Dragun’s Environmental Site Assessment and Remediation Webinars Available Here:
Fines for Spills to the Environment
As 2022 came to a close, the Government of Canada announced a seven-figure fine for a company that had releases that resulted in fish kills. Release to the Environment Michels Canada Company, among other services, relines deteriorating sewer and water mains and builds tunnels for wastewater treatment plants. According to a news release from Environment and Climate Change Canada, drilling fluid and “sediment-laden waters” were released on two different occasions from horizontal-drilling operations. Both incidents occurred in British...
read moreOntario Excess Soil Requirements for 2023
Environmental regulatory requirements for managing excess soil in Ontario have been on a government seesaw over the past year (O. Reg. 406/19: On-Site and Excess Soil Regulation or “Excess Soil Regulation”). In January 2022, contractors were scrambling to comply with the more-stringent soil management requirements. By April 21, 2022, these new requirements were officially paused by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). This temporary pause was followed by a November 4, 2022, announcement by the MECP that they were...
read moreWindsor Battery Plant, Canadian Natural Resources, and Climate Adaptation Strategy
Canada Boosting Battery Production In our September 12, 2022, blog, we shared the news that Canada began supplying rare earth elements to help meet the needs of the burgeoning “green economy.” This focus seems to be paying dividends. A survey that ranks 30 countries in the battery-supply chain (mining to production) ranked Canada second. Previous rankings had Canada as number four. According to an article in the Financial Post, “Canada has announced more than $15 billion in investments over the past 10 months in areas ranging from critical...
read moreRPRA Changes, “No” to Certain COP 27 Language, and CAIP Update
Below we look at some recent updates that may be important for the regulated community, both short- and long-term. We also provide an update on a program that affects the citizens of Canada. Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) A November 15, 2022, news release from RPRA announced that generators, carriers, and receivers of hazardous and liquid industrial waste can now set up their registry accounts so they are ready to meet their reporting requirements and begin manifesting on January 1, 2023. The announcement goes on to...
read moreMandatory Climate-Related Disclosures for Canadian Banks and Insurance
Canada introduced mandatory climate-related risk disclosures for federally-regulated banks and insurance companies beginning in 2024. This follows similar actions by the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States as well as other countries in Europe. Banks and Insurance Companies Required to Report According to an article earlier this year in ESG Today, “Canada will require banks and insurance companies to provide disclosures on their climate-related risks and exposures beginning in 2024, according to the federal...
read moreDraft Guidance for Reducing GHGs from Oil and Gas Sector
On October 4, 2022, The Canadian Government released their Draft Guidance for best-in-class GHG emissions performance by oil and gas projects. This has been anticipated since it was announced in April 2022. This announcement comes at a time of the confluence of several issues around traditional energy including the Government’s commitment to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gases 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050; an increased demand for reliable energy, especially in Europe; and the battle between the Canadian federal...
read moreRecent Spills in Ontario
Below we look at three different spills that occurred over the summer of 2022 in Ontario. As we discuss, any and all environmental incidents such as spills can create strains for the local citizens and ecosystem. That said, there have been tremendous improvements in environmental management that have resulted in a decrease in the number of spills and quantity of spills. Saint Marys River In June, there was a spill of lubricant oil reported from Algoma Steel in Sault Saint Marie, Ontario. A report from SooToday states, “The substance that...
read moreOntario’s Emission Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gases
The Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) announced on August 26, 2022, proposed amendments to Ontario’s Emissions Performance Standards (EPS) to regulate greenhouse gas. See Environmental Registry of Ontario Number 019-5769. Also, see “Proposed Regulatory Amendments for Emissions Performance Standards Program 2023-2030 Summer 2022.” These changes are necessary to comply with the federal Output-Based Pricing System. The official proposal summary states, “We are proposing changes to the Emissions Performance Standards...
read moreCanada Begins Supplying Rare Earth Elements
As reported by the CBC earlier this year, “Canada has begun supplying the world with minerals critical to a greener economy with the country’s first rare earth mine delivering concentrated ore.” With rising demand, we will likely see more investments in rare earth mining in Canada. The reason rare earth elements are in great demand is related to the products in which they are used. These products include solar panels, wind turbines, electric cars, cellular phones, and more. Canada, abundant in natural resources, including rare earth...
read morePlastic Ban Schedule and Legal Challenges and PFAS Developments
In our past blogs, we have shared news regarding the effort to ban certain plastics. This restriction on plastics in Canada was made official and announced in a June 20, 2022, News Release. A group of manufacturing companies is seeking to overturn this ban. According to an article in Plastics News, “A coalition of plastics companies has sued to block Canada’s ban on six single-use plastic products, challenging Ottawa’s decision to declare them ‘toxic’ and prohibit them.” The article continues, “There is no credible evidence that any of...
read more