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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

3-4-E&F

Quinte

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

MECP does not issue instruments under the Nutrient Management Act framework. 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.

OMAFA - NASM Plans

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Existing

Implemented

No new existing Non-Agricultural Source Material plans were identified in Quinte in 2023 where existing agricultural activities could be a significant drinking water threat..

OMAFA - NASM Plans

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Future

Implemented

No NASM plans that fell in a vulnerable area for Quinte in 2023.

OMAFA - NMS

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Existing

Implemented

No existing NMS identified in Quinte in 2023. NOTE: OMAFRA does not issue or review Nutrient Management plans so answer will always be not applicable.

OMAFA - NMS

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Future

Implemented

No new NMS in a vulnerable area identified in Quinte in 2023.

Policy Text:

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall issue new or review and update existing Instruments for areas where existing and future agricultural activities could be a significant drinking water threat. Instruments shall contain terms and conditions to manage the activity so that it ceases to be or never becomes a significant drinking water threat. Additional measures could include implementation of best management practices, increased monitoring,
and inspection frequency by the Ministry of the Environment.

Implementer: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Ministry of the Environment

Applicable Areas: This policy applies to the following areas:
Application of ASM, Storage of ASM, Application of NASM, Handling and Storage of NASM, livestock grazing, pasturing, outdoor confinement: WHPA A, B, E and IPZ 1 and 2 (vulnerability score of 8 or greater) – Deloro (WHPA A and B), Madoc (WHPA A, B and E), Peats Point (WHPA A, B and E), Point Anne (WHPA A and B and IPZ 1 and 2), Tweed (WHPA A and B), Picton (IPZ 1 and 2), Ameliasburgh (IPZ 1 and 2), Belleville (IPZ 1 and 2), Deseronto (IPZ 1 and 2), Napanee (IPZ 1 and 2) and Bayside (IPZ 1) and Issues Contributing Area – Madoc.

Tools: Prescribed Instrument pursuant to Sections 39(7) and 43(1) of the Clean Water Act, 2006.

Legal Effect: Must Conform (See Appendix C, List C)

Effective Date: When the Plan takes effect for future activities and within two years for existing activities.

Monitoring Text:

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs and the Ministry of the Environment shall prepare annual summaries of the actions taken to achieve the outcomes of this Source Protection Plan policy and make that report available to the Quinte Source Protection Authority February 1st each year. Within the report the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs should provide the number of applications for Nutrient Management Plans and Strategies received for the previous calendar year and the number and location of any Nutrient Management Plans and Strategies reviewed. The Ministry of the Environment should consider including in their report a summary of these inspections.