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Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

1-2-E

Quinte

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 may apply additional site restrictions. The ministry’s review and approval process is included in the Standard Operating Procedure (see Environmental Registry No. 012-2968) and continues to be available.

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 (2025). Summary of Inspections Conducted in 2025: For Quinte, no inspections were completed at the Zwick’s waste disposal site or the Delhi waste disposal site. Ministry inspections for 2026-2027 are to be selected using a risk-based approach. Summary of Orders Issued in 2025: The Corporation of the City of Belleville does not have an ECA for the Zwick's Centennial Park Closed Landfill Site. Therefore, a regulatory instrument in the form of a Provincial Officer's Order was issued in February 2018. The Order requires the implementation of an annual environmental monitoring program. Results of the 2024 monitoring program report were reviewed by the ministry and no concerns were identified. The ministry will review the 2025 monitoring program report upon submittal.

MECP – WDS - HS/Biosolids Inspections

Strategic

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

Existing

Implemented

The ministry prioritizes sites for compliance inspections using a risk-based framework that incorporates source protection areas, with higher priority assigned to sites that intersect with vulnerable areas. The ministry’s inspection framework uses a combination of: (i) diagnostics from past compliance activities, (ii) digital records in the ministry's compliance platform, (iii) quantifying risk factors of locations, facilities, and operators, and (iv) applying local compliance expertise on activities and trends. As reported previously, inspection programs occur on a fiscal year basis, from April 1 to March 31, rather than by calendar year. Data provided in this report reflects inspection activities that occurred from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. A total of 64 inspections were recorded for the ministry’s hauled sewage program in this reporting period.

Policy Text:

Where an existing waste disposal site is in an area where this activity is a significant drinking water threat, the Ministry of the Environment shall ensure that the Environmental Compliance Approval that governs the waste disposal site includes appropriate terms and conditions to ensure that the waste disposal site ceases to be a significant drinking water threat.
If no Provincial Instrument is in place for the waste disposal site an instrument shall be used to identify any monitoring and remedial action measures necessary to ensure the activity ceases to be a significant drinking water threat.

Applicable Areas:
- WHPA A, B and C (vulnerability score of 8 or greater) - Deloro, Madoc, Peats Point, Point Anne and Tweed.
- IPZ 1 and 2 (vulnerability score of 9 or greater) - Ameliasburgh, Belleville, Deseronto, Napanee, Picton and Point Anne.

Effective Date: Within three years of the Plan, or any plan amendment, as applicable, taking effect.

Monitoring Text:

The Ministry shall prepare an annual summary of the actions it has taken to achieve the outcomes of this Source Protection Plan policy and make that report available to the Quinte Source Protection Authority on February 1st of each year. The Ministry of the Environment should prioritize annual compliance inspections based on proximity to drinking water systems where significant threats are being managed through Prescribed Instruments.