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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

CG-NB-45

Grand River

Significant

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

MECP – NMA - ASM and NASM Inspections

Strategic

Specify Actions to be taken to implement plan or achieve its objectives

Future & Existing

Implemented

The Ministry undertakes an annual planned inspection program that addresses risk to human and environmental health at Agricultural sites. Inspections target Agricultural Source Material (ASM) and Non-Agricultural Source Material (NASM) as regulated under the Nutrient Management Act. An intentional, core function of the Nutrient Management Act is to keep nutrients, pathogens and contaminants away from wells and surface water which in turn support the objectives of Source Water Protection. Inspections are designed to prioritize operations which could present a higher risk to these features. Each year diagnostics are completed on the results of these various inspections. DWECD inspection programs are run on a fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) rather than a calendar year basis. The IT system used to track inspections under the general agriculture program in FY 2022-23 does not currently include Source Protection information. This issue is expected to be resolved in the future. Given this temporary limitation, we can only provide high-level inspection data. A total of 204 agricultural inspections were completed in fiscal year 2022-23. One or more legal violations were identified in 108 (53%) of the 204 inspections. At the conclusion of 2022-23 fiscal, most non-compliances were resolved with ongoing abatement in only 26 (13%) of the inspections.

MECP - Source Protection

Strategic

Incentives

Future & Existing

Implemented: Policy outcome(s) evaluated - No further action(s) required

The ministry has implemented its commitment to review and consider the policy. The ministry utilizes a risk-based approach to its proactive inspection programs. This approach continues to be enhanced through the inclusion of source protection vulnerability information into the following ministry program areas: • Agricultural programs for activities subject to regulation under the Nutrient Management Act (including agricultural source material and non-agricultural source material sites) • Hauled sewage and organic soil conditioning (biosolids) programs under the Environmental Protection Act • Waste disposal sites under the Environmental Protection Act • Pesticides under the Pesticides Act • Sewage systems under the Ontario Water Resources Act • Permits to Take Water under the Ontario Water Resources Act • Drinking water systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act Please also refer to the program area responses on inspections/compliance for further details.

Policy Text:

To ensure that the existing or future use of land as an outdoor confinement area or farm animal yard on farms not phased-in under the Nutrient Management Act, or the use of land for livestock grazing or pasturing on all farms ceases to be and/or never becomes a significant drinking water threat within vulnerable areas, where this activity is or would be a significant drinking water threat:

a. The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is encouraged to continue to provide ongoing funding for stewardship projects on agricultural properties; and
b. The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks shall consider prioritizing and conducting regular compliance inspections of agricultural operations, as appropriate, and shall consider guiding farmers to improve compliance performance, when needed.

Monitoring Text:

N/A