94/95 Report Ministry of the Environment and Energy / Rapport Ministere De L'environnement et De L'energie

28 Pages·1995·0.78 MB·English

by  Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy

i<hZ-
2-V^^
ministry of environment and energy
Ontario

Ministère de l'Environnement et de l'Énergie
Ontario
statement
MOEE's mission is to protect the qualityofthe naturalenvironment so as
to safeguardthe ecosystem and human health; ensure reliable and affordable
energy; encourage conservation ofenergy, materialandwater resources. This
broad mandateleadsto manyareas ofministryactivity, including:
• developing policies, laws, regulations and programs for environmental
protection, energy use and production;
• promoting energyefficiency, waste reduction and resource conservation;
— —
• innovative approaches to energy and environment related scientific
and technical research, business and product development;
• fostering greater publicawareness and understanding ofenergy and
. environmentalissues.
94-95 Report
ministry of environment and energy
Outreach Environment andEnergy
Conference ofOntario
COA
More than800 visitors from around
OnJuly6, 1994, Ontario and Canada the world attended Ontario's largest
signed asix-year Canada-Ontario and most comprehensive environ-
Agreement [COA] calling for co- ment and energy forum in
ordinated action to restore, protect November. MOEE's FiscalPlanning
and sustain the Great Lakes Basin and Information Branch organized
Ecosystem. The agreement sets firm, the event which was heldin
measurable targets forjoint action Toronto.
to achievethree main objectives:
the restoration ofdegraded areas, Leading Edge '95 Conference
the controland prevention ofpollu- In October, theEnvironmental
tion, andthe conservation and PlanningandAnalysisBranch hosted
protection ofhuman and ecosystem the second Niagara Escarpment
health. Implementation ofCOAwill conference on research. Itwas orga-
contribute substantiallyto meeting nizedbythebranch in co-operation
Canada's obligationsunder the with the Canadian Parks Service, the
Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Niagara Escarpment Commission and
QualityAgreement. the Ontario Heritage Foundation.
More than 170 participants from
CoiUngwoodRemedial Action
municipalities, universities, escarp-
Plan [RAP]
mentbusinesses, environmental
Foryears CoiUngwood Harbor
groups and governmentagencies
was contaminatedbyasewage
attended.
treatment plant outfallthatcaused
high nutrientlevels and resulted
Response
in excessive aquatic growth. But
things are changing. In 1994, the The Spills Action Centre responded
CoiUngwood RAPbecame the first to 4,888 spills acrossthe province,
area ofconcern ofthe47 RAPs on an increase ofmore than 400 from
the GreatLakes to be delisted. 1993/94.
MinistryofEnvironment and Energy
Abatement Th€ TAPS Project resulted in
356 charges, 95 convictions and
The Acid Rain Countdown program
$384,250 in fines and the HAUL
met its targets on schedule,
Project produced 145 charges, 106
resulting in major reductions in
convictionsand $99,000 fines, plus
SO2 emissions from Inco,
$25,000 from creative sentencing.
Falconbridge, AlgomaSteeland
MOEE's investigation and enforce-
Ontario Hydro, the four largest
ment staffconducted more than
emittersofSO2in Ontario.
1,400 investigations in 1994-95, to
help the ministry'sLegalServices
Enforcement
Branch successfully prosecute474
ProjectHERB, aimed at illegal herbi- companies and individualswho
cide handling and application, was violated provincial laws.
completed, improving awarenessand
compliance in the safe handling Pollution Prevention
andapplication ofherbicides and
Developed pollution prevention/
pesticides. In all, 544 inspections
environmental management systems
resulted in 492 warnings and 169
with auto partsand motorvehicle
tickets.
manufacturers, chemical producers,
Other enforcement projects were:
metal finishers, printing and
• TAPS - the inspection oftransfer
graphics and food processing
and processing sites in the GTA,
sectors, industriallaundries, photo
and
processing minilabs, restaurants.
• HAUL - the inspection ofliquid
Regional.Municipality of Hamilton-
industrialwaste manifest defi-
Wentworth and EmeryCreek
ciencies to reduce exception
businessassociatipn.
reports ofwaste haulers.
g/i-gs Report
corporate
TheMinistry ofEnvironmentandEnergy [MOEE] was created in February 1993. when thegovernment
—
amalgamated twoprovincial Cabinetportfolios environment and energy.
Conservation and The IndustryConservationBranch gaining access to keymarkets and
Prevention Division provides advice and assistance to organizing trade missions to inter-
The Conservation and Prevention industrialclients on improving pro- national markets for Ontario firms.
Divisionworks to conserve natural duction processes to increase energy The office liaises with the Canadian
resources and to prevent the degra- efficiency, water conservation and Embassyto familiarize Ontario
dation ofthe environment. It pro- reduce source waste. It supports companies with available global
motesthe reduction ofwaste and technology innovation to assist environmental opportunities and
the conservation ofenergy, water industryin greening its operations operations ofkeyinternational
and natural resources by providing and encourages the growth ofenvi- financial institutionslike theWorld
technical support, technology devel- ronmentalindustries in Ontario. Bank.
TheEnvironmentalPlanning and
opment and assistance in planning
andenvironmental assessment. AnalysisBranch develops policies Corporate Management
The WasteReductionBranch and co-ordinates programs for Division
environmental planning including
promotesthe development ofsafe, The Corporate Management
land use planning/stewardship,
effectiveand financially-sustainable theNiagara Escarpment,water Division is responsible for providing
3Rs and disposal systems forhaz- strategicbusiness advice and ensur-
andwastewaterinfrastructureand
ardous and municipal solid waste in ing the efficientdelivery ofthe
resource conservation and preven-
Ontario. The branch provides techni- ministry's programs and activities
tion. The branch also works with
caland market development support clients and monitors trends and consistent with government fiscal
to industries and municipalities and and administrative policies.
directions in environmentalmanage-
develops regulations, standards and TheFinanceandAdministration
ment to ensure that ministry
guidelines forwaste management. Branch ensures thatthe ministry's
policies and procedures reflect
TheEnvironmentalAssessment firiancial and administrative
innovative andeffective approaches
Branch administers an environmen- activities meet government require-
to resource conservation and
talapprovals program foractivities ments. Staffco-ordinate ministry
environmental protection.
subjectto Ontario'sEnvironmental expenditures and revenues, space
AssessmentAct. Thebranch provides The Green Industry Office [GIO] management and planning, staff
promotes the growth ofdomestic
advice and guidance and a govern- accommodation, procurement of
and international markets for
ment reviewprocess so that projects goods and services, mail distribution
Ontario's environmental industry
are implemented in accordance and assets management. Thebranch
sector. Objectives ofthe GIO include
with environmental protection and also co-ordinates ministryresponses
promoting strategic green procure-
mitigation measures approved under to requests madeunderthe Freedom
ment, expanding supplier develop-
the act. ofInformation and PrivacyAct.
ment, co-sponsoring workshops on
Ministry ofEnvironmentand Energy
Corporate Structure cont'd
TheFiscal Planning and Environmental Sciences and producing provincial emission
InformationManagementBranch and Standards Division inventories for SO2, NOj^, particu-
provides strategic adviceto senior lates, CO and VOCs.
This division applies and promotes
management onbusiness planning TheLaboratoryServicesBranch
science and technologyto antici-
and organizational effectiveness conducted about 1.4 million tests
pate, identify, measure and resolve
to improve the ministry's ability Ontario's environmental problems. on air, water and materials samples
to manage change and achieve its The division manages environmental in 1994-95. Twelve newanalytical
objectives. It advises program monitoring programs, provides methods were developed to support
managers on program evaluation standards development and to
laboratory servicesto the public
and re-engineering activities and meet monitoring requirements.
and private sectors, develops
co-ordinates the ministry's corporate Thebranch also actsasareference
environmentalstandards for air,
management objectives and policies. centre forother provincialand
water and soil, implements the
TheFrench Services Office advises Environmental Bill ofRights, private environmentallaboratories.
on providing servicesthat ensure TheProgram DevelopmentBranch
administersthe Pesticides Act and
allFrench-speaking Ontarians have uses a multi-media approach to
developsprograms, regulations,
access to the ministry's prograins develop and support new and
, guidelines and operational policies
and activities. Theoffice provides existing programs and regulations.
to prevent pollution, limit releases
translation services for the ministry, and remediate contaminated sites. It is also home to the Pollution
administersMOEE's French-language Prevention Office which develops
TheScienceand Technology
stafftraining program andassistsin andimplementsvoluntarypollution
Branch anticipates, identifies
the recruitment ofbilingualstaff. prevention partnerships.
and assessesthreats to ecosystem
TheHuman ResourcesBranch TheStandardsDevelopment
health, develops and assesses
provides services and adviceto the Branch develops environmental
solutions to environmental
ministryon staffing mattersand the standards to protect human and
problems, engages in technology
management ofhuman resources. ecosystem health. In 1994-95,
transfer and generates timely, .
Itisresponsible for recruitment, expert, scientific and technological standards were developed for
classification ofpositions, employee adviceto drive priority policy and contaminants for air, drinking
counselling, payand benefits program development. water, soil, sediment andsurface
administration, staffrelations and water. Staffprovide advice on the
TheEnvironmentalMonitoring
occupational health andsafety. andReportingBranch co-ordinates toxicologyand environmentalrisks
Thebranch works to ensure that ofcontaminants and conduct toxici-
divisional monitoring related to
MOEE provides a qualitywork envi- tytests to assess effluent toxicity
air, water and biological organisms,
ronment. Staffare also responsible database management and environ- and audit industrial effluents. The
foryouth and special employment branch provides direction onthe
mental reporting. Activitiesinclude
programs and for developing and responsible use ofpesticides, admin-
reviewing environmental monitoring
delivering staffeducation courses. isters the PesticidesAct andliaises
programs, publishing a varietyof
TheManagementAuditBranch closelywith theAdvisory Committee
ecosystem and media reports such
conducts comprehensiveinternal on Environmental Standards.
as the Guide to Eating Sport Fish,
auditprogramsbyexamining and the Annual Air Ouality Report, TheEnvironmentalBillof
analyzing MOEE's financial and monitoring the qualityandsafety Rights Office is responsible for
management controlto ensure that implementing the EBR, within
ofdrinking water, providing water
the ministry's-management and MOEE and throughout the Ontario
qualitymonitoring programs on
financialsystems work effectively. government as well as ongoing
major Ontario streams and rivers
liaison with the Environmental
94-95 Report
Corporate Structure cont'd
CommissionerofOntario. The the EnvironmentalAssessment Act, [RAPs] to restore and improve
EnvironmentalBillofRights was providesadvice to regional offices aquatic ecosystemsin 17 areas
promulgated to increase public onthe approvalsissued locally and ofspecial concern throughout the
participation in environmental deci- develops provincial criteria for province.
sion making, increase government determining unacceptable levels of Regions and districts also encour-
accountability, increase access to noise and vibration. In addition, the agewaste reduction and pollution
the courts and offer increased branch provides guidance to local prevention. Staffpromote waste
employee protection forwhistle- public healthofficesand ministry reduction, reuseand recycling pro-
blowing. The office established districts on issuing approvals for jects and regulate industrialliquid
and maintains a government-wide waste and sub-surfacesewage and solid hazardous wastes and most
electronic registrythat provides systems under the Environmental otherindustrialwastes. Theyalso
the public with easyaccess to envi- Protection Act and develops policies regulate municipal waste disposal
ronmentallysignificant proposals relatedto on-site sewage storage. sites, the safe handling, storage,
and decisions. TheInvestigationsand treatment and destruction ofPCBs,
EnforcementBranch investigates respond to environmental spills and
Operations Division and where warranted, lays charges ensure the cleanup ofsites that
against companies and individuals have been contaminated byindustri-
The OperationsDivisionis
that violate Ontario's pollution al and commercial activities.
the program deliveryarm ofthe
controllegislation. Staffare located Staffhandleenergyand environ-
ministry. Itsupports the ministry's
in district officesthroughout the mentalissuesin areas ranging from
effortsto monitorthe condition
province. highlyurbanized, densely populated
ofthe environment, to prevent
citiesto recreationallakes and
andabate pollution and to initiate RegionalOffices
farmland.
legalaction againstpolluters. The Regional offices are responsible
Air pollution controland moni-
main functionsofthe divisionare fordelivering avarietyofprograms
outreach, prevention, assessment, thatprotect and conservethe envi- toring isyet another responsibility
ofthe regions.
response, abatement and enforce- ronment. Protecting the air and
CentralRegion is composed ofthe
ment. water is a primary responsibility.
GreaterToronto Area and the four
Programs are delivered by Staffcarry out inspection programs
surrounding regional municipalities.
stafflocated in twobranches and to ensure good quality drinking The region, based in Toronto, has
aprovincial network ofsix regional waterisavailablein large and small
district offices in Halton-Peel,
and 22 district offices. The division communities. Byensuring that Toronto and York-Durham.
also operates the SpillsAction Ontario's discharge requirements are Eastern Region includes several
Centre, which responds to serious metbythose managing communal/ counties bordering Lake Ontarioand
eprnovviirnocnem,en24tahlouirncsidaendtasy.across the wpartievra,tessteowramgew,atienrdumstarniaalgewmaesntet and VtahleleSyt,.tLhaewrreegnicoenaRlivmeur,nitchiepaOltittaywoaf
TheApprovalsBranch processes agriculturalsources, regionalstaff
Ottawa-Carleton as wellas Ottawa,
applications forcertificates for also protect the quality ofsurface Peterborough, Kingston, Cornwall
newor modified municipal waste water and provide comment on and Belleville. The headquarters
management facilities, water and proposed land usechanges. They are in Kingston. Districtoffices
sewage works and industrialand also help protect groundwater arelocated in Kingston, Ottawa,
commercial works that could dis- byregulating theinstallation of Cornwalland Peterborough, with
charge pollutants into the natural underground sewage systems. sub-offices in Belleville and
environment. Italso co-ordinates Along with theProgram Pembroke.
MOEFs technicalreview ofproposals DevelopmentBranch, theregions
submitted to the minister under implement RemedialAction Plans
MinistryofEnvironmentand Energy
Corporate Structure cont'd
Mid-OntarioRegion is based in TheEconomicSeivicesBranch Agencies, Boards and
Sudbury, with district officesin uses economic tools and principles Commissions
Barrie, Grayenhurst, Sudbury, North to help develop provincial environ- The following agencies, boards and
Bayand asub-officein Parry Sound. mental and energy policies. Staff commissions fallunderMOEE:
NorthernRegion includesthe undertake and commission strategic
districts ofAlgoma, Cochrane, studies and economic analyses to AdvisoryCommittee on
Kenora, RainyRiver, Sault Ste. assess environmental and energy EnvironmentalStandards
Marie, ThunderBayand the north- policy options, support ministry EnvironmentalAppeal Board
ern halfofTimiskaming. Based in activities and conduct cost effective-
Environmental Assessment
Thunder Bay, the region maintains ness assessments ofthe ministry's
districtofficesin Kenora, Sault Ste. programs. Thebranch helps promote Advisory Committee
Marie, ThunderBay andTimmins. the greater use ofeconomic EnvironmentalAssessment Board
Southwestern Region is based instrumentsas an effectivetool
Niagara Escarpment Commission
in London, with district officesin forenvironmental management.
London, Owen Sound, Sarnia and TheElectricityPolicyBranch Ontario Energy Board
Windsor. provides advice and analysis on
Ontario Round Table on
WestCentralRegion's headquar- issues relating to electricity use Environment and Economy
ters arein Hamilton, with district and planning and serves as the
officesin Cambridge, Hamilton and government's main liaison with Environmental Compensation
Welland. Ontario Hydro. It is responsible for Corporation
developing government policy on Farm PollutionAdvisory
Policy Division rate structures, market reform and Committee
industryrestructuring.
ThePolicyDivisionidentifies ThePoUcyDevelopmentBranch Interim Waste Authority
strategic issues and co-ordinates the
co-ordinates, develops and main- MISAAdvisory Committee
ministry's environmentaland energy
tains corporate policies in response
policies. Staffalso co-ordinatethe Ontario Clean Water Agency
to government and corporate priori-
ministry's dealingswiththoseof - tiesthat are determined bythe Ontario Energy Corporation
othergovernmentsin Canada, the
provincialcabinet and MOEE's senior
U.S. and abroad. Ontario Hydro
management team. The branch also
TheEnergyConservation and
co-ordinates environmental and Ontario Pesticides Advisory
Liaison Branch provides analysis and energypolicies and projects Committee
advice onissues relating to climate
change, energy conservation, the affecting aboriginal people. Ontario Waste Management
future use ofrenewable energy TheIntergovernmentalRelations Corporation
Office co-ordinates inter-jurisdic-
sourcesandthe supply, distribution
tionalenergyand environmental
and pricing ofenergy, including
policies and programs and deals
crude oil, petroleum products,
with government organizationsin
petrochemicals and natural gas.
Canada, the U.S. and abroad.
Staffrepresent Ontario's energy
interestsin hearings and discussions
withthe federal government and
otherjurisdictions.
8 94-95 Report