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July 2010 Green Facts Certificates of Approval - Air & Noise The Environmental Assessment and Approvals Approval may also be required for some Branch (EAAB) of the Ministry of the subsurface remedial activities at contaminated Environment issues “Certificates of Approval” sites. under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA). Air & Noise Certificates of Approval are required Operations that require approval include but are under the EPA for facilities that release emissions not limited to: into the natural environment, other than into water. • construction of a new manufacturing This Fact Sheet provides information for facilities operation; that discharge contaminants into the atmosphere. • adding a second welding line to an existing facility; and What Requires Approval? • raw material changes that affect the emissions from a facility. Section 9 of the EPA requires equipment, The responsibility for obtaining approval lies with structures or processes that may discharge a the owner or operator of the equipment that may contaminant to the atmosphere to be approved discharge a contaminant to the air. If the owner or before construction, alteration, extension or operator is a corporation, the person signing the replacement of the equipment. Approval is also application on behalf of the corporation must be required for the ongoing operation of any someone who is specifically authorized by the equipment that may discharge a contaminant to the corporation to do so. If the person signing the atmosphere. application is not an official of the corporation, the application must be accompanied by a letter signed The definition of a contaminant is very broad. by an official of the corporation authorizing the Examples include particulate emissions from a person to act on its behalf for that purpose. process, solvent emissions from a painting line, nitrogen oxides from combustion sources, or sound Are there exemptions to the requirement to and vibration from a metal stamping operation. obtain a Certificate of Approval? The ministry does not require that compounds have published criteria to be considered contaminants. Specific exemptions for selected types of Unless explicitly exempted, most industrial equipment and activities have been granted by processes and equipment, and modifications to Subsections 9(3) and 47.3(2) of the EPA, and the industrial processes and equipment that discharge Approval Exemption regulation (O. Reg. 524/98) contaminants require approval. made under the EPA. PIBS 4977e01 July 2010 Examples of exempted processes, equipment or of receipt of your application within two weeks of modifications to industrial processes include: submitting it to the EAAB. • equipment associated with a residential Applications are reviewed by engineers to assess if dwelling such as exhaust fans or home the application demonstrates compliance with the workshops; EPA and applicable Regulations and Guidelines. • fuel burning equipment below a specified size; • specified mobile equipment such as snow- Depending on the complexity of the review, making or duct cleaning equipment; applications will be reviewed by: • equipment associated with food preparation at restaurants; and • the Streamlined Review Unit (SRU); or • outdoor events such as festivals or fairs. • the Air and Noise Unit (ANU). Certain renewable energy projects require a Additional information on equipment that may be Renewable Energy Approval rather than a processed by the SRU is available from the EAAB. Certificate of Approval. Information on Renewable Energy Approvals is available on the When can I expect to get my approval? Internet at http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/business/green- The EAAB typically receives several thousand energy Certificate of Approval applications per year. These applications are processed in chronological How do I obtain a Certificate of Approval? order of their receipt. The best assurance of a timely review is the An application for an Air & Noise Certificate of preparation of a complete application package that Approval must be submitted to the EAAB for most clearly demonstrates compliance with the EPA and industrial processes and equipment or applicable Regulations and Guidelines. Review modifications to process and equipment. The will take longer if additional required information completed application package should include two is identified during the review. Applications should copies of the application form, two copies of all be filed as early as possible before the anticipated supporting information and the required fee. date of construction. Applicants must include supporting information which assesses the emissions of all contaminants associated with the application. A copy of the The information contained in this document is of a application form and supporting information general nature only and is not intended to should also be submitted to the ministry’s District constitute advice for any specific fact situation. Office serving the area of the site. Please note that the text of many Ontario statutes and regulations are available on the Internet at Application forms, application guidance material www.e-laws.gov.on.ca. and contact information for the ministry’s District For more information about Certificates of Offices are available from the EAAB, or from the Approval or to obtain an application package, “Publications” section of the ministry web site at please contact: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/publications/forms/in dex.php#aircofa. Ministry of the Environment Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch What happens to my application once it is 2 St. Clair Ave W, Floor 12A submitted? Toronto, ON M4V 1L5 Applications are screened for completeness by the Toll Free: 1-800-461-6290 EAAB. Incomplete applications may be returned Phone: 416-314-8001 Fax: 416-314-8452 at this stage. You should receive acknowledgment Email: [email protected] Website: www.ene.gov.on.ca 2 PIBS 4977e01