Where event based modelling of a spill from a petroleum tank farm has shown that it would be a significant drinking water threat, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks will work with applicable regulating authorities (e.g., Ministry of Government and Consumer Services and Technical Standards and Safety Authority) to ensure consideration is given to the following actions related to spill prevention contingency measures:

a) investigate and evaluate existing Spills Prevention Plans/Spill Contingency Plans;
b) recommend additional measures to reduce the likelihood that a spill from a storage facility would impair drinking water source quality;
c) incorporate all applicable provisions of Ontario Regulations 213/01 and 217/01 and their codes as well as other measures to ensure the protection of drinking water sources into a Risk Management Plan for the facility, which may include but not be limited to:
i. best management practices
ii. site characterization as necessary
iii. proof of ability to pay for clean-up of potential contamination
iv. the appropriate frequency of inspections
d) review existing Environmental Compliance Approvals for discharges to surface water at the identified sites to determine if there are adequate safeguards to protect drinking water sources;
e) determine if additional works or procedures are required to reduce the likelihood of contaminants discharging to Lake Ontario in the event of a spill or equipment failure/malfunction;
f) ensure provisions for spill notification protocols are established jointly with Spills Action Centre to ensure direct notification to all potentially affected water treatment plant operators and appropriate communication to the public and media;
g) establish notification protocols for significant threat activities to ensure that water plant operators are notified appropriately for a given magnitude of spill;
h) ensure that information is communicated to all (e.g., the originators of the spill, emergency response/clean-up personnel, medical officer of health, municipal water owner and water operating authority) responsible parties who are responding to the spill; and
i) include a provision that the facility owner work with the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management to ensure that testing of the Contingency Plan is carried out within 3 years of the Source Protection Plan coming into effect, followed by regular (frequency and priority to be determined in consultation) emergency response preparedness exercises to address the significant threats identified.

Timeline:
T-15: The policy shall be considered within 2 years from the date the Source Protection Plan takes effect.

MON-4: The provincial ministry shall, by February 1 of each year, prepare and submit a report to the Source Protection Authority on the actions taken in the previous calendar year to achieve the outcomes of the source protection policy. Reporting shall include information related to the effectiveness of the policies in ensuring a threat ceases to be, or does not become significant, and any actions required to respond to a drinking water threat during the reporting period.