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 frackingUpdated air pollution standards
Ontario’s air standards and ambient air quality criteria (AAQC) have been updated for a series of carcinogens and other toxic substances, including 1,3-Butadiene. EBR Registry Number: 010-6214 Manganese and Manganese Compounds: EBR Registry Number: 010-6253 Hexavalent Chromium, and Ch…
View the post titled Updated air pollution standardsAir regulation 419/05 amended for site-specific standards
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has amended Ontario Regulation 419/05: Air Pollution, Local Air Quality to make the process of seeking exceptions to generic criteria less punitive and more useful to businesses. The process has been given a new name, “Site-specific Standard”, an…
View the post titled Air regulation 419/05 amended for site-specific standardsNuisance, GHG and climate change
Today, the US Supreme Court reversed the groundbreaking decision, Connecticut v. American Power, which had allowed states, New York City and private land trusts to sue major greenhouse gas producers in nuisance, whether or not their emissions breached federal statute law.
View the post titled Nuisance, GHG and climate changeThree questions for PLCs
Here are three key questions that could improve the functioning of any Public Liaison Committee about a controversial facility. PLCs often get bogged down in attack and defence, with the facility operator trying to defend itself by controlling information, and aggrieved neighbours trying to …
View the post titled Three questions for PLCsEnergy conservation plans for public agencies
A proposed regulation under the Green Energy Act, 2009 (section 6) would require public agencies (i.e. Municipalities, Universities/Colleges, Schools, Hospitals) to submit annual energy consumption and building characteristic info as outlined in the proposed template. In addition, these publ…
View the post titled Energy conservation plans for public agenciesClimate prospects ever bleaker
Energy-related carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2010 were the highest in history
View the post titled Climate prospects ever bleakerWas 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 Manag…
View the post titled Was I right about air?Drive Clean relaxes a bit
Ontario is proposing changes to the Drive Clean auto emission testing program. The changes would exempt all vehicles–cars, trucks and busses—less than 7 years old from being tested as part of their registration renewal. Any vehicle plated as historic would be exempted too (Vehicles pla…
View the post titled Drive Clean relaxes a bitUS database on impacts of electric generation
How clean is each form of power?
View the post titled US database on impacts of electric generationReceive Blog Posts
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