Bill 66 – Expanded Municipal Zoning Power Would Make Some Environmental Land Use Policies Optional
UPDATE: Government announces that it will not be proceeding with Schedule 10 of the Bill. See update here. On December 6th, 2018, Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018, passed first reading in the Ontario legislature. The government’s Proposal Summary on the Environmental Re…
View the post titled Bill 66 – Expanded Municipal Zoning Power Would Make Some Environmental Land Use Policies OptionalRecords of Site Condition – common problems
Records of Site Condition are the regulatory documents used in Ontario to confirm whether a potentially or actually contaminated site meets acceptable standards for a particular land-use, under the Environmental Protection Act and O.Reg. 153/04. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change…
View the post titled Records of Site Condition – common problemsPurchaser of contaminated site loses case against own lawyer
Mr. Yang was satisfied with the extent of his knowledge about the environmental condition of the property, and, notwithstanding the advice of his counsel, was unwilling to conduct any further investigations
View the post titled Purchaser of contaminated site loses case against own lawyerCan purchaser of contaminated site sue neighbour?
The case is important because of the widespread (but, I think, mistaken) belief among some real estate solicitors and agents that a buyer can (knowingly or negligently) buy previously contaminated land and then sue the source of the contamination for the cost of cleaning up that pre-exist…
View the post titled Can purchaser of contaminated site sue neighbour?Buyer can't rely on Seller's Environmental Reports
A recent decision out of Newfoundland should remind prospective purchasers of real estate NOT to count on Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) or other environmental reports commissioned by the seller, unless they acquire a specific contractual right to rely on that report, e.g. through a r…
View the post titled Buyer can't rely on Seller's Environmental ReportsWest Virginia gets serious about liability barriers to brownfield revitalization
The Voluntary Land Stewardship Program is the critical innovation. It gives developers of rehabilitated contaminated sites certainty, by taking on their long term liability risk for a fixed fee.
View the post titled West Virginia gets serious about liability barriers to brownfield revitalizationBuyer can’t expect compensation for pre-existing contamination
If Midwest purchased a contaminated property, it must prove that there has been an increase in the contamination level of property caused by the Defendants.
View the post titled Buyer can’t expect compensation for pre-existing contaminationGuidance for Environmental Site Assessments
Now that Reg. 153/04 sets strict new standards for Environmental Site Assessments of contaminated sites, it is good news that the Ministry of the Environment has finally released its guidance document for performing those ESAs. Although the new rules are only mandatory when seeking a Record…
View the post titled Guidance for Environmental Site AssessmentsThe dirty side of "clean fill"
Consumers and businesses frequently purchase or accept “clean fill” for use on their properties, without requiring environmental testing. But if the fill is contaminated, the ultimate costs can be very high.
View the post titled The dirty side of "clean fill"Contaminated sites: which cleanup standards?
More stringent cleanup standards for contaminated sites will come into effect July 1, 2011, under 2009 amendments to Regulation 153/04. Some property owners with ongoing cleanups may prefer to use the old numbers, i.e. the “March 9, 2004 Soil, Ground Water and Sediment Standards” (“2004 sta…
View the post titled Contaminated sites: which cleanup standards?Receive Blog Posts
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