When it comes to natural resources in Canada, we’ve made the most of our abundant resources. So much so that our natural resources account for 17% of the Gross Domestic Product, and nearly two million people in Canada are employed (directly or indirectly) getting these resources to market. The mining, use, and management of various natural resources is often lauded and vilified in the same sentence. Some of these natural resources are essential for life. Improper uses or...
Read MoreDo You Know if You Need a Permit to Take Water?
Do you need a permit to take water (PTTW)? You might be surprised. This regulation may apply to your current business activities. To avoid a potential violation, make sure you understand the PTTW permitting requirements. Also, as we point out below, document your activities. When am I required to apply for a PTTW? In Ontario, under the Ontario Water Resources Act and Ontario Regulation 387/04, you are generally required to have a permit if you are taking 50,000 litres...
Read MoreFish Kills, Monetary Fines, Embarrassing Notices, and Concerns About Excess Soil
Most of the environmental issues that we routinely address in the regulated community are not going to make the evening news. They are just not newsworthy. However, when those issues reach the point of violations/enforcement, or when there is distrust regarding the proposed activity, there is plenty of press. From a “risk communication” standpoint, these prickly issues fall into consensus and crises communication. Release Leads to Fish Kill The fire and subsequent...
Read MoreEnergy Company Fined and Heated Debate Over Energy and Climate Continue
A subsidiary of Husky Energy was fined nearly four million dollars for a spill from a pipeline. The issue dates back to June 2016 when 225,000 litres of diluted crude was released near the North Saskatchewan River – 90,000 litres reached the river. The company vice president of pipelines, Duane Rae, said the “damage has been done to both the company’s reputation and the entire Western Canadian energy industry.” Husky’s release was in violation of the Fisheries Act and the...
Read MoreAir Emissions in Canada Causing Health Concerns?
Are industrial emissions the cause of the higher-than-average rates of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in several Canadian Cities? This is a very complex and emotional topic, but a new study may be helpful in understanding and addressing industrial emissions. High Rates of Cancer As reported in Canada’s National Observer, “A new peer-reviewed study has found ‘strikingly high’ rates of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in Canadian border towns, including Sarnia, Ont., a city whose...
Read MoreExcess Soils in Ontario: What You Need to Know
In our annual informal survey at CANECT, we asked those in attendance, “What is the most important environmental issue facing the regulated community?” One of the common themes was keeping up with changing regulatory requirements. Perhaps nothing exemplifies this frustration more (trying to keep up with and understand your obligations) than the issue of excess soil (policy/practices/regulation). In 2016, we wrote an article in Environmental Science and Engineering (“How...
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