Offshore wind moving ahead… in the US
Off shore wind turbines in designated Wind Energy Areas have cleared a major environmental review, according to the US Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
View the post titled Offshore wind moving ahead… in the USAlternative fuels breach zoning?
In St. Mary’s Cement v. Clarington (Municipality), 2011 ONSC 4631, an industrially zoned, operating cement company proposed to supplement its fuel with alternative fuel derived from recycled materials. Alternative fuels are used as fuel extensively in US and UK cement kilns, but they are not…
View the post titled Alternative fuels breach zoning?Environmental Assessment: Foreigners keep out?
According to Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, “Anyone looking at the record of approvals for certain major projects across Canada cannot help but come to the conclusion that many of these projects have been delayed too long. In many cases, these projects would create thousands upon th…
View the post titled Environmental Assessment: Foreigners keep out?The Limits to Growth: looking good at 40?
Forty years ago, The Limits to Growth explored what would happen if we allowed the world’s population and industry to continue to grow rapidly. They compared humanity’s use of energy and materials to the globe’s long-term, sustainable capacity, and concluded that urgent ac…
View the post titled The Limits to Growth: looking good at 40?Approvals Reform, phase 2
The Ministry of the Environment is moving into the second phase of its long-awaited comprehensive approval reforms. The first part of the new approvals framework became operational on October 31, 2011.Two more parts of this initiative are now open for public consultation. The first is
View the post titled Approvals Reform, phase 2What's happened to federal enforcement?
In Getting Tough on Environmental Crime?, Ecojustice collates fragmentary, publicly available information to show the marked decline in federal environmental inspections and convictions since 2004.
View the post titled What's happened to federal enforcement?Biodiversity protection- how good?
Just as the Ministries of Environment and Natural Resources brace for cuts, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has released another timely special report on the grave threats to biodiversity in Ontario.
View the post titled Biodiversity protection- how good?Ponoka fined $70,000 for sewage discharge permitted by province
While federal environmental enforcement is less frequent these days, the fines imposed are getting larger. The small town of Ponoka, Alberta (population about 7000) was fined $70,000 after pleading guilty to one count under the Fisheries Act. The Town was releasing effluent from their wastew…
View the post titled Ponoka fined $70,000 for sewage discharge permitted by provinceCongratulations to Environmental Commissioners
I am late in congratulating both the Ontario and the federal Environmental Commissioners for their invaluable annual reports, and will try to look more closely at their findings as time permits. The Ontario Commissioner emphasizes how much the Ontario Ministry of the Environment is doing wit…
View the post titled Congratulations to Environmental CommissionersDownspout disconnection- why bother?
A dinner guest recently grumbled about municipal requirements that he disconnect his downspouts. Why are they making us do such a stupid thing, he complained. What’s the point? Do we really have to do it?
View the post titled Downspout disconnection- why bother?Receive Blog Posts
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