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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

01-03

Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula, Saugeen Valley

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.

Policy Text:

The policy applies in all vulnerable areas where the following waste disposal activities are significant drinking water threats (existing activity):

1. land disposal of petroleum refining waste within the meaning of clause (d) of the definition of "land disposal" in section 1 of Regulation 347 (General – Waste Management) R.R.O. 1990 made under the Environmental Protection Act
2. land disposal of hazardous waste, liquid industrial waste, or processed liquid industrial waste, within the meaning of clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of "land disposal" in section 1 of Regulation 347, R.R.O. 1990 (General – Waste Management) made under the Environmental Protection Act
3. land disposal of liquid industrial waste within the meaning of clause (c) of the definition of "land disposal" in section 1 of Regulation 347 (General – Waste Management) made under the Environmental Protection Act
4. land disposal of industrial waste or commercial waste within the meaning of clause (c) of the definition of "land disposal" in section 1 of Regulation 347 (General - Waste Management) made under the Environmental Protection Act
5. land disposal of municipal waste, within the meaning of clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of "land disposal" in section 1 of Regulation 347 (General – Waste Management) made under the Environmental Protection Act
6. storage, treatment and discharge of tailings from mines
7. storage of hazardous waste or liquid industrial waste
8. application of untreated septage to land

The policy applies to the following provincial instruments related to waste disposal activities as described in clauses (1) to (8) above:

A. approvals of waste disposal sites;
B. approvals of renewable energy facilities; and
C. approvals of sewage works

The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change shall:

1. Review all existing approvals as described in clauses (A) to (C) above;
2. Determine whether the approvals as described in clauses (A) to (C) above contain appropriate terms and conditions and require adequate measures to be in place to ensure that the waste disposal activity ceases to be a significant drinking water threat, with particular consideration given to the monitoring, collection and treatment of leachate into groundwater and/or runoff into surface water; and
3. Where the Ministry is of the opinion that the terms, conditions and measures contained in an approval as described in clauses (A) to (C) above are not adequate, make such amendments to the approval so as to ensure that the waste disposal activity ceases to be a significant drinking water threat.

Existing approvals shall be reviewed within three years of the effective date of the Source Protection Plan, or such other date as the Director determines based on a prioritized review of Environmental Compliance Approvals that govern significant drinking water threat activities. Where amendments are deemed necessary, the existing approval shall be amended within 12 months of the review, or such other date as the Director determines based on a prioritized review of Environmental Compliance Approvals that govern significant drinking water threat activities.

Monitoring policy MP-01 applies.

Monitoring Text:

(MP-01): The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change should, within 40 months after the effective date of the Source Protection Plan or such other date as the Director determines based on a prioritized review of Environmental Compliance Approvals that govern significant drinking water threat activities, provide to the local Source Protection Authority a summary report of the approvals that were reviewed and any amendments that were made.