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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

T2EF-SA

Nickel District

Non-specific

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

MTO - Signage

Strategic

Education / Outreach

Future & Existing

Implemented

MTO and MECP worked together on the Vulnerable Area Road Sign initiative to identify drinking water protection zones in Source Protection Areas (SPAs) across Ontario. Sign design and supporting implementation policy was led by MTO in consultation with the MECP and Source Protection chairs/project managers. In October 2015, MECP provided all SPAs with the final MTO sign design for use on Ontario’s provincial and municipal roads. This portion of the policy is deemed completed. MTO manufactured signs for all source protection regions. The ministry reviewed requests for signs located on provincial highways, submitted by source protection chairs through the MECP, and conducted a safety assessment to ensure sign locations were in accordance with provincial standards for sign placement. MTO sought input from SPAs (through MECP) and provided notice of the approximate locations where provincial highway signs were to be installed in their source protection region. Signs have been installed at 128 identified locations (includes all Source Protection Regions/Areas) on provincial highways. MTO will maintain the signs installed along provincial highways as part of provincial highway infrastructure. All 6 signs approved for this region have been installed. Number of Signs Installed on Provincial Highways Location in Sudbury = 6 Hwy 17 Westbound, 70m West of Norvic Drive Hwy 17 Eastbound, 190m East of Hill St Hwy 144 Southbound, 180m South of Main Street West Hwy 144 Northbound, 85m East of Lionel Ave Hwy 144 Southbound, 440m West of Elks Club Road Hwy 144 Northbound, 60m West of Elks Club Road

Greater Sudbury City of - (Municipality)

Conform with

Education / Outreach

Future & Existing

Implemented

Many Source Protection signs were installed prior to the approval of the SPP adjacent to many of the vulnerable areas and along Salt Routes, for example the Ramsey Lake Watershed and the Valley. The City of Greater Sudbury now has a total of 119 source protection signs erected since the inception of this program. Inspection and maintenance occur on an as-needed basis. If a signage gap is identified or changes to the vulnerable areas are approved, staff will arrange to have those signs installed at the first available date. In 2023, an audit was performed to ensure accuracy with the installed signs within the City’s boundary. As a result of the audit, seven (7) signs were replaced: (1) 3334 MR86 in Garson, (1) 99 Catherine Drive in Garson, (1) Savard Road in Wahnapitae, (1) 1129 Gravel Drive in Hanmer, (1) Arlington Road in Sudbury, (1) near intersection of Second Ave and Donna Drive in Sudbury, (1) Onaping Drive in Onaping.

Policy Text:

In accordance with Section 22 (7) of the Clean Water Act, the Ministry of Transportation, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment as well as in consultation with Source Protection Authorities (SPAs), should design a sign to the appropriate Provincial standards to identify the locations of Wellhead Protection Areas and Intake Protection Zones. The Ministry of Transportation should manufacture, install and maintain the signs along Provincial Highways within the Wellhead Protection Areas with a vulnerability score of 10, and/or within an Intake Protection Zone or Wellhead Protection Area E with a vulnerability score of 8 or higher.

Municipalities (the City of Greater Sudbury and the Municipality of Markstay-Warren) shall be responsible for the purchase, installation and maintenance of appropriate signs designed by the Province in collaboration with the SPAs. These signs shall be placed, at a minimum, where municipal arterial roads are located within a Wellhead Protection Area with a vulnerability score of 10, and/or an Intake Protection Zone or Wellhead Protection Area E with a vulnerability score of 8 or higher. Existing signs will be replaced by new MTO-designed signs as required.

The above policies will be implemented and delivered with an education and outreach plan within each Source Protection Area. These policies, in conjunction with additional education and outreach policies, should be implemented within 2 years after the effective date of the plan.

Monitoring policies M8 and M18 apply.

Monitoring Text:

M-8: By February 1 of each year, the City of Greater Sudbury and the Municipality of Markstay-Warren shall and the Ministry of Transportation should provide annual records of the locations and number of signs installed in the vulnerable areas to the Source Protection Authority.

M-18: By February 1, the Ministry of the Environment shall provide a copy of the required communications to the Source Protection Authority.