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Recent Environmental Problems and Using a “Multitude of Counsel” to Avoid Future Problems
The law of unintended consequences says actions of people, and especially of government, always have effects that are unanticipated or unintended. This may aptly describe the first of two recent environmental-related news stories below. These unintended consequences can, at times, be avoided, or at least limited, by careful planning and by full consideration in the multitude of counsel. At a minimum, we are reminded to thoroughly consider that next project before moving forward. Green Energy Blamed for Black Water It appears that the case...
read morePer- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances: What We Know and Don’t Know
If you do a Google search (on google.ca) for PFAS, in about a half a second, you’ll have more than 60 million hits. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are potentially an important issue for human health, the environment, and the regulated community. What exactly are PFAS? Should you be concerned about them? PFAS have been linked to a variety of health effects from developmental issues to cancer. They are also persistent and can bioaccumulate (build up in the body) in mammals and piscivorous (meat-eating) birds. The Widespread Use...
read moreUse and Environmental Management of Natural Resources in Canada
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 releases of these same resources also carry human health and...
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 (L) or more of water per day from the environment (including...
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 environmental impact at the Jim Beam warehouse in Kentucky that lead to a...
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 Migratory Birds Convention Act. As a result of the release, 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 manufacturing sector is referred to as Canada’s Chemical Valley.” The...
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 will Ontario’s proposed excess soil management policy work?”). Much...
read moreChanges in Ontario: Environmental Commissioner’s Office and TRA Eliminated
While the environmental violation by Air Liquide Canada happened two years ago (April 2017), the matter was recently settled in court. The violation, a release of 815 kilograms of ammonia, resulted in some people seeking shelter and one person who experienced eye and throat irritation. For Air Liquide Canada, it cost them $100,000 and another $25,000 victim surcharge (paid to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks). This violation was relatively minor when compared to some of the previous violations we have shared (see Limiting...
read moreEnvironmental Emergency Regulations and Upcoming Final Regulations
In August 2019, the updated Environmental Emergency (E2 Regulations) will officially repeal and replace the existing Environmental Emergency Regulations. What exactly does this mean and how can you prepare now for updated E2 Regulations? We provide some details below. As we stated in October 2016, the E2 Regulations are, in principle, based on, and in response to, the 1984 disaster in Bhopal, India. That 1984 incident released 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 11,000 people. Environmental Emergency...
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