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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

WASTE-1

Raisin Region, South Nation

Significant

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

MECP – WDS – Hauled Sewage, Biosolids

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Existing

Implemented

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 - Landfilling and Storage

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Existing

Implemented

If an approved activity is deemed a significant drinking water threat, the ministry will review the activity and the ECA to determine if changes are needed to meet the intent of the source protection policies. The ministry addresses drinking water threat activities that are regulated by ministry approvals and permits on a consistent province-wide basis.

MECP - WDS-Landfilling and Storage Inspections

Strategic

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

Existing

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

The following response pertains only to the inspections conducted by the MECP for the reporting calendar year (2023). Summary of Inspections Conducted in 2023: The Ministry concluded there are no waste disposal sites identified as significant drinking water threats in Raisin Region and South Nation. The Ministry continues to review inspection data relative to source protection and adjust inspection targets accordingly to ensure inspections are conducted at least once every 5 years or on a basis deemed appropriate. Summary of Orders Issued in 2023: There are no waste disposal sites in vulnerable areas in these regions, therefore no orders have been issued.

MECP – WDS - HS/Biosolids Inspections

Strategic

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

Existing

Implemented

The ministry prioritizes compliance inspections relying a risk framework which includes source protection considerations. The framework is operationalized by a combination of (i) diagnostics of past compliance activities, (ii) digital records in the ministry's compliance platform, (iii) quantifying risk elements onto locations, facilities, & operators, and (iv) applying localized expertise on activities and trends. As discussed in previous reports, inspection programs are run on a fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) rather than a calendar year basis. All reporting provided in responses reflect this monitoring period. Data provided in this year's report - reflects inspection activities that occurred between Apr 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.

Policy Text:

Where an existing waste disposal site is a significant drinking water threat, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change shall ensure that the Approvals (under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990 or Ontario Water Resources Act, 1990) include conditions and reporting requirements to manage the risk so that it ceases to be a significant threat.
If the Environmental Compliance Approval is not sufficient to manage the risk, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change shall amend it to include additional terms and conditions. It is recommended that the following conditions be included:

Operations manuals should be reviewed to ensure they have appropriate contingencies and monitoring requirements;
Setbacks should be increased from wellheads and intake zones, as appropriate;
Requirements should be added regarding closure and abandonment of waste sites to ensure they do not pose a risk to drinking water sources;
Protective conditions should be added for groundwater and surface water during spreading of hauled sewage; and
Conditions relating to maintenance of mine tailings storage ponds and closure plans for these ponds to ensure sources of drinking water are protected.

Instruments that exist before the day the Plan takes effect must be reviewed and, if necessary, amended within three years.
Note: Additional policies apply. See: MONITORING-3.

Monitoring Text:

MONITORING-3: Prescribed Instruments:

By February 1st of each year, the Ministries shall prepare an annual summary of the actions taken to achieve the outcomes of the Source Protection policies in the previous calendar year and make that report available to the Source Protection Authority.

Additionally, it is strongly recommended that the Ministry responsible for approval, inspections, and enforcement for each Prescribed Instrument include the following in their annual report:
• The number of instruments which have been reviewed and changes made including amendments to Environmental Compliance Approvals, Nutrient Management Plans/Strategies or Non-Agricultural Source Material Plans;
• Compliance and enforcement relating to Prescribed Instruments for significant threat activities; and
• Prioritized inspections in the vulnerable areas