wastewater regulations a challenge for municipalities
Dianne spoke last month at the annual Canadian Water and Wastewater Association “Window on Ottawa”, on potential risks to municipalities of the new Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations under the Fisheries Act, expected to appear shortly in the Canada Gazette. Bottom line, the …
Continue reading the post titled New federal wastewater regulations a challenge for municipalitiesPollution, hot spots and environmental justice
Is it acceptable for legal pollution levels to be higher in some neighbourhoods than in others? In the US, pollution is often concentrated in areas of colour, including the famous Cancer Alley. Changing this is called “environmental justice”, and is an important priority for US EPA Administ…
Continue reading the post titled Pollution, hot spots and environmental justiceIntro to environmental law for construction
Interested in an overview of environmental law for those involved in construction? Dianne recently gave one to the Ontario Bar Association Construction Law section. To see it, click OBA Construction Intro.
Continue reading the post titled Intro to environmental law for constructionQuebec toughens Environmental Quality Act
Leading Quebec environmental lawyer, Jean Piette, advises that substantial changes have been made to the Act on Environmental Quality in Quebec.
Continue reading the post titled Quebec toughens Environmental Quality ActUS Fracking lawsuits
Fracking lawsuits are spreading across the US. The first cases were launched in Pennsylvania in 2009, claiming damages for contamination of the aquifers on which the plaintiffs depend. Since then, other cases have been launched by dozens of property owners in Pennsylvania, Texas, Arkansas, C…
Continue reading the post titled US Fracking lawsuitsRoundup pesticides to have special review
West Coast Environmental and Josette Wier have obtained a court order requiring Health Canada to conduct a special review of one use of common glyphosate-based pesticides (such as Roundup) mixed with an ingredient known as POEA. There is conflicting evidence about the toxicity of the mixture…
Continue reading the post titled Roundup pesticides to have special reviewPerc in your dry cleaned sweater?
Perchloroethylene (also called tetrachloroethylene, PCE or PERC) is a common dry cleaning solvent. It is also used in textile processing and degreasing. Exposure to this chemical is associated with a host of adverse effects. So we were struck by a recent study that shows PERC residues buildi…
Continue reading the post titled Perc in your dry cleaned sweater?Orgaworld wins organic waste odour appeal
Orgaworld Canada, a composting company, has won a hard-fought appeal for permission to compost disputed wastes at its Ottawa facility, despite MOE fears about potential odours. The disputed wastes include pet faeces, urine, and organic waste in plastic bags. In rejecting the Ministry of the …
Continue reading the post titled Orgaworld wins organic waste odour appealWill Midland really put a waste site facing Ste Marie?
Opposition is growing to a proposal, by the Town of Midland and a waste/ scrap handling company called Recycling Specialties, to put a waste transfer and processing site (with outdoor storage) on a vacant lot facing the most sensitive and sacred parts of Sainte Marie among the Hurons and the…
Continue reading the post titled Will Midland really put a waste site facing Ste Marie?Speech from the Throne
Environmental issues were not top of mind in yesterday’s Speech from the Throne by Ontario’s minority government. In fact, the word “environment” is mentioned only once:
Continue reading the post titled Speech from the Throne