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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

WC-MC-7.1

Grand River

Significant

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

MECP – WDS – Hauled Sewage, Biosolids

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Existing

Implemented

The application and storage of non-agricultural source materials (NASM) is regulated by the Nutrient Management Act. NASM Plans requiring approval are reviewed by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, not by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Since May 2015, the ministry screens all (including new and existing) hauled sewage, processed organic waste, and biosolids disposal site Environmental Compliance Approval applications in accordance with Source Water Protection Plans. This includes consideration of whether the proposed activity would be a drinking water threat as outlined in the relevant Source Water Protection Plan under the Clean Water Act. The ministry will not issue an Environmental Compliance Approval for a site deemed as a significant drinking water threat. For sites deemed as a low or moderate drinking water threat, the ministry will consider the application, but additional site restrictions may apply. The ministry’s review and approval process is included in the Standard Operating Procedure that can be found in Environmental Registry No. 012-2968 (https://ero.ontario.ca/archive/012-2968).

MECP – WDS – Hauled Sewage, Biosolids

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Future

Implemented

The application and storage of non-agricultural source materials (NASM) is regulated by the Nutrient Management Act. NASM Plans requiring approval are reviewed by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, not by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Since May 2015, the ministry screens all (including new and existing) hauled sewage, processed organic waste, and biosolids disposal site Environmental Compliance Approval applications in accordance with Source Water Protection Plans. This includes consideration of whether the proposed activity would be a drinking water threat as outlined in the relevant Source Water Protection Plan under the Clean Water Act. The ministry will not issue an Environmental Compliance Approval for a site deemed as a significant drinking water threat. For sites deemed as a low or moderate drinking water threat, the ministry will consider the application, but additional site restrictions may apply. The ministry’s review and approval process is included in the Standard Operating Procedure that can be found in Environmental Registry No. 012-2968 (https://ero.ontario.ca/archive/012-2968).

OMAFRA - NASM Plans

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Existing

Implemented

No existing Non-Agricultural Source Material Plans are in the vulnerable areas with significant drinking water threat activities.

OMAFRA - NASM Plans

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Future

Implemented

4 new NASM plan in Grand River, 2 are only E&O policies, 1 had the vulnerable area excluded from the NASM plan, and 1 had land application best management practices added as conditions.

Policy Text:

The OMAFRA, or MECP, as applicable, shall review and, if necessary, amend the Non-Agricultural Source Material (NASM) Plan in accordance with the Nutrient Management Act, or an Environmental Compliance Approval in accordance with the EPA to ensure that such Plans/Compliance Approvals incorporate measures and/or terms and conditions deemed necessary to ensure the handling and storage of non-agricultural source material cease to be or never become a significant drinking water threat, where this activity is or would be a significant drinking water threat, for:

a. any Existing activity; or
b. any Future activity on lands within a WHPA-B with a vulnerability score equal to ten (10) or a Nitrate ICA but outside of a WHPA-A.

Monitoring Text:

(WC-CW-1.12) Where the Source Protection Plan policies may result in amendments to a Prescribed Instrument or the issuance of a new Prescribed Instrument, the applicable ministry shall provide a summary of the actions taken the previous year to implement the policies and provide a written report summarizing this information to the Source Protection Authority by February 1st of each year.