Contents
FEDERAL NEWS
- Chemicals Management Plan
- Significant New Activity Notice, August 4, 2009
- Notice with respect to Benzoic Acid
- Final Decision on the Screening Assessment of Batch 5 Substances
- Significant New Activity Notices, September 5, 2009
- Notice of Release of the Draft Screening Assessments for Batch 7 Substances
- Notice of the Release of Technical Information for Batch 11 Substances
- Notice for Batch 11 Substances
- Notice for Batch 12 Substances
- Notice with respect to Micro-organisms on the Domestic Substances List
- Notice with respect to Certain Chemicals on the Domestic Substances List
- Order Amending the Domestic Substances List to Add 19 Substances
- Order Amending the Domestic Substances List re Disperse Orange 5
- Orders Adding Toxic Substances to Schedule 1 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
OTHER FEDERAL NEWS
- Regulations Amending the Disposal at Sea Regulations
- Proposed Regulations Amending the PCB Regulations
- An Act to amend the Energy Efficiency Act comes into force
- Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Releases Joint Report with Environment Canada
- Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Architectural Coatings Regulations
- CCME releases Biosolids Emissions Model
PROVINCIAL NEWS
ONTARIO
- New Green Energy Regime Comes into Force
- Regulatory Framework for the Management of Non-Agricultural Source Materials
- Regulations 336/09 and 337/09 made under the Environmental Protection Act
- Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Submits 2008/2009 Annual Report
- 407 East Environmental Assessment
- Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Boulevard Reconfiguration Terms of Reference
Announcements
Chemicals Management Plan
Environment Canada is currently in the process of assessing approximately 200 high priority substances on Canada's Domestic Substances List ("DSL") for toxicity, use, and the need for regulatory control. The DSL is the list of substances that were in commercial use between 1984 and 1986, which pre-date the Federal notice and assessment protocol for toxicity that came into effect under the New Substances Notification Regulations. Environment Canada is releasing batches of 15-30 substances every three months to provide industry with the opportunity to submit the prescribed information to Environment Canada as part of the assessment process.
Significant New Activity Notice, August 4, 2009
On August 4, 2009, notice was published in the Canada Gazette Part II of Orders Amending the DSL by deleting two substances currently listed on the DSL from Part I and adding them to Part II and indicating, by the addition of the letter "S" following the substances identification number that said the substances will be subject to the Significant New activity provisions under subsection 81(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The Significant New Activity Notice is to ensure that the Federal government is notified of any new use, manufacture or importation of these substances in a quantity greater than 100 kg. per year and that the substance undergo ecological and human health risk assessments prior to those substances being introduced into Canada. The substances listed in the Notice are:
- Fluorotriphenylstannanane (fluorotriphenyltin) (CAS Number 379-52-52); and
- Tetraphenylstannane (tetraphenyltin) (CAS Number 595090-4).
A Similar Order amending the DSL was also made in respect of five other substances which were in Batch 4 of the Challenge. The screening assessments for these substances found that they met the ecological categorization criteria for persistence, bioaccumulation and inherent toxicity to non-human organisms. Based on information provided by industry there are no reports of industrial activities with respect to these substances about the reporting threshold of 100 kg. per year for the reporting years of 2005 and 2006.
Screening assessments of six additional substances, including:
- Benzemanine, 2,6-dinitro-N, N-dipropyl-4(trifluoromethyl)-(Trifluralin);
- 1,3,5-Triazine-2,4-diamine, 6 chloro-N-ethyl-N'-(1-methylethyl)-(Atrazine);
- 1,3 Benzenedicarbonitrile, 2,4,5,6-tetrachloro-(Chlorothalonil);
- I H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione, 2-[(4-chloroohenyl)phenylacetyl]- (Chlorophacinone);
- Benzene, 1,1' -(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene)bis[4-methoxy-(Methoxychlor); and
- Phenol, pentachloro- (pentachlorophenol).
determined that trifluralin met the criteria for persistence, bioaccumulation and inherent toxicity to human beings or non-human organisms, atrazine, chlorothalonil, methoxyclhor and pentachlorophenol were determined to be both persistent and inherently toxic to non-human organisms and chlorophacinone was determined to be both bioaccumulated and inherently toxic to non-human organisms. Additionally, four of those substances, atrazine, chlorothalonil, trifluralin and pentachlorophenol were identified as inherently toxic to humans. These substances are also regulated under the Pest Control Products Act. A survey of industry revealed that there was no use, importation or manufacture of these substances or applications above the reporting threshold of 100 kg per year in 2000 other than those regulated under the Pest Control Products Act.
Notice with respect to Benzoic Acid
Notice was published of the proposal to amend the DSL by requiring a Significant New Activity Notice in respect of Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 2-butyloctyle ester in any quantity other than its use in sunscreen products in a concentration of no more than 5 % of the final product or its use in a product whether it is exported before being sold to the public.
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part I, August 22, 2009, Vol. 143, No. 34, page 2499
Final Decision on the Screening Assessment of Batch 5 Substances
Notices relating to the final assessment decisions for the 19 substances in Batch 5 of the Challenge were published in the Supplement Canada Gazette Part I, August 22, 2009.
For seventeen of the substances the conclusions of the Screening Assessments were that the substances did not meet the criteria set out in section 64 of the CEPA, 1999.
For fifteen of these substances no further action was proposed to be taken.
A Significant New Activity Notice will be required for 2-chloroacetamide. 2-chloroacetamide was identified as a high priority for screening assessment as it was found to pose a high hazard to human health based on its classification as a reproductive toxicant by the European Commission. It is registered as a pesticide for use in paint, adhesive, dyestuff, detergent, textile and related industries under the Pest Control Products Act. Since no uses or release of the substance other than those covered by the Pest Control Products Act have been identified in Canada, no further assessment was required unless new activities for the substance which have not been identified or assessed could lead to the substance meeting the criteria set out in section 64 of the Act.
Of the Batch 5 substances, two of the substances, 2-Propenamide(acrylamide) did meet one or more of the criteria in section 64 of CEPA, 1999 and accordingly those substances are added to Schedule 1 of the Act. Acrylamide is used in the manufacture of various polymers which are used in binding, thickening or flocculating agents for a number of substances. TCEP is used as a plasticizer and viscosity regulator with flame-retardant properties in polyurethanes, polyester resins and other polymers which may be used in furniture, building and textile industries.
For more information please see:
Supplement Canada Gazette, Part I, August 22, 2009, page 4.
Significant New Activity Notices, September 5, 2009
Notice was published in Canada Gazette, Part I, September 5, 2009 of the intent to amend the Domestic Substances List to indicate that the following five substances are intended to be subject to the New Significant Activity provisions in section 81(3) of CEPA, 1999.
- 3H-Pyrazol-3, one, 4-[(2-chlorophenyl)azol]-2,4-dihydro-methyl-2-phenyl-(Chemical Abstracts Service [CAS] Registry No. 6407-74-5);
- 3H-Pyrazol-3, one, 4[2-dimethylphenyl)azol]-2,4-dihydro-5-methyl-2-phenyl-(CAS Registry No 6407-78-9);
- I-Naphthalenemethanol, α,α-bis[4-diethylamino)phenyl]-4-(ethylamino)-(CAS Registry No. 1325-86-6);
- I-Naphthalenemethanol, α,α-bis [4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]4-(phenylamino)-(CAS Registry No. 6786-83-0); and
- [1,1'-Biphenyl]-4,4'-diamine, N,N'-bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-3,3'-dimethoxy-(CAS Registry No. 29398-96-7).
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette, Part I, September 5, 2009, vol. 143, No. 36, page 2654
Notice of Release of the Draft Screening Assessments for Batch 7 Substances
Notices relating to the draft screening assessments for the 14 substances in Batch 7 of the Challenge were published in the Supplement Canada Gazette, Part I, September 5, 2009.
For five substances in Batch 7 (CAS No. 6407-74-5, 6407-78-9, 1325-86-6, 6786-83-0 and 29398-96-7), the proposed conclusion of the draft screening assessment is that these substances do not meet the criteria set out in section 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. However, while these substances are not in commerce and they are not entering the environment, there is concern that new activities for these substances which have not been identified or assessed under CEPA 1999 could lead to these substances meeting the criteria set out in section 64 of the Act. Therefore, it was recommended that these substances be subject to the Significant New Activity provisions specified under subsection 81(3) of the Act, so that any new manufacture or use of these substances is notified and will undergo ecological and human health risk assessments as specified in section 83 of the Act prior to the substance being introduced into Canada.
The 60-day public comment period expired on November 4 2009.
For more information please see:
Supplement Canada Gazette, Part I, September 5, 2009, page 3.
Notice of the Release of Technical Information for Batch 11 Substances
The Federal government provided notice on September 26, 2009 that it is releasing technical documentation relevant to the 16 substances in Batch 11. The technical information:
- summarizes the scientific information and any relevant uncertainties;
- specifies the information necessary for improved decision making and, where appropriate, requires submission of this data using s. 71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999; and
- outlines how this information will be used in decisions.
Interested parties may submit the information detailed in the technical documentation. The technical documentation and associated deadlines for submission of information are available at the Chemical Substances website here:
www.chemicalsusbstances.gc.ca .
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part I, September 26, 2009, Vol. 143, No. 39, page 2858.
Notice for Batch 11 Substances
On September 26, 2009, the Federal government provided notice pursuant to s. 71(1)(b) of the Environmental Protection Act, 1999 that the Minister of Environment requires any person who:
- manufactured or imported a total quantity > 100 kg of a listed substance whether alone, in a mixture, in a product, or in a manufactured item; or
- used a total quantity > 1000 kg of a listed substance at any concentration, whether alone, in a mixture, in a product or in a manufactured item
during the 2006 calendar year to provide the prescribed information. Listed substances are the Batch 11 substances described in Schedule 1 of the notice. Responses to the notice must be submitted to the Minister of the Environment, to the attention of the DSL Surveys Co-ordinator, Chemicals Management Plan no later than January 26, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. EST.
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part I, September 26, 2009, Vol. 143, No. 39, page 2865
Notice for Batch 12 Substances
The Federal government gave notice on September 26, 2009 that it intends to publish the technical documentation on 16 substances assigned to the 12 th batch of chemical substances identified as high priority for action. Interested parties will be challenged to submit the specific information detailed in the technical documents at that time.
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part I, September 26, 2009, Vol. 143, No. 39, page 2863
Notice with respect to Micro-organisms on the Domestic Substances List
On October 3, 2009, the Minister of Environment gave notice pursuant to paragraph 71(1)(b) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 to prescribed persons that information is required from them for the purpose of assessing whether the substances listed in Schedule 1 to the notice are toxic or are capable of becoming toxic, or for the purpose of assessing whether to control, or the manner in which to control the listed substances. The microorganisms listed in Schedule 1 include, but are not limited to, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas fluorescens.
The notice applies to any person who, during the 2008 calendar year, manufactured or imported a prescribed substance whether alone, in a mixture, or in a product. The Minister requires such persons to provide the prescribed information to the Minister of the Environment, to the attention of the DSL, Surveys Co-ordinator, Chemicals Management Plan no later than March 30, 2010 at 3 p.m. EST.
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part I, October 3, 2009, Vol. 143, No. 40, page 2936.
Notice with respect to Certain Chemicals on the Domestic Substances List
Pursuant to paragraph 71(1)(b) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Minister of Environment gave notice on October 3, 2009 that he requires information about the approximately 500 substances listed in Schedule 1 of the notice for the purpose of assessing whether the substances are toxic or are capable of becoming toxic, or for the purpose of assessing whether to control, or the manner in which to control the listed substances.
The notice applies to any person who manufactured or imported a total quality > 100 kg of a listed substance whether alone, in a mixture, in a product or in a manufactured item during the 2008 calendar year.
Responses to the notice must be submitted to the Minister of Environment, to the attention of the DSL, Surveys Coordinator, Chemicals Management Plan no later than March 30, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. EST.
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part I, October 3, 2009, Vol. 143, No. 40, page 2945.
Order Amending the Domestic Substances List to Add 19 Substances
On September 16, 2009, the Ministers of Environment and Health published Order 2009-87-07-01 pursuant to s. 87(1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The Ministers were satisfied that the 19 substances that the Order added to the DSL were manufactured in or imported into Canada, by the person who provided the information, in excess of the quantity prescribed by the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers).
The DSL is the sole basis in Canada for determining whether a substance is "existing" or "new" to Canada. Substances that are on the DSL are deemed to be "existing" substances and they are not subject to the notice and assessment requirements for new substances prescribed by the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers).
The Order came into force on August 28, 2009.
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part II, September 16, 2009, Vol. 143, No. 19, page 1753.
Order Amending the Domestic Substances List re Disperse Orange 5
On September 16, 2009, the Ministers of Environment and Health published Order 2009-87-05-04 that amends the DSL by deleting Ethanol, 2-[[4-[(2, 6-dichloro-4-nitrophenyl)azo]phenyl]methylamino]- ("Disperse Orange 5") from Part 1 and adding it to Part 2 with the letter S' following the substance identification number. Disperse Orange 5 is now subject to the significant new activities provisions of s. 81(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Subsection 81(3) requires that any person who intends to use, import or manufacture the substance in a quantity > 100 kg in a calendar year to provide the prescribed information to the Minister at least 90 days before the day on which the quantity of the substance exceeds 100 kg in a calendar year.
The Order came into force on August 31, 2009.
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part II, September 16, 2009, Vol. 143, No. 19, page 1760.
Orders Adding Toxic Substances to Schedule 1 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
The Ministers of Environment and Health published three orders on October 3, 2009 made under s. 90(1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 to add the following substances to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1:
- Sulfuric acid, diethyl ester;
- Sulfuric acid, dimethyl ester;
- Benazamine, N-phenyl-, reaction products with styrene and 2,4,4-trimethylpentene;
- 2-Propenamide;
- Ethanol, 2-chloro-, phosphate (3:1);
- Tributyltins; and
- Tetrabutyltins.
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part I, October 3, 2009, Vol. 143, No. 40, pages 3015, 3025 and 3030.
OTHER FEDERAL NEWS
Regulations Amending the Disposal at Sea Regulations
The Regulations Amending the Disposal at Sea Regulations ("Regulations") were published and came into force on September 9, 2009. The Regulations specify four areas that are to be included in the definition of the sea in Part 7, Division 3, of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Those areas include the Fraser, Mackenzie, and Miramichi estuaries as well as the Bras D'or Lakes. The Regulations identify the geographic boundaries between freshwater and the sea in the Fraser, Mackenzie, Miramichi estuaries. They also provide that disposal activities in the Bras D'or Lakes, which contain brackish water, fall under Federal authority. The boundaries established by the Regulations identify the area in which the Federal disposal at sea provisions apply.
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part II, September 30, 2009, Vol. 143, No. 20, page 1789.
Proposed Regulations Amending the PCB Regulations
The PCB Regulations ("Regulations") were published on September 17, 2008. The Regulations establish deadlines for ending the use and long-term storage of PCBs and products containing PCBs. They require that all PCBs and products containing PCBs that were stored on September 5, 2008 be sent for destruction by December 31, 2009. The PCBs could, however, be stored at an authorized destruction facility for a two-year period, following which they must be destroyed.
The proposed Regulations Amending the PCB Regulations were published on September 26, 2009. They propose to:
- allow on-site storage of PCBs or products containing PCBs for an additional two years, until December 31, 2011. The PCBs must, however, be destroyed at the site by that date; and
- require PCB owners opting to destroy PCBs on-site to obtain the necessary authorizations from their respective territorial or provincial government.
The proposed amendments seek to provide increased flexibility to regulated persons to use on-site destruction methods for stored PCBs without compromising the timeline for the final destruction of PCBs as prescribed by the Regulations.
Owners of PCBs that will have them destroyed off-site will continue to be subject to the current end-of-storage deadline of December 31, 2009.
The Regulations Amending the PCB Regulations also seek to clarify existing ambiguities with the Regulations and to address identified inconsistencies.
Any person may file comments about the proposed regulation with the Minister of the Environment within 60 days after the date of publication of the notice.
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part I, September 26, 2009, Vol. 143, No. 39, page 2920.
An Act to amend the Energy Efficiency Act comes into force
On September 21, 2009, An Act to amend the Energy Efficiency Act was proclaimed into force by the Governor General. The Act amends the Energy Efficiency Act to:
- clarify that classes of energy-using products may be established based on their common energy-consuming characteristics, the intended use of the products or the conditions under which the products are normally used;
- require that all interprovincial shipments of energy-using products meet the requirements of the Act;
- require dealers to provide the Minister of Natural Resources with prescribed information respecting the shipment or importation of energy-using products; and
- broaden the scope of the labelling provisions.
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part II, September 30, 3009, Vol. 143, No. 20, page 1960.
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Releases Joint Report with Environment Canada
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission released a joint report with Environment Canada entitled "Risk Management of Uranium Releases From Uranium Mines and Mills" on September 30, 2009. The Report covers activities completed as of the end of 2007, and concludes that EC and the CNSC, along with industry, have successfully met uranium risk-management objectives. In particular, the Report concludes that activities implemented at the Rabbit Lake Uranium Mine and Mill and the Key Lake Operation were successful in reducing the discharge of uranium into the environment. A 67% reduction in uranium concentration in Island Lake at the Cluff Lake Operation was also recorded.
For more information please see:
http://www.cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca/eng/readingroom/reports/uranium/index.cfm
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Architectural Coatings Regulations
The Federal government issued the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Concentration Limits for Architectural Coatings Regulations ("Regulations") on September 30, 2009. The Regulations seek to reduce VOC emissions from the architectural coatings sector by establishing mandatory VOC concentration limits for 53 categories of architectural coatings. Products in these categories include, but are not limited to, paints, stains and lacquers. Architectural coatings that are imported, manufactured, or sold for use in Canada will be subject to the Regulations.
Prohibitions applicable to the import and manufacture of architectural coatings take effect over a five year period. The prohibitions begin one year after the Regulations are registered. There is a subsequent two-year "sell-through" period for each coating category during which coatings exceeding the applicable VOC limit, manufactured and imported prior to the effective dates, can still be sold. The Regulations also include provisions for temporary permits (valid for up to four years) to provide flexibility to manufacturers who face unforeseen technical or economic barriers to reformulation. The prohibition on sale or offer-for-sale takes effect two years following the expiry of the permit.
The Regulations also prescribed labelling and record keeping requirements.
The Regulations were registered on September 9, 2009.
For more information please see:
Canada Gazette Part II, September 30, 2009, Vol. 143, No. 20, page 1855.
CCME releases Biosolids Emissions Model
On October 7, 2009, the Canadian Council of the Ministers of Environment released a Biosolids Emissions Assessment Model which allows users to calculate the net greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions from biosolids management. Biosolids result from the treatment of wastewater which removes the solids (sludge) from the liquid effluent. The Model was designed as a tool to establish a verifiable method of quantifying emissions from biosolids management practices. This is important because quantified emissions reductions may potentially be converted into carbon credits which can be sold or traded to offset the cost of biosolids management. One important feature of the Model is that it is designed to calculate GHG emissions from multiple management scenarios. This feature enables users to evaluate the impact of different management scenarios on GHG emissions, and to plan accordingly.
For more information please see:
http://www.ccme.ca/ourwork/waste.html?category_id=137
PROVINCIAL NEWS
ONTARIO:
New Green Energy Regime Comes into Force
On September 9 and 24, 2009, many parts of the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009 received Royal Proclamation and therefore came into force along with associated regulations.
Several key components to the government's strategy to encourage the generation of renewable energy are now in place and operational. One important feature of new regime is that it streamlines the approval and permitting process for renewable energy projects. Renewable Energy Approvals are now required for renewable energy projects instead of the basket of permits formerly required. Such projects are now exempt from a variety of municipal and provincial environmental approvals, including provincial environmental assessments.
The new regime also establishes a feed-in tariff program for renewable energy sources. The program is North America's first comprehensive feed-in tariff program for renewable electricity production, and guarantees prices under long-term contracts for energy generated from renewable sources including biomass, biogas, landfill gas, on-shore and off-shore wind, solar photovoltaic, and water power. The Ontario Power Authority is responsible for implementing the feed-in tariff program. The OPA began excepting applications on October 1, 2009.
Renewable energy generation facilities are also provided with a "right to connect" to transmission and electricity distributions systems in Ontario under the new regime provided that the prescribed conditions are met.
For more information please see:
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/business/green-energy/
Regulatory Framework for the Management of Non-Agricultural Source Materials
The Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs ("OMFRA") completed the final stage of an initiative to improve the regulatory framework governing the application of non-agricultural source materials (NASM) on agricultural land under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002. Both Ministries share responsibility for ensuring that the environment, Ontario's water supply, and public health are protected with respect to the application of biosolids and other nutrients on farmland. Generators of NASM will continue to be regulated under the Environmental Protection Act until the materials arrive at the farmer's gate where the materials become subject to the Nutrient Management Act regulations. The amendments streamline and strengthen the regulatory process. In particular, land application approval is still required for certain materials like sewage biosolids, which require a detailed plan prepared by a certified person and approved by OMFRA.
For more information please see:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm.html
Regulations 336/09 and 337/09 made under the Environmental Protection Act
The provincial government issued Ontario Regulations 336/09 and 337/09 on October 3, 2009 to amend O. Reg. 347 of R.R.O. 1990 (General -Waste Management).
O. Reg. 336/09 modifies the definition of "anaerobic digestion", and provides that output from anaerobic digestion that is intended for application on agricultural land as a nutrient is exempt from Part V of the Act and Reg. 347 if certain conditions are met. It also provides that a waste disposal site is exempt from Part V of the Act and Reg. 347 if it is a Non-agricultural Source Materials plan area and satisfies the requirements of O. Reg. 267/03 (General) made under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002.
O. Reg. 337/09 amends Reg. 347 to clarify and/or update existing definitions and requirements in the regulation, update references to other legislation or regulations, and update references to facility names. It also exempts waste generated and collected from field operations and transported directly to a local waste transfer facility from the subject waste requirements, including generator registration and manifesting, under O. Reg. 347. Field operations include remote sites operated by power or pipeline networks, equipment service contractors, and mobile health care providers. O. Reg. 337/09 also exempts local waste transfer facilities from the approval requirements under the Environmental Protection Act to receive the subject waste if the prescribed conditions are met.
For more information please see:
The Ontario Gazette, October 3rd, 2009, vol. 142-40, pages 2637 and 2638.
Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Submits 2008/2009 Annual Report
On October 6, 2009, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario submitted his annual report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The Report focuses on resilience theory, outlining the basic principles of the theory and explaining why close attention should be paid to this concept of resiliency. The Report observes that many of Ontario's ecosystems are being perturbed, and that the consequences of such disturbances are unknown. It concludes that resilient systems should be built that can tolerate change and disturbance without totally collapsing.
For more information please see:
www.eco.on.ca/eng/uploads/eng_pdfs/2009/ar2008.pdf
407 East Environmental Assessment
The 407 East Environmental Assessment was completed by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and submitted to the Minister for Approval on August 28, 2009. The public comment period for the Environmental Assessment Submission expired on October 16, 2009.
MTO established a Technically Preferred Route and identified a Recommended Design which includes a transportation corridor and associated support facilities. The transportation corridor includes that section of the 407 extending from Brock Road to Highway 35/115 and two north-south links connecting the proposed 407 extension to Highway 401, one in Whitby and one in Clarington.
For further information please see:
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/eabb/general_info/EAProjectsupdates.php
Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Boulevard Reconfiguration Terms of Reference
Waterfront Toronto and the City of Toronto submitted a Terms of Reference pursuant to the Environmental Assessment Act on September 4, 2009 for the purpose of examining the reconfiguration of the Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Boulevard from approximately Lower Jarvis Street to just east of the Don Valley Parkway at Logan Avenue. Four alternative solutions were identified including:
- Maintaining the elevated expressway.
- Improving the elevated expressway.
- Replacing the elevated expressway.
- Removing the elevated expressway.
The comment period on the draft Terms of Reference expired October 5, 2009.
For more information please see:
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/eabb/general_info/TorProjectsupdates.php
Announcements
Mark Madras will be a speaker at Federated Press' 3rd Emissions Trading course, which will be held in Calgary on March 11 & 12, 2010. Mark will be speaking about Ontario's proposed GHG cap and trade system.
Harry Dahme provided a Cross-Canada Review of changes to Brownfields Legislation at the "Passing the Torch - Learning from Progress" panel at Canadian Brownfields, 2009 conference held in Vancouver on October 26, 2009.
Ian Richler and Harry Dahme are speaking at EPIC's Understanding Environmental Regulations course on November 25 and 26 respectively. Ian will be speaking on Federal regulation of water, and the law of Environmental Assessment. Harry will be speaking on Provincial regulation of water, Provincial regulation of Waste, Spills and Inspections and Investigations.
Go for Green: 20 Years of Environmental Law at Gowlings . In January 2010 it will have been 20 years since David Estrin Barristers & Solicitors joined what was then Gowling Strathy & Henderson. David Estrin and Harry Dahme joined Mark Madras and thus created the impetus to what has led to the Gowlings Environmental Law Group becoming recognized nationally and internationally for its expertise and high quality of work. Since 1990 the Group has attracted other Environmental Law professionals, such as Paul Granda in Montreal and Alan Blair in Vancouver, all of whom are recognized for their tremendous expertise in this practice area. Together with the other professionals in the Environmental Law National Practice Group, Gowlings now has one of the leading Environmental Law practices in Canada.
This milestone event presents an opportunity to review and reflect upon dramatic changes that have occurred over that period of time in terms of awareness of environmental issues and in the practice of Environmental Law. On the evening of February 4, 2010 Gowlings will be hosting a reception to celebrate this event.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
