Environmental issues affect just about every aspect of our lives and our economy. And when your largest trading partner lives next door, their environmental policies can significantly impact your life – some more than others. While the relations between Canada and the US have their ups and downs, in general we are friendly neighbours and trading partners. One area where there has been some recent strife involves pipelines, including Keystone XL Pipeline. On his first day...
Read More2021 Environmental Enforcement News in Canada is Underway
Environmental Enforcement news in Canada has kicked off 2021 with a significant penalty. The events that led to the settlements below occurred a few years ago, but the settlements happened in 2021. $675,000 Settlement Environment and Climate Change Canada reports, “On January 21, 2021, the Compagnie d’Arrimage de Québec Ltée pleaded guilty in the Court of Quebec in the District of Québec to one count of contravening the Fisheries Act. The company was fined $100,000. In...
Read MoreEnvironmental Release to Air and Issues with Odours
An article from last summer discusses why environmental management is a great educational/career path this way, “You can change the world for the better.” That’s a nice sound bite for university recruiting, but perhaps a bit idealistic. Nowhere in university recruiting material are you likely to find them promoting the often mundane reporting requirements, limited budgets with increased responsibilities, or the headaches when, despite your best efforts, you have to deal...
Read MoreEnvironmental Contaminants Measured in Canadians
In our environmental site assessments, we evaluate chemicals (in soil, water, and air) based on regulatory standards established by the provincial or federal government. These limits are established based on what is protective of human health and the environment. Canadian Health Measures Survey Looking, specifically, at the human health aspect is the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). This survey, among other things, tests humans (blood and urine) for certain...
Read MoreOntario Auditor General Report and Environmental Targets and Monitoring
The focus of our blogs, environmental compliance tips, webinars, etc…is typically on the nuts and bolts of environmental compliance, assessment, and remediation. Occasionally, we look at the bigger picture issues because they may eventually have some bearing on the nuts and bolts issues. One of those big picture issues is a look at the annual report from the Auditor General of Ontario. You may recall that since 1994 the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO) had acted...
Read MoreConstruction Activity May Benefit from Proposed Changes to Water Taking
The Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) is proposing amendments to Ontario Regulation 63/16 to allow a greater number of “low risk, short-term water-taking activities” to register on the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR) instead of obtaining a Permit to Take Water (PTTW) or Environmental Compliance Approval. In the Discussion Paper provided by the MECP they state, “These amendments include introducing low risk pumping tests with well...
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