Policy Interface

Previous Policy

Policy

Next Policy

Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

W-1

Crowe Valley, Ganaraska Region, Kawartha-Haliburton, Lower Trent, Otonabee-Peterborough

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.

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 Crowe Valley, Ganaraska, Kawartha-Haliburton, Otonabee-Peterborough, or Lower Trent regions. 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 – WDS - HS/Biosolids Inspections

Strategic

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

Existing

Implemented

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 total of 54 inspections were recorded in the hauled sewage program in this reporting period.

Policy Text:

Applicable Activities: The establishment, operation or maintenance of a waste disposal site within the meaning of Part V of the Environmental Protection Act is an existing significant drinking water threat and the activity requires a Prescribed Instrument.

W-1: Review all existing Prescribed Instruments related to these activities to determine if they are adequate to ensure that the associated activities are not significant drinking water threats. If they are deemed to be inadequate for this purpose, they will be amended to include additional conditions that will ensure that the activities cease to be significant drinking water threats. All amendments to Prescribed Instruments required by this policy must be carried out within three years from the date that the plan takes effect or such other date as the applicable Director determines based on a prioritized review of Prescribed Instruments that govern the activity.

Monitoring Text:

G-2(2): The ministry shall prepare, by February 1 each year, an annual summary of the actions it has taken to achieve the outcomes of the source protection plan policies and make that report available to the applicable Source Protection Authority.

Recommended contents of the report include, but are not limited to:

a) A summary of the reviews completed during the calendar year on the Prescribed Instruments for existing significant drinking water threats, including a summary of
the provisions included to ensure that the activity(ies) cease to be significant drinking water threats;
b) A summary of the reviews completed during the calendar year on the Prescribed Instruments for future activities, including a summary of the provisions included to
ensure that the activity(ies) will not be significant drinking water threats;
c) A summary of inspections carried out and any orders issued as a result of an inspection during the preceding calendar year; and
d) Other content as specified in clauses S-3(3), A-2(2), and OT-1(7)