Jail for victim of vandalism?
1197338 Ontario Inc. was fined $150,000 plus the 25% Victim Fine Surcharge for failing to comply with a Director’s Order to clean up a spill of PCBs; its president, Lawrence Brander was sentenced to 30 days in jail for the same offence. But why did the spill occur?
View the post titled Jail for victim of vandalism?Pollution, hot spots and environmental justice
Is it acceptable for legal pollution levels to be higher in some neighbourhoods than in others? In the US, pollution is often concentrated in areas of colour, including the famous Cancer Alley. Changing this is called “environmental justice”, and is an important priority for US EPA Administ…
View the post titled Pollution, hot spots and environmental justiceUS Fracking lawsuits
Fracking lawsuits are spreading across the US. The first cases were launched in Pennsylvania in 2009, claiming damages for contamination of the aquifers on which the plaintiffs depend. Since then, other cases have been launched by dozens of property owners in Pennsylvania, Texas, Arkansas, C…
View the post titled US Fracking lawsuitsYes, TCE is a carcinogen
After 22 years of study, and intense political maneuvering, the US Environmental Protection Agency has formally classified TCE (trichloroethene, also called trichloroethylene) as a carcinogen, as well as a non-cancer hazard to human health. The assessment is now a formal part of the the Inte…
View the post titled Yes, TCE is a carcinogenGuidance re surplus construction soil
Looking for some good precedents on careful management of surplus soil from construction sites? The European Union Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98 EC) requires that all surplus soil from all construction sites be treated as waste, whether contaminated or not, but several jurisdi…
View the post titled Guidance re surplus construction soilAir CAMM to improve?
The Ministry of the Environment is working hard to improve the newish air pollution regulation O.Reg. 419/05. The original concept, that a five-year phase in period would result in businesses inventing pollution control technology, usually has not worked. As major businesses get close to the…
View the post titled Air CAMM to improve?Updated 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 standardsDo Pollution Exclusion clauses work?
Will pollution exclusion clauses stand up in commercial general liability insurance policies? The Ontario Court of Appeal says yes, when they are directed at activities likely to cause traditional soil and water pollution. See ING Insurance Company of Canada v. Miracle (Mohawk Imperial Sales…
View the post titled Do Pollution Exclusion clauses work?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?EMF pollution from transmission lines?
While the Hearing Officer accepts that a cautious approach should be taken respecting [EMF], none of the Appellants adduced any evidence to establish any basis for these concerns. The evidence adduced by HONI clearly indicates that there is no significant impact of EMF on wildlife or hum…
View the post titled EMF pollution from transmission lines?Receive Blog Posts
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