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UPPLEMENT S PUBLIC THE ANNUAL REPORT 2012/2013 | 2012/2013 REPORT ANNUAL SERVING SERVING SERVING THE PUBLIC ANNUAL REPORT 2012/2013 | SUPPLEMENT ISSN: 1205-6928 (Print) 1205-6928 ISSN: (Online) 1927-0747 ISSN: ONLY PLACEMENT FOR FOR WWW.ECO.ON.CA 1075 Bay1075 Street, Suite 605 Toronto, ON M5S 2B1, Canada 416.325.3377Tel: | Fax: 416.325.3370 1.800.701.6454 Email: | [email protected] FOR PLACEMENT ONLY PLACEMENT FOR "The government is us; we are the government, you and I." –Theodore Roosevelt Paper Performance This report was printed using 750 lb(s) of Rolland Enviro100 Print 100% post-consumer paper. By choosing environmentally friendly paper, we have achieved the following savings: 938 kg CO 6 trees 2 6,272 km driven 23,279 L of water 6 GJ 67 days of water 25,870 60W light bulbs consumption for one hour 1 kg NO 285kg of waste x emissions of one truck 6 waste containers during 6 days Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Annual Report Supplement – 2012/2013 ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................... iii SECTION 1: ECO REVIEWS OF SELECT DECISIONS ON ACTS, REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND INSTRUMENTS ........................................................................... 2 1.1 Discussion Paper: Healthy Great Lakes, Strong Ontario ............................................................2 1.2 An Update of Ontario’s Composting Guideline and Regulatory Framework ....................... 11 1.3 Site Specific Air Standard for Emissions of Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds ................ 21 1.4 Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy ................................................................................................. 25 1.5 Additional Amendments to the Renewable Energy Approvals Regulation under the Environmental Protection Act .................................................................................................. 38 1.6 Expansion of the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry ............................................... 46 1.7 Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation for the Collection of Post-Consumer Waste Pharmaceuticals and Sharps ..................................................................................................... 54 1.8 Turtle River – White Otter Lake Provincial Park Management Plan ...................................... 63 1.9 The Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan ............................................................................ 68 1.10 MNR Delays Publishing Government Response Statement for Polar Bear as Required under the Endangered Species Act, 2007................................................................................ 75 1.11 MNR Delays Publishing Government Response Statement for Lake Sturgeon as Required under the Endangered Species Act, 2007................................................................................ 80 1.12 Regulating Habitat for Reptile Species at Risk ...................................................................... 85 1.13 Lake Simcoe Fish Community Objectives ............................................................................... 98 1.14 Snapping Turtle Harvest Monitoring ................................................................................... 106 1.15 Biodiversity: It’s in Our Nature, Ontario Government Plan to Conserve Biodiversity ....... 111 1.16 Modernizing Approvals for Ontario’s Natural Resources ................................................... 118 1.17 A Regulation requiring Exploration Plans and Permits for Early Mineral Exploration Activities .................................................................................................................................. 128 1.18 Environmental Guide for Assessing and Mitigating the Air Quality Impacts and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Provincial Transportation Projects ....................................... 139 SECTION 2: ECO REVIEWS OF APPLICATIONS FOR REVIEW ......................... 149 2.1 Ministry of Energy ......................................................................................... 149 2.1.1 Shifting Ontario’s Electricity Generation from Fossil Fuels to Renewables ...................... 149 2.2 Ministry of the Environment ......................................................................... 149 2.2.1 Classification of Chromium-containing Waste as Hazardous ............................................ 149 2.2.2 Fluorides in Drinking Water................................................................................................. 150 2.2.3 Need for Air Pollution Hot Spots Regulatory Reform ........................................................ 156 2.2.4 Regulation of Airborne Fine Particulates ........................................................................... 158 i Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Annual Report Supplement – 2012/2013 2.2.5 New Regulation Providing for Stays Pending Decisions on Leave to Appeal Applications filed under the EBR ................................................................................................................. 163 2.2.6 Review of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 .............................................................. 165 2.2.7 Review of Regulatory Framework for Water Bottling Industry ........................................ 166 2.2.8 Shifting Ontario’s Electricity Generation from Fossil Fuels to Renewables ...................... 170 2.2.9 Prescribed Ministries to Post Final Copies of SEVs ............................................................. 174 2.2.10 Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Ring of Fire ............................... 176 2.2.11 Regulations Related to Hydraulic Fracturing.................................................................... 185 2.2.12 Need for New Provincial Legislation or Policy on Littering ............................................. 186 2.2.13 Low Frequency Noise and Infrasound from Wind Turbines ............................................ 188 2.2.14 IC&I Source Separation Programs ...................................................................................... 193 2.2.15 Need for Environmental Penalties for Spills to Air .......................................................... 194 2.2.16 Need for Blue Bin Recycled Content Policy....................................................................... 197 2.2.17 Unimin Mine ECA and O. Reg. 419/05 ............................................................................... 199 2.3 Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing .................................................. 200 2.3.1 Need for Blue Bin Recycled Content Policy ......................................................................... 200 2.4 Ministry of Natural Resources ....................................................................... 201 2.4.1 Regulations Related to Hydraulic Fracturing...................................................................... 201 2.4.2 Amendments to the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 made by Bill 55 .................................................................................................................................................. 202 2.4.3 Amendments to the Public Lands Act made by Bill 55 ...................................................... 205 2.4.4 Amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 made by Bill 55 .............. 210 2.4.5 Amendments to the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act made by Bill 55 ........................ 216 2.4.6 Dufferin Aggregates Class ‘A’ Pit Licence in Brant County ............................................... 220 SECTION 3: ECO REVIEWS OF APPLICATIONS FOR INVESTIGATION ............ 227 3.1 Ministry of the Environment ......................................................................... 227 3.1.1 Investigation of an Auto Body Shop ................................................................................... 227 3.1.2 Investigation of an Abandoned Metals Refinery ............................................................... 230 3.1.3 Investigation into Air Emissions from an Asphalt Blending Facility ................................. 234 3.1.4 Investigation into Residential Basketball Noise ................................................................. 236 3.1.5 Investigation of Soil and Groundwater Contaminantion .................................................. 238 3.1.6 Unimin Mine Investigation .................................................................................................. 239 ii Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Annual Report Supplement – 2012/2013 ABBREVIATIONS Legislation AQ air quality AQMS air quality management system ARA Aggregate Resources Act BC British Columbia CEAA Canadian Environmental Assessment CAAQS Canadian Ambient Air Quality Act, 2012 Standards EAA Environmental Assessment Act C of A Certificate of Approval EBR Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 CCME Canadian Council of Ministers of the EPA Environmental Protection Act Environment ESA Endangered Species Act, 2007 CFIA Canadian Food Inspection Agency FWCA Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, Class EA Class Environmental Assessment 1997 CO carbon monoxide GEGEA Green Energy and Green Economy CO2 carbon dioxide Act, 2009 COA Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting LRIA Land and Rivers Improvement Act the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem NMA Nutrient Management Act COSEWIC Committee on the Status of OWRA Ontario Water Resources Act Endangered Wildlife in Canada PLA Public Lands Act