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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

G-14

Grey Sauble, Northern Bruce Peninsula, Saugeen Valley

Non-specific

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

Existing

Implemented

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.

MECP – Pesticides

Strategic

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

Existing

Implemented

The Ministry conducts planned inspections to assess compliance with the terms and conditions of pesticide prescribed instruments and other related regulatory requirements. Ministry staff may also conduct reactive inspections if the Ministry becomes aware of a complaint or concern linked to a particular site. Where non-compliance with prescribed instrument requirements or other regulatory requirements are identified, the Ministry takes action to bring sites into compliance. Various approaches may be used by Inspectors to ensure proponents bring their operation into compliance with legal requirements.

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 Northern Bruce Peninsula, Grey Sauble, and Saugeen Valley. 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 - Wastewater/Sewage Works Inspections

Strategic

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

Existing

Implemented

See Environmental Registry No. 012-2968 (available on the archive site) for details on the Standard Operating Policy for MECP program areas. The MECP has a compliance monitoring inspection program wherein sewage works subject to an Environmental Compliance Approval are included. The inspections conducted by the MECP may be announced or un-announced and are prioritized based on a risk assessment process that includes source water protection considerations.

MECP – WDS - HS/Biosolids 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 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. A broader ministry operational policy (EBR 012-2968) is to deny Environmental Compliance Approval proposals for activities that would be a significant drinking water threat. Combined with the expiration feature in hauled sewage disposal site approvals - MECP anticipates there to be no valid hauled sewage sites operating in vulnerable areas where the activity would be a significant drinking water threat.

MECP – Permit to Take Water Inspections

Strategic

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

Existing

Implemented

The ministry conducts planned inspections to assess compliance of a water taking activity against the terms and conditions of an active Permit To Take Water and related regulatory requirements. Inspections also assess conformance to applicable policies, guidelines and procedures. Ministry staff may also conduct reactive inspections if they become aware of a complaint or concern linked to a particular site. Where a Permit To Take Water inspection finds non-compliance, Incident Response reporting and related abatement action will commence. Various approaches may be used by inspectors to require water users to bring an operation into compliance with legal requirements including: voluntary abatement, issuance of orders or tickets and referral to the ministry’s Investigation and Enforcement Branch with a recommendation to undertake a prosecution. The approach taken by the inspector will depend on the severity and nature of the violation as well as the compliance history of the party in question. Additional information on compliance policy can be found at this website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/compliance-policy-applying-abatement-and-enforcement-tools.

Policy Text:

The policy applies to the following activities in all vulnerable areas where the activity is a significant drinking water threat (existing activity):

1. The establishment, operation or maintenance of a waste disposal site within
the meaning of Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act;
2. The establishment, operation or maintenance of a system that collects,
stores, transmits, treats or disposes of sewage;
3. The storage of agricultural source material;
4. The application of non-agricultural source material;
5. The handling and storage of non-agricultural source material;
6. The application of pesticide to land;
7. An activity that takes water from an aquifer or surface water body without
returning the water taken to the same aquifer or surface water body;
8. An activity that reduces the recharge of an aquifer;
9. The use of land as livestock grazing or pasture land, an outdoor confinement
area or a farm-animal yard.

The policy applies to all Ministries where an activity requires approval using a
Prescribed Instrument. The Ministry should undertake compliance/verification
inspections to confirm that any new or amended conditions of approval are, or have
been, implemented by the facility owner within 3 years of the date of the new or
amended approval to ensure that the activity ceases to be, or does not become, a
significant drinking water threat. Ongoing inspections should be conducted at least
once every 5 years.

Monitoring Text:

N/A.