Policy Text:
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness shall not issue Prescribed Instruments in Wellhead Protection Area A where existing and future agricultural activities could be a significant drinking water threat. Policy 3-1-E&F is a complementary Part IV prohibition policy to this Prescribed Instrument policy.
In all other vulnerable areas where existing and future agricultural activities could be a significant drinking water threat, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness shall issue new or review and update existing Prescribed Instruments. Instruments shall contain terms and conditions to manage the activity so that it ceases to be or never becomes a significant drinking water threat. At a minimum, the prescribed instrument shall include reference to the applicable vulnerable area and where not already required, protocols for emergency responses related to protecting the drinking water source. Additional measures could include implementation of best management practices, increased monitoring or soil sampling.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness shall work in conjunction with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to ensure Prescribed Instrument inspections in vulnerable areas are a priority and occurring on a regular basis, and that all necessary approvals are in place prior to the agricultural activity(ies) occurring.
In addition to any other risk management measures required through the Prescribed Instrument above, Instruments reviewed and issued within the Issues Contributing Area for Tweed, shall as a minimum ensure:
a) the application of ASM is not applied during restricted periods, or any other time when the soil is snow covered or frozen consistent with the limitations of subsection 52.2 – 52.4 of Ontario Regulation 267/03 under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 to avoid runoff; and
b) measures are included within the prescribed instrument to ensure application rates, timing and location are appropriate for crop uptake of nitrogen and reduce potential for Nitrate runoff or infiltration, prior to applying nitrates or storing on land.
Within the Issues Contributing Area for Tweed, to reduce the risk to municipal drinking water sources from activities that are regulated under the Nutrient Management Act, where these activities are, or would be, a significant drinking water threat, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks should consider source protection information as a criterion when setting inspection targets and priorities as part of the Ministry's on-farm compliance program.
Applicable Areas:
Application of ASM, Storage of ASM, Application of NASM, Handling and Storage of NASM, livestock grazing, pasturing, outdoor confinement:
- WHPA A, B, and E (vulnerability score of 8 or greater) – Deloro (WHPA A and B), Madoc (WHPA A, B and E), Peats Point (WHPA A, B and E), Point Anne (WHPA A and B) and Tweed (WHPA A and B); and
- IPZ 1 and 2 (vulnerability score of 8 or greater) – Ameliasburgh (IPZ 1 and 2), Bayside (IPZ 1), Belleville (IPZ 1 and 2), Deseronto (IPZ 1 and 2), Napanee (IPZ 1 and 2) Picton (IPZ 1 and 2) and Point Anne (IPZ 1 and 2); and
- WHPA-Issues Contributing Area – Madoc and Tweed.
Effective Date: When the Plan, or any plan amendment, as applicable, takes effect for future activities and within two years for existing activities.