New Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements – fair?
The City of Toronto is demanding that local industries sign a draconian new form of 2012 Waste Discharge Agreement, to come into force on January 1, 2012. Unfortunately, the proposed agreement could seriously prejudice any organization that signs it. For example, it gives the City the right to determine compliance without taking scientifically valid samples. As...
Continue reading the post titled New Industrial Waste Surcharge Agreements – fair?Cumulative effects in approvals
Cumulative effects are extremely hard to manage in any approval process. By definition, the person or project seeking an individual approval does not usually control the other sources of cumulative impact. Nor is the necessary information about the other actual or potential impacts usually before the decision-maker. Occasionally, however, both of these obstacles can be...
Continue reading the post titled Cumulative effects in approvalsWas I right about air?
Was I right about air regulation 419/05? Ten years ago, the Ministry of the Environment asked for my opinion on the regulatory reform initiative that culminated in the new air regulation, O.Reg. 419/05. I wrote a column about it in the August/September 2001 issue of Hazardous Materials Management. (reproduced below). It is reassuring, in a...
Continue reading the post titled Was I right about air?Compost 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”?OCA agrees: Ministry of Everything
When fly-rock from a blasting site hits a house, is that a “discharge” of a “contaminant” that must be immediately reported to the Ministry of the Environment Spills Action Centre? Ontario’s Court of Appeal says “yes”.
Continue reading the post titled OCA agrees: Ministry of EverythingNew rules for incinerators
Guideline A-7: Air Pollution Control, Design and Operation Guidelines for Municipal Waste Thermal Treatment Facilities, has been revised and renamed as “Air Pollution Control, Design and Operation Guidelines for Municipal Waste Thermal Treatment Facilities”. Guideline A-7 was updated to revise references to legislation and other documents that have changed since the Guideline was last revised and...
Continue reading the post titled New rules for incineratorsIs Flyrock really a pollution discharge?
The Ministry of the Environment has prosecuted and convicted an Ontario company for failing to report a “discharge” when fly rock flew out of a construction site and damaged a house. Castonguay Blasting was following all proper precautions when the blast occurred, and immediately reported it to the general contractor, the Ministry of Transportation, and...
Continue reading the post titled Is Flyrock really a pollution discharge?Is your EPA up to date?
A reader has asked me to remind everyone: Make sure your copy of Ontario environmental laws is up to date. A number of amendments came into effect on January 1, 2010, especially those relating to enforcement powers and integration with other statutes such as the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Toxics Reduction Act. Others,...
Continue reading the post titled Is your EPA up to date?What's an ANS?
Here’s another fun question about Reg. 511/09, the recent amendments to Reg. 153/04: what’s an “area of natural significance” (ANS)? S. 1 now defines ANS to include “an area which is habitat of a species that is classified under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act 2007 as a threatened or endangered species.” What areas...
Continue reading the post titled What's an ANS?What Should You Do If You Are Being Investigated?
Previously, Clearing the Air examined the difference between an MOE inspection and an investigation. In her latest entry, Paula Lombardi provides details on what you should do if you find yourself the subject of an investigation. If you are being investigated or inspected, having a clear operating procedure in circumstances when the MOE shows up...
Continue reading the post titled What Should You Do If You Are Being Investigated?Receive Blog Posts
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