The Ministry of the Environment is racing to have its new Environmental Activity and Sector Registry up and running for at least some sectors by September 2011. The Registry will establish a new system of “permit by rule” authorizations for common air emissions, instead of certificates of approval or the newly renamed environmental compliance approvals.
The initial sectors eligible to use the Registry are likely to include HVAC systems; standby power systems; auto body repair shops; and the printing industry. Existing certificates of approval for these operations will be revoked.