Policy Interface

Previous Policy

Policy

Next Policy

Policy Id:

SPR/SPA:

Risk:

WC-NB-22.12

Grand River

Significant

Implementing Body

Legal Effect

Policy Tool

Threat Type

Status

Comment

MNR

Have Regard to

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

Future & Existing

In progress/some progress made

To ensure decisions made on Prescribed Instrument applications conform with significant drinking water policies all new aggregate licence and permit applications submitted to MNR must be circulated to the Upper and Lower Tier Municipality for review and comment. In addition, all new licence applications must be circulated to the local Conservation Authority for review and comment. The site plans identifies the elevation of the water table and regulates extraction depths. All new aggregate licence and permit applications must submit a Maximum Predicted Water Table Report that details how the maximum predicted water table is identified in metres above sea level, relative to the proposed depth of excavation at the site. All new applications that propose to extract below the water table must complete a Water Report in accordance with the Aggregate Resources of Ontario: Technical Report and Information Standards: Water Report Level 1: A level 1 Water Report is required to determine the potential for impacts to ground water and surface water resources and their uses (e.g. water wells, ground water aquifers, surface water courses and bodies, springs, discharge areas) and identify if the proposed site is in a Wellhead Protection Area for Quantity (WHPA-Q) set out in an applicable source water protection plan under the Clean Water Act. The report must identify applicable source water protection policies and mitigation measures that will be implemented at the site. Water Report Level 2: Where the results of a Level 1 Water Report have identified a potential for impacts from the aggregate site on ground water and/or surface water resources and their uses, an impact assessment is required. The assessment is to determine the significance of the effect and the potential for mitigation. Monitoring programs or mitigation measures identified in the technical reports are written into the site plan to ensure their implementation and enforceability. A new licence or permit application in which a Level 2 Water Report was completed must be circulated to the MECP. Summary Statement: All applicants for a new Aggregate Licence or Permit must include in a Summary Statement if the proposed site is in a source protection area under the Clean Water Act and identify activities proposed at the site that are drinking water threats set out in applicable source protection plans, and provide details of how relevant source water protection policies will be followed and associated mitigation measures that will be implemented. Requirements to support an amendment to an existing aggregate licence or permit to lower the depth of extraction in an area of the operation that does not allow extraction below the water table include: Source Water Considerations: If the site is in a source protection area under the Clean Water Act, the request must identify activities proposed at the site that are drinking water threats set out in applicable source protection plans, and provide details of how relevant source water protection policies will be followed and associated mitigation measures that will be implemented.

MECP – Permit to Take Water Inspections

Have Regard to

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

Future & Existing

Implemented

The ministry’s current program delivery model for proactive compliance inspection program is based on risk analysis. During Year-Start Planning (February-March of each year), inspection priorities are set for each program area by Divisional Program Leads. The Ministry uses a risk based approach to setting each program’s priorities for inspection. Program diagnostics and analyses are conducted as part of the yearly compliance planning process and help inform inspection priorities in the upcoming year. This information along with program specific risk factors is used to identify compliance priorities for each program area. Source protection vulnerability is generally considered as one of the risk factors during risk analysis. District/Area offices use the Integrated Plan direction in conjunction with their own local knowledge and consideration of available resources to select the number and locations of facilities/sites for inspections. Source protection water quantity vulnerable area data is available within the Drinking Water and Environmental Compliance Division of the ministry. Sites with active water taking permits located within water quantity vulnerable areas will be identified and compliance inspections will be planned based on risk analysis during Year-Start Planning process for this Fiscal Year.

Policy Text:

To ensure that any consumptive water taking ceases to be or never becomes a significant drinking water threat where this activity is or would be a significant drinking water threat as prescribed by the Clean Water Act, 2006, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and / or the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, should ensure source protection is included as a risk factor of sites with Permits to Take Water (PTTW) and / or Aggregate Resources Act, 1990 Licenses in WHPA-Q Areas in the ministry local office riskbased inspection planning process and compliance response planning.

Monitoring Text:

N/A