Guidance 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 AssessmentsErickson decision: wind turbines can be built in Ontario
The debate should not be simplified to one about whether wind turbines can cause harm to humans. The evidence presented to the Tribunal demonstrates that they can, if facilities are placed too close to residents. The debate has now evolved to one of degree. The question that should be ask…
View the post titled Erickson decision: wind turbines can be built in OntarioMore on Can they make you talk?
Decades after the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights, and Freedoms, and after thousands of Miranda warnings on TV, most Canadians think they have a right to remain silent when the government comes after them. To some extent, this is true–people pulled off the street by uniformed poli…
View the post titled More on Can they make you talk?New brownfield cleanup standards- what dates?
Under regulation 153/04, the benchmark for contaminated site cleanups in Ontario has, since October 1, 2004, been the Soil, Ground Water and Sediment Standards for Use under Part XV.1 of the Environmental Protection Act, March 9, 2004. This standard becomes obsolete July 1, 2011, when subs…
View the post titled New brownfield cleanup standards- what dates?Brownfield Regulation amended
The Ministry of the Environment has amended Ontario Regulation 153/04, under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), related to brownfields. According to the MOE, the amendments “are technical and are consistent with the policy intent of the existing O. Reg. 153/04, as amended in Decem…
View the post titled Brownfield Regulation amendedErickson wind appeal delay
The Environmental Review Tribunal is hearing final arguments this week in Erickson v. Director, Ministry of the Environment. This is the first ERT appeal on renewable energy approvals under the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, and the first renewable energy approval for a major wind farm …
View the post titled Erickson wind appeal delayContaminated sites reminder
If a qualified person and owner of property wish to have a record of site condition (RSC) filed and acknowledged before the changes come into effect, and have not yet submitted the RSC, the Ministry strongly encourages them to submit the RSC with all required documentation well before Jun…
View the post titled Contaminated sites reminderWas 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?Flying rock a discharge?
The prosecutor asked the Court to trust the ministry not to prosecute in absurd and inappropriate circumstances.
View the post titled Flying rock a discharge?Progress on approvals reform
The Ministry of the Environment is making steady progress on its 2 plus year program to modernize environmental approvals. This month, they have posted four draft regulatory amendments for public comment.
View the post titled Progress on approvals reformReceive Blog Posts
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