96/97 Report Ministry of the Environment and Energy / Rapport Ministere De L'environnement et De L'energie

34 Pages·1997·1.5 MB·English

by  Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy

bo^
2831
J
R
Ministry of
Environment
and Energy
@
Ontario
ISSN 1198-0362
Printedonrecydedpaper PIBS 2831B04
A Message from the Minister
Duringfiscal 1996-97,I'mpleasedtoreportthattheMinistryofEnvironmentandEnergy(MOEE) made
solidprogresstowardourgoalsofprotectingtheenvironment,promotingresourceconservationanddeliv-
eringeffective energypolicy. Atthe same time,we continued to improvethe relevance and effectiveness
ofourimportantprogramsandservicesandtheefficiencywithwhichwecarryouttheministry'sbusiness.
TheEnvironmentalAssessmentConsultationandImprovementAct-whichwasproclaimedintolawon
January 1, 1997 - was one oftheyear'sinost important achievements. This newlawimproves MOEE's
abilitytoprotecttheprovince'senvironmentandguaranteesthepublic'srighttobeinvolvedintheenvi-
ronmental assessmentprocess. It also ensuresthat Ontario's environmental assessmentprocessis more
timely,certainandcosteffective.
Anotherimportanthighlightduringtheyearcamewiththereleaseofnewlandfillstandardsforpublic
comment. These standards make the approvals process more certain, less costly and more timely
TheyareamongthetoughestinNorthAmerica.
Therewasalsoclarificationofprovincialandmunicipalresponsibilitiesinanumberofareas,including
theconsolidationofownershipofwaterandsewagetreatmentplants.
Overthecourseoftheyear,theministrycontinuedtobeaggressiveinthefightagainstsmog. Ontario
is amongthe national leaders in this fight and has demonstratedthisbyreleasing a detailed discussion
paper. TowardsaSmogPlanforOntario,andorganizingatwo-day,multi- stakeholderworkshopto pro-
motethedevelopmentofaprovince-widesmogplan.
Two other significanthighlights duringtheyearwerethe releaseofathree-yearplaii that identified
.
Ontario'spriorities for developing improved environmental standards.These include some 70 airstan-
dards.Aswell,enforceableeffluent loadinglimitswere applied to the petroleum refineries andpulp and
papersectors undertheMunicipal-Industrial StrategyforAbatement.
Iwantto thankall staffmembers fortheirco-operation and hardworkduringaproductiveyearthat
wasachallengingperiod. Weowemuch ofourprogressduringthepastyeartothededication,commit-
ment and sheerprofessionalism ofourpeople - without which itwould havebeen impossibleto have
achievedsomuch.
We aremakingprogress,but it isclearthatwe cannotdo it alohe.We mustworkin partnershipwith
businessandindu^ryandthepublictowardourcommonpurposeofprotectingtheenvironment.
NormanW.Sterling
Minister

Enhancing
environmental
protection
...
conserving Ontario's
resources
are exercises in paper-pushing - ProposedchangestothePesticides
obsolete and bureaucratic require- Act would give the ministry the
ments that take up time and cost authoritytoharmonizeitsclassification
Duringfiscal 1996-97,ministrystaff money for environmentallyinsignifi- ofpesticideswiththefederalgovern-
worked hard to implement major cantactivities. ment'sclassificationsystem.Thiswill
improvementsinMOEE'sprograms Forexample,theapprovalssystem ensure that pesticides are classified
for protecting and sustaining treats a simple request to install a and managedin a mannerthat pro-
Ontario's environment. Amongthe restaurant exhaust fan in exactlythe tects human health and the
improvementswas the introduction samewayasarequestto approvethe eilvironment.
ofnew and enhanced legislation to complex system of pumps, pipes,
strengthenMOEE'sabilitytodeliver machinery and other equipment
itsmandateeffectively. neededforanewchemicalplant. We Environmental
needtorecognizethatthesetwopro- assessment strengthened
jectshaveverydifferentpotentialfor
Improving environmental approvals environmentalharm:anysystemthat In January 1997, Ontario's 20-year-
treats such different projects in old Environmental Assessment Act
In June 1996, the Miniister intro- the samewayis badly in need ofan was modernized and strengthened,
duced the EnvironmentalApprovals overhaul. with the proclamation of the
ImprovementActfor first reading in EnvironmentalAssessmentand Con-
the legislature. The proposed legis- sultation Improvement Act, 1996.
lation opened the door for reforms Streamlining The new legislation strengthens
that will give Ontario a more environmental legislation the province's environmental assess-
modern and streamlined approvals ment (EA) program by improving
system - one that's more timely, In June, the ministry moved to protection, increasingaccountability
cost-effective, efficientand certain, amend five provincial statutes to and enshriningpublic consultation.
while maintaining the same high ensure maximum environmental The improvements are designed to
levels ofenvironmental protection. benefits for every tax dollar spent. place the focus on environmental
Every year, the ministry issues The proposed changes included protection and enable the govern-
more than 9,500 certificates of amendments to the Consolidated mentto provide projectproponents
approval for activities and projects HearingsActand the Environmental with a "yes" answer more quickly
designated underthe Environmental Protection Act that would give the where projects are environmeiitally
—
ProtectionActandthe OntarioWater joint board and the Environmental acceptable and a "no" answer
ResourcesAct. Most ofthese envi- AppealsBoardtheabilitytodesignate sooner,whereprojectsarenot.
ronmental approvals serve some one person to represent a group of Thegovernment'sreformsinclude
useful purpose, but some of them peoplewiththesameinterest. anumberofimportantnewfeatures.
MiiiistryofEnvironmentandEnergy/I
—
Forexample,proponents (thosewho conducted in Ontario and allows publicly owned electricity systems,
are proposing a project) are now for harmonization ofOntario's EA andthatmanyaremovingtoamore
legallyrequired to consult with the processwith thatofthe federal gov- competitive system,inwhichbuyers
publicto identifyand resolve envi- ernmenttoavoidduplication. and sellers determine prices in an
ronmentalissuesasearlyaspossible. openmarketplace.
Thechangesensuretheprovision Preparing for changes to After receiving the report, the
of early and clear direction to all Ontario's eiectricity sector Ministercommittedthegovernment
,
stakeholders (those who have an to studyingthe report's recommen-
interest in a project area) at thestart In June 1996,theAdvisoryCommit- dations in detail and to use the
ofan environmental assessment, as tee on Competition in Ontario's committee's framework for further
proponentsdevelopatermsofrefer- ElectricitySystemsubmitted itsfinal discussion to consult with all elec-
—
encedocument whichgovernsthe reportto theMinister. The compre- tricitystakeholders on the need for,
preparation ofan assessment. With hensivereport,entitledAFramework anddirection of, changes in this key
thenewlegislationinplace,regulated for Competition, contained recom- sectoroftheeconomy.
timeframesarealsobeingestablished mendationsforstructural,legislative
for all key steps in the decision- and regulatory reforms to ensure
making process, to facilitate timely Ontario's powercustomers continue New iandfiii standards
decisions. to have access to safe, reliable and among tlie worid's tougiiest
Under the new legislation, the affordableelectricity.
Ministermayreferdisputesto medi- The report pointed out that In 1996-97Ontariointroducedcom-
ation,sothat theyare not needlessly Ontario'selectricitysystemcurrently prehensivenewlandfillstandardsfor
—
prolonged,andrejectanincomplete facessignificantinternalandexternal public comment standards that
EAearlyinthereviewprocess. With pressures for change. It noted, for are among the toughest in North
the changes, the Minister may also example, that more than half of America. The new standards will
directtheEABoardtofocusitshear- Ontario Hydro's existinggenerating ensure that Ontario landfills offer
ings on outstanding contentious plants will have to be replaced or state-of-the-art environmental pro-
—
issues and establish a general time rehabilitatedbytheyear2025 and tection while bringing additional
frameforcompletingahearing. that this means Ontario's future clarityandcertaintyto theapprovals
The new law also defines a clear power system could be configured process.
role and a legal basis for Class much differently than the one we The proposed newstandards are
EAs (EAsthatcoverarangeofdevel- havetoday. aimed at improving the approvals
opment activities such as water Thecommittee also noted that a processbyclarifyinglandfill design
—
and.sewage construction) which number of jurisdictions in North and performance requirements and
now account for a large number America and around theworld have byproviding design information in
of the environmental assessments introduced major reforms to their areas of technical uncertainty. In
/Z
conjunction with the improvements New soil cleanup Major regulatory reforms proposed
to the EnvironmentalAssessmentAct, guideline introduced
the new standards will make the In the fall of 1995, MOEE began
wasteapprovalsprocessmorecertain In June, the ministryreleasedmore reviewing the 80 regulations it
andtimelyandlesscostlyforpropo- practical and workable directions administers,toeliminateunnecessary
nentsandotherparticipants. on the management and reuse of rules,regulationandproceduresand
Theproposedstandardswillapply contaminatedsites. duplication, and to ensure that the
to new or expanding landfill sites Thenewguidelineprovidesadvice regulationsare relevantandrespond
and, in addition to classifying many and information to propertyowners toOntario'sheedstoensureenviron-
existing approval requirements, they andconsultantswhentheyareassess- mental protection. In July 1996,the
includenewormoreexpUcitrequire- ing the environmental condition of discussion paper entitled Responsive
ments in a number ofareas. Under the property. It also provides guid- EnvironmentalProtectionwasreleased
the new standards a site may be ance in determiningwhetheror not to broaden public consultation on
designed to protect groundwater in restorationis requiredandcanassist proposed changesto Ontario's envi-
one oftwo ways: byadoptingone of in determining thekindofrestora- ronment and energy regulations.
thedesignsspecifiedinthestandards, tion needed to allowcontinued Use Undertheproposedchanges,reg-
or by carrying out a site-specific orreuseofthesite. ulations that are obsolete would be
assessmentanddesign. Toprotectair Theguidelinealsohelpsmembers removed. For example, one regula-
quality,newmandatoryairemission ofthepublic,the real estate industry tion sets efficiency standards for a
control requirements for sites larger and financial lending institutions typeofwaterheaterthatwasprohib-
than three million cubic meters will makeinformedinvestmentdecisions ited for sale in 1990 by another
beincluded. in the cleanup ofurban lands. The regulation. Other reformseliminate
Communityinputcontinuestobe cleanup ofurban landswill encour- theburialofpesticidecontainersand
viewed as an important component age more redevelopment ofvacant require recycling instead, upgrade
ofsiteoperations,withlandfilloper- industrial lands in city cores trainingrequirementsforpestexter-
—
ators required to establish public throughout Ontario and help minators,andimprove the licensing
liaison committees that allow for reduce urban sprawl. In turn, the system bymaking it more efficient.
ongoing input. The new standards rehabilitation and redevelopment of Allofthesechangesstrengthenenvi-
alsoincluderequirementsforsurface urban core lands will no doubt lead ronmentalprotection.
water protection, operation, moni- toeconomicbenefits,includingmore The paper made it clear that the
toring, contingency planning, site construction activity, increased city ministry's goal with regulatory
closureandfinancialassurance. tax revenues, new jobs and the reform is to ensure that Ontario's
revitalizationofsomeareas: high standards of environmental
protection are maintained and
MInistpyofEnvironnentandEnergy/8
improvedbymakingMOEE'sregula- group ofproposed standards,which Leading tlie fight against smog
tions better, stronger and clearer. include 14 standards related to air
Thediscussionpaperwasinitially quality,fourstandards fordrinking Duringtheyear, MOEE staffdevel-
released for a public, discussion water quality and one standard for oped a discussion paper entitled
period of 30 days. Interest in the surfacewaterquality. Towards a Smog Plan for Ontario
changes was considerable, so in which proposes smog reduction
September the Ministerannounced targetsfortheyear2015. Thediscus-
that the publicwould have an addi- Veiiicle emissions testing piloted sionpaperincludesthebestavailable
tional 30 days to comment on the information on manysmog-related
proposals. Automobile exhaust is one of the topics,includingchemistry,monitor-
largest sources ofairpollution. That ing,modeling, emissions inventory,
is why the ministry, began a 12- environmental and health effects,
Three-year plan announced month pilot study in April 1995 to abatementactivitiesandopportunities,
lor setting priority standards testvehicle emissions forair pollu- cost-benefit analysis, intergovern-
tants. InMay1996,MOEEextended mental developments and linkages
One ofthe ministry's most impor- thepilotstudysixmonths,toobtain between smog and other airquality
tant responsibilities is to protect more data duringthe summersmog issues.
human health and Ontario's ecosys- season. In lune 1996, MOEE also orga-
tembysettingenvironmentalquality Duringthestudy,vehiclesreceived nized a two-day, multi-stakeholder
standards for air, soil, drinking and free inspections at the ClearAir consultation workshop on smog,
surface water and sediments. In Centre in Mississauga,to determine whichledtothecreationofacollab-
October 1996,the ministryreleased whether they were properly tuned orative partnership process for the
a draft three-year plan to setenvi- and their emissions control equip- development of a province-wide
ronmental quality standards for mentwas operatingcorrectly. Such smogplan. Aswell,workcontinued
Ontario's highest priorityareas,and equipment can address a significant throughout the year to develop a
placedthe plan on the Environmen- portion ofthe smog-causingpollu- trans-boundary smog pollution
—
tal Bill ofRights registryfor public tants that vehicles produce but strategyforOntario.
comment. onlyifit isperformingaccordingto
The primary focus is on air qual- specifications.
ity and some 70 air quality-related The data collected will be Ontario moves to
compounds are identified forprior- reviewed to determine the feasibility reduce greenhouse gases
itystandard-settingduring the plan ofacomprehensivevehicleemissions
period. Late in the fiscal year, the testing program for smog-prone In December 1996, at a meeting of
ministry began informal consulta- areasoftheprovince. Canadian environment and energy
tions withstakeholders on the first ministers in Toronto, the Minister
/4
released a detailed report outlining Municipalities get responsibility provincial capital grants they
Ontario's initiativesto reducegreen- for water and sewage works receivedsince 1978. This measure is
house gas emissions and respond intendedtoprotecttheinvestrnentof
effectively to the threat of global Ontario's 500 water treatment and taxpayersandtoencouragecontinued
climate.change. 437 sewage treatment plants rank public control ofwater and sewage
Thereportdescribedrecentefforts amongtheworld's best. In 1996-97 works.
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions about three-quarters of the plants Thelegislation also gives munici-
undertakenbytheprovincialgovern- were owned and operated by local palities responsibilityfor approving
—
mentanditsagencies,municipalities, municipalities. Afewwereoperated and inspectingsepticsystems and
public utilities, businesses and by private companies on behalf of allows them to include new or
consumers. municipalities. Theremainingplants expanded septic systems in a one-
— —
about a quarter of the total stopapprovalsservice.
Newinitiatives beingundertaken by were owned and operated by the With fullmunicipalownership of
theprovinceinclude: provincethroughtheOntario Glean the plants, the province will no
WaterAgency(OCWA). OCWAalso longer be in the position, of being
m developmentofguidelinesforthe provided operating services for243 regulator, owner, operator and
controlofmethanegasfromland- municipalclients,mostofwhomhad provider of funding. Instead, the
fills; populationsoflessthan4,000. province will focus in future on set-
In January, the Minister intro- ting and enforcing tough standards
completion ofan action plan to duced the WaterandSewageServices for water and sewage treatment
reduce greenhouse gas emissions Improvement Act, 1997, which is plants.
from government buildings and intendedtoclarifytheresponsibilities Municipalitieswillbeincontrolof
vehiclesby40percentbytheyear betweentheprovinceandmunicipal- theirwaterandsewageinfrastructure
2000; ities in the delivery of water and andwillhave increased flexibilityto
and sewage treatmentservices. Thepro- make sound decisions for efficient
m expansion of the Voluntary posed législationwould consolidate servicedelivery.
Challenge and RegistryProgram, ownershipofwaterandsewagetreat-
which includes hundreds of ment facilities atthe municipal level
—
Ontario companies and institu- by transferring the title of all Remédiai action pian work continues
tions from all sectors that are provinciallyownedwater,andsewage
committed to reducing their treatmentplantstothemunicipalities. During 1996-97,theministrycontin-
greenhousegasemissions. Under this law, municipalities uedits partnership efforts underthe
proposing to sell part or all oftheir remedialactionplan (RAP)program
waterorsewage assets to the private to clean up and minimizepollution
sector will first have to repay any in a number of specific areas of
MiiiistpyafEnvirMHmntandEnargy/5
provincialconœmontheGreatLakes. Fish at the Toronto Sportsmen's MISA regulations getting results
In 1997, for example, MOEE Showanditcontainedsomeencour-
provided$1 millioninfundingasits agingnewsfortheprovince'sanglers: Intheyearsbefore 1990,toxicitytests
contribution to cleaning up the fishin Ontario'slakes and rivers are bythe ministryindicated that more
highly contaminated sediment at becominghealthier.toeat. than25percentofindustrialeffluent
Randle Reefin Hamilton Harbour, With provincialbans and restric- samples were toxic to aquatic life.
in partnership with Environment tions on substances such as DDT, Beginningin 1996,however,Ontario's
Canadaandlocal industries. PCBs, mirex, toxaphene, chlordane effluent regulations under the
During the year, MOEE also and dieldrin,the levels ofsuch con- Municipal-Industrial Strategy for
joined a new, innovative implemen- taminants in fish are dropping. The Abatement (MISA) program have
tation framework alongwith seven 1997Guidealsodocumentedasteady limitedtoxic substances inthe efflu-
local municipalities, Environment decline in these chemicals in many ents discharged by nine industrial
Canada and the Friends of Wye locations throughout the province. sectors. In 1996-97,toxicitytestscar-
—
Marsh,to continuerestorationwork In Lake Simcoe, for example the riedoutbytheministryrevealedthat
inSevernSound. province's most popular inland manyofOntario's major industrial
—
The ministry completed a guid- fishing location the 1997 Guide dischargesarenolongerlethaltofish
ancemanualduringtheyearwhichis reportedamarkeddeclineinmercury andotheraquaticlife.
designed tobetter integrate munici- levelsinwalleye. AU"hoconsumption" On January 1, 1996, the effluent
pal planning and programs with advisories on fish caught in Lake loading limits under MISA for the
— —
RAPs to ensure long-term Simcoehavebeenlifted withcon- petroleum refineries and pulp and
commitments to sustainable envi- tinued restrictions on onlythevery paper sectors became enforceable.
ronmental recovery. MOEE also largestsizesofafewspecies. Underthelimits,the average reduc-
completed a tool kit duringtheyear MOEE's consumption advisories tion for contaminants associated
tohelpcommunitiesstrengthentheir for sport fish are based on tests in with Ontario's seven petroleum
effortsattakinglocal environmental morethan 1,600 locations acrossthe refineriesis53percçnt. AtOntario's
action and to help grass roots envi- province. Under the Ontario Sport 26 pulp and paper mills, the limits
—
ronmental organizations to be more Fish Monitoring Program which reduce discharges of contami-
effective. theministrycarries outin co-opera- nants such as BOD5, chloroform
tion with the Ministry of Natural and toluene by 87 per cent. The
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Resources MOEE's laboratory province's kraft mills, which have
Ontario's sport fish analysesfishforasmanyas70differ- substitutedchlorine dioxide for ele-
now safer, healthier ent environmental contaminants. mentalchlorineinthepulpbleaching
process, have successfully reduced
In March 1997,theministryreleased their discharge of adsorbable
the 1997GuidetoEatingOntarioSport
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