As anticipated, management of excess soils in Ontario has officially been changed. On December 4, 2019, the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) filed the On-Site and Excess Soil Management Regulation. This includes associated changes to Ontario’s Record of Site Condition and Waste Management Regulation. Statement from the MECP In the official release from the MECP Minister, Jeff Yurek states, “As Ontario’s population continues to grow, we need...
Read MoreMore Environmental Enforcement News and Update on Air Release in Hamilton
The Environmental Emergency regulations are not brand new. Yes, these regulations did go through the repeal and replace process this past summer (August 24, 2019), but they were enacted in 2003, and we were discussing the E2 Regulation in 2016. In general, we have been suggesting that our clients be watchful with respect to the potential for more environmental enforcement action. With that said, the recent E2 enforcement action, which you may have read about in the news,...
Read MoreProposed Changes to Penalties for Environmental Violations in Ontario
In our blog on October 30th, “Enforcement of Environmental Laws in Canada,” we discussed what appears to be an increased cost of not complying with environmental laws across Canada. As we said then, environmental protection laws and the penalties associated with non-compliance are constantly changing. And, indeed, more (proposed) changes are upon us. Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, 2019 Bill 132, Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, 2019 (Posted...
Read MoreEnforcement of Environmental Laws in Canada
It was about ten months ago in our first blog of 2019 that we shared news of two environmental fines: A pulp and paper company was ordered to pay $3.5 million for violations of the Fisheries Act. A seafood company was fined $115,000 for contravening the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. It was just the next month in our February 28th blog where we again shared more enforcement news: Syncrude paid $3 million for violating the Migratory Birds Act, and Green For Life...
Read MoreA Fine From a Release, A “Scary” Release, and Potential Regulation of Releases
If you are in charge of environmental management, then no one needs to tell you that it can be complex and even frustrating. It requires knowing which regulations apply to your facilities, training your employees so they don’t unknowingly violate the regulations, and keeping a watchful eye on developing regulations. The three updates below provide us with a reminder of why environmental managers must not only develop and implement good internal policies, but why they also...
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