Policy Text:
To reduce the risk to municipal drinking water sources from the existing or future use of land for livestock grazing, pasturing, an outdoor confinement area, or a farm-animal yard, these activities shall be managed where they are a significant drinking water threat.
These activities shall be designated for the purposes of Section 58 of the Clean Water Act and a Risk Management Plan shall be required. Nutrient Management Act principles (including NMA prohibitions) shall form the basis of the Risk Management Plan provided the Risk Management Official is satisfied these principles adequately manage the activity so that it ceases to be or never becomes a significant drinking water threat.
Where, in the opinion of the Risk Management Official, a future livestock grazing land, pasture land, outdoor confinement area, or farm-animal yard is of such size that it cannot be managed, the Risk Management Plan may restrict the size so that the activity ceases to be or never becomes a significant drinking water threat.
Any Prescribed Instrument related ASM Generation Through Livestock Grazing or Pasturing Land, an Outdoor Confinement Area or a Farm Animal Yard that is created, amended, or used as part of a notice for the purpose of a Section 61 exemption, shall manage the activity so that it ceases to be or never becomes a significant drinking water threat. OMAFRA is expected to review all Prescribed Instruments issued under the Nutrient Management Act in areas where the activities they regulate are, or would be, significant drinking water threats to ensure the Prescribed Instruments contain such terms and conditions. This review is expected to include Prescribed Instruments that are not directly created or issued by OMAFRA, such as Nutrient Management Plans.
Further, OMAFRA and other Prescribed Instrument creators/issuers are expected to consult with the Risk Management Official with respect to any modifications or requirements that may need to be incorporated into the Prescribed Instruments under the Nutrient Management Act to ensure the activities they regulate cease to be or never become significant drinking water threats. However, nothing in this policy grants the Risk Management Official authority to specify requirements for a prescribed instrument issued under the Nutrient Management Act, or where a person is seeking an exemption from a risk management plan under section 61 of O.Reg 287/07.