Major changes proposed for shale gas fracking
Advisors to US Energy Secretary, Stephen Chu, have recommended major changes to improve regulation and environmental performance of shale gas fracturing (fracking) in the US. Public consultation is continuing, and the final report will be released in November. Canadian regulators should be …
View the post titled Major changes proposed for shale gas frackingCrops hit by summer heat wave
One of the many ways that climate change damages the economy is the sucker punch it delivers to agriculture. For example, increasing summer heatwaves can slash corn yields. During silking, it only takes 4 hours of leaf rolling (from heat and dryness) to cut yield 1%; consecutive hot days c…
View the post titled Crops hit by summer heat waveThe up to date brownfields tables, with 2004 comparisons
Maxxam Analytics has kindly allowed me to post their very useful Reg 153 Comparison Charts (2004 vs 2011) tables, comparing the 2004 soil and groundwater cleanup standards to the new ones that came into effect July 1, 2011. The Ministry of the Environment confusingly named these the Soil, Gr…
View the post titled The up to date brownfields tables, with 2004 comparisonsWaste diversion, odour and climate change
Clare Booth Luce, the famous American playwright, journalist, ambassador, and Congresswoman, used to say, “no good deed goes unpunished”. To my regret, this sardonic and rather depressing phrase is, all too often, a good description of environmental laws. One example is the management of odo…
View the post titled Waste diversion, odour and climate changeSmart meters and privacy?
Privacy advocates point out the importance of controlling data mining from the stream of power use information collected by smart meters. No one is yet regulating how this data can be used, but perhaps they should be. Another excellent piece of journalism by National Public Radio’s Liv…
View the post titled Smart meters and privacy?Friends of Wind public meeting
On July 26, about 90 people gathered in Clinton, Ontario, for an enthusiastic public meeting of the Friends of Wind, a group of volunteers dedicated to counteracting “anti-wind” advocacy. One of the goals of Friends of Wind is to encourage community groups to develop and operate …
View the post titled Friends of Wind public meetingToronto fined $150,000 for sewage spill
The City of Toronto pled guilty to one violation under the Ontario Water Resources Act foroperating its sewage works in not accordance with its Certificate of Approval. It was fined $150,000 plus the victim fine surcharge.
View the post titled Toronto fined $150,000 for sewage spillManitoba bottled water ban
Manitoba government has stopped using public money to buy single use bottles of water. The new policy bans the use of provincial funds to buy water in small (1L or less) bottles, if safe tap water is reasonably available. Another outbreak of common sense!
View the post titled Manitoba bottled water banSocial Cost of Carbon
How much should we spend reducing carbon emissions? What will the cost be if we don’t? US federal lawmakers are required to consider the “social cost of carbon” when issuing significant rules, as part of their overall cost/benefit analysis. But how do they calculate it?
View the post titled Social Cost of CarbonSewage biosolids consultation
The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment is wrapping up consultation on its proposed Canada-wide Approach for the Management of Wastewater Biosolids. The policy is intended to encourage the “beneficial use and sound management of valuable resources in municipal biosolids, m…
View the post titled Sewage biosolids consultationReceive Blog Posts
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