Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Region
To: September 30, 2020 Debbie Scanlon Manager, Approvals Unit Source Protection Programs Branch Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Subject: Request for extension of the policy timeline for risk management plans in the Halton- Hamilton Source Protection Region
Dear Debbie,
The Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Plan contains polices that utilise Part IV of the Clean Water Act, including the establishment of risk management plans by risk management officials, and also a policy setting a deadline.
The Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Plan policy G-1 states that risk management plans for existing significant threats must be established within five years of the date that the Halton- Hamilton Source Protection Plan comes into effect. Therefore all risk management plans for existing threats within the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Region (SPR) must be established by December 31, 2020.
As described in the 2019 Annual Progress Report for the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Plan, municipalities have made great progress in establishing risk management plans for significant threat activities. In 2019, two significant threat activities were added (commercial fertilizer application and use of land by livestock). The municipal risk management officials continue to put full effort into establishing the last few risk management plans.
It is anticipated that there are two risk management plans in the Halton-Hamilton SPR that will likely be delayed beyond 2020 due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and the nature of the activities which require more time for negotiations with the persons undertaking the activities. Risk management officials are keen on continuing their collaborative, negotiated process with the landowner.
A report #SPC-20-09-05 was presented on this matter to the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee on September 8, 2020. The committee directed staff to seek a one-year extension on the deadline for risk management plan completion.
www.protectingwater.ca 2596 Britannia Road West, Burlington, ON L7P 0G3 Phone: 905-336-1158 ext. 2237. Mobile: 289-681-8697
Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Region
Therefore, I am writing to request your permission for a one-year extension of the timeline for establishing risk management plans in the Halton-Hamilton SPR, such that the revised timeline is December 31, 2021.
I look forward to hearing from you and gaining your permission for the requested policy timeline extension. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions.
Thank you. Sincerely,
Chitra Gowda Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Region (Senior Manager, Watershed Planning and Source Protection, Conservation Halton)
Attachment: Source Protection Committee Report #20-09-05: S. 58 Risk Management Plans Policy Timeline Extension
Cc: Tea Peshava, Liaison Officer, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Barbara Veale, Source Protection Committee - Conservation Authority Liaison (Director, Planning and Watershed Management, Conservation Halton) Scott Peck, Source Protection Committee - Conservation Authority Liaison (Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Director, Watershed Planning & Engineering, Hamilton Conservation Authority)
www.protectingwater.ca 2596 Britannia Road West, Burlington, ON L7P 0G3 Phone: 905-336-1158 ext. 2237. Mobile: 289-681-8697
www.protectingwater.ca 2596 Britannia Road West, Burlington, ON L7P 0G3 Phone: 905-336-1158 ext. 2237. Mobile: 289-681-8697
Ministry of the Environment, Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Conservation and Parks Protection de la nature et des Parcs Conservation and Source Direction de la protection de la nature et Protection Branch des sources 14th Floor 14e étage 40 St. Clair Ave. West 40, avenue St. Clair Ouest Toronto ON M4V 1M2 Toronto (Ontario) M4V 1M2
November 6, 2020
Chitra Gowda Senior Manager, Watershed Planning and Source Protection Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Region
Re: Request for Extension of Policy Implementation Timelines Related to Section 58 Risk Management Plans, Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Plan
Dear Chitra,
I am writing in response to your request for an extension to the policy timeline for implementing source protection plan policies for various activities designated as requiring a risk management plan under section 58 of the Clean Water Act, 2006 in the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Region. We understand that the municipal risk management officials have made progress, but that some risk management plans have proven difficult to negotiate and finalize.
Policy G-1 a. in the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Plan sets out a timeline of 5 years (i.e., December 31, 2020) for the establishment of risk management plans for existing threat activities. Sections 58 and 59 of the Clean Water Act, 2006 allow for such a grace period to be applied to activities established prior to the source protection plan taking effect in December 2015 (i.e., defined as “existing” activities in the source protection plan). It is an offence under s.106 of the Act for “existing” activities to be engaged in after the grace period has passed.
The source protection authority has proposed a new policy implementation timeline of December 2021 to complete the risk management plans that may be required under policies T-20-C (application and storage of agricultural source material), T-40-C (fuel), and T-47-C (livestock grazing, pasturing land, outdoor confinement areas, and farm animal yards). In consideration of the challenges outlined in your letter, I hereby grant your request for an extension to December 31, 2021.
I acknowledge and commend you for working with the affected municipalities to implement source protection plan policies. I appreciate you identifying the remaining activities that require a risk management plan. To assure the ministry and local communities of the intent and ability to comply with the policies by the new deadline, I request that the source protection authority, municipalities, and risk management officials work together to summarize what is necessary to complete risk management plans by the new policy
Page 1 of 2
timeline. I am requesting this summary by April 1, 2021. In advance of this date, I encourage you to continue working with your liaison officer and program analyst to address any questions or issues with this approach, as well as to review and provide feedback in advance of your formal submission. All other requirements of the Clean Water Act, 2006 and Ontario Regulation 287/07 continue to apply.
When you next move forward with amendments or an update to your source protection plan, it is recommended you include revisions to the text of policy G-1 a. to reflect the extended policy timelines. Until that time, you may wish to include a note for readers about the extended policy timeline.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Debbie Scanlon Manager, Source Protection Approvals, Source Protection Programs Branch c: Gerry Smallegange, Chair, Halton Region Source Protection Authority Lloyd Ferguson, Chair, Hamilton Region Source Protection Authority Robert Edmondson, Chair, Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee Keley Katona, Director, Source Protection Programs Branch
Page 2 of 2 Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Region
Chair Gary Carr October 27, 2020 Regional Municipality of Halton 1151 Bronte Road Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1
Subject: Directors Award from the American Water Works Association
Dear Chair Carr: On behalf of the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee I wish to congratulate the Region of Halton on being the first Canadian municipality to earn the Directors Award from the American Water Works Association, in recognition of optimized plant performance and high quality drinking water beyond regulatory requirements. As you are aware, our multi-stakeholder Committee has developed a source protection plan, in collaboration with our municipalities, to protect municipal drinking water sources in the Halton- Hamilton Source Protection Region. The Committee relies on the watershed expertise of Conservation Halton and the Hamilton Conservation Authority. When the Honourable Justice Dennis O’Connor wrote his report and recommendations on the Walkerton tragedy that took place in 2000, he stressed the need for a multiple barrier approach to protecting drinking water supplies and safeguarding human health. This included effective and robust measures dealing with source water protection, water treatment, distribution, testing and training. Again, we congratulate the Region of Halton upon your significant achievement in ongoing plant optimization and supplying residents and businesses with the highest-possible drinking water quality! I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your staff’s active and valuable involvement on the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee.
Yours truly,
Robert Edmondson Chair, Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee Cc. Members, Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee Chair, Conservation Halton Chair, Hamilton Conservation Authority Senior Manager, Watershed Planning and Source Protection www.protectingwater.ca 2596 Britannia Road West, Burlington, ON L7P 0G3 Phone: 905-336-1158 ext. 2237. Mobile: 289-681-8697
Chitra Gowda
From: Chitra Gowda Sent: November-25-20 9:13 AM To: Chitra Gowda Subject: Directors Award: Letter of Congratulations from the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee
From: Carr, Gary
Thank you very much. We really appreciate the letter. I also want to thank you and everyone for the great work that you do in our community. Thanks again and all the best Regards Gary
Sent with BlackBerry Work (www.blackberry.com)
Gary Carr Halton Regional Chair
From: Chitra Gowda
To: Regional Chair Gary Carr Cc: Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee; Chair, Conservation Halton; Chair, Hamilton Conservation Authority; Senior Manager, Watershed Planning and Source Protection, Conservation Halton
Good morning Regional Chair Carr,
1 Please find attached a letter of congratulations from the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee, upon Halton Region being the first Canadian municipality to be awarded the Directors Award from the American Water Works Association. Thank you.
Sent on behalf of Chair Robert (Bob) Edmondson, Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee
Chitra Gowda, MASc., EP Senior Manager, Watershed Planning and Source Protection Conservation Halton 2596 Britannia Road West, Burlington, ON L7P 0G3 Mobile: 289-681-8697 [email protected] www.conservationhalton.ca
2