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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

AG-1

Raisin Region, South Nation

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.

OMAFRA - NASM Plans

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Existing

Implemented

One existing NASM plan identified in 2023. However, it was identified after the spreading window had closed and expired at the end of 2023, so no action taken. NASM plan expired Dec 2023.

OMAFRA - NASM Plans

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Future

Implemented

2 NASM plans approved in South Nation in 2023. One included enhanced land application standards as conditions on the approval, and one had the vulnerable taken out of the NASM application area so NASM could not be applied to that area.

OMAFRA - NMS

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Existing

In progress/some progress made

1 existing NMS was identified in 2023. However, the vulnerable area only overlapped crop land and did not contain ASM generating or storage facilities. Conditions were added to the approval to ensure no future ASM storage or OCA/livestock yard was created in the vulnerable area without OMAFRA approval.

OMAFRA - NMS

Conform with

Prescribed Instruments

Future

Implemented

1 new NMS was identified in 2023. However, the vulnerable area only overlapped crop land and did not contain ASM generating or storage facilities. Conditions were added to the approval to ensure no future ASM storage or OCA/livestock yard was created in the vulnerable area without OMAFRA approval.

Policy Text:

Where the following activities are or could be an existing or future significant threat, the threat shall be managed though the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 (as amended):

storage and application of agricultural source material;
the handling, storage, and application of non-agricultural source material;
the use of land for an outdoor confinement area or a farm-animal yard; and
the application of commercial fertilizer to land.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will work with farmers to review existing and future Nutrient Management Plans, Strategies, and Non-Agricultural Source Material Plans to ensure that they contain best management practices to ensure that agricultural activities are not, or do not, become a significant drinking water threat. Instruments that exist before the day the Source Protection 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