HomeMy WebLinkAboutPDS-056-21Clarington
Staff Report
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Report To: Council
Date of Meeting: November 1, 2021 Report Number: PDS-056-21
Submitted By: Ryan Windle, Director of Planning and Development Services
Reviewed By:
File Number:
Andrew C. Allison, CAO
PLN 33.19
By-law Number:
Resolution#: C-368-21
Report Subject: Request for a Full Environmental Assessment for the Mixed Waste
Transfer/Pre-Sort and Anaerobic Digestion Organics Processing
Facility
Recommendations:
1. That Report PDS-056-21 and any related correspondence be received for information;
2. That Council provide direction on whether to pursue Option 1 OR Option 2 as outlined in
PDS-056-21;
3. That the necessary funding be allocated from the Tax Rate Stabilization Fund, not to
exceed $ ;and
4. That all interested parties be notified of Council's decision.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-056-21
Report Overview
Page 2
This report outlines the options and potential cost to provide the necessary information to the
Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks with regard to Council's request for a full
Environmental Assessment for the Mixed Waste Transfer/Pre-Sort and Anaerobic Digestor
Organics Processing Facility proposed by Durham Region within the Energy Park in South
Courtice.
1. Background
1.1 PSD-013-20 provided background on why the recommended "South Clarington" site in
Clarington's Energy Park was not the best site and a number of comments to be
addressed by the Region on the Mixed Waste Transfer / Pre -Sort and Anaerobic
Digestion Organics Processing Facility Siting Report (GHD, March 6, 2020). The
comments were provided to the Region and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation
and Parks (MECP).
2. Request for an Environmental Assessment
2.1 Council approved Resolution #GG-244-20 on July 6-7, 2020:
That Clarington Council advise our Member of Provincial Government, Lindsey Park, of
Council's declaration of being an unwilling host to the planned recycling plant and
anaerobic digestion proposal on Megawatt Drive;
That Council ask the Provincial Government, and our MPP, to place a `hold' on the
proposed site until a full and proper Environmental Assessment (EA) can be conducted;
and
That the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks be requested to pass an
order prohibiting the Region of Durham from proceeding with the planned recycling plant
and anaerobic digestion facility until the EA is completed to the satisfaction of Clarington
Council.
2.2 Staff followed up with MECP as outlined in Attachment 1 to the October 18, 2021
memo, the entire memo is Attachment A.
2.3 On September 27, 2021 General Government Committee approved Resolution #GG-
457-21:
Clarington provide all necessary information to the MECP in order that they can give
due consideration to ordering an Environmental Assessment for the anaerobic digester.
Municipality of Clarington Page 3
Report PDS-056-21
2.4 There has been ongoing communication with the MECP to gain understanding as to
what is required by the Ministry to prepare a case for presentation to Cabinet to obtain
an order for a full Environmental Assessment (EA) under the Environmental
Assessment Act. Staff have been informed that the Municipality would have to provide
clear reasoning as to why an EA is justified. An EA is not required for the proposed
Mixed Waste Transfer/Pre-Sort and Anaerobic Digestion Organics Processing Facility
under the existing Environmental Assessment Act regulations (Attachment B). The
MECP has also indicated that Clarington should include what cannot be addressed by
the Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) process that the Region is required to
undertake, and how Durham Region has not addressed Clarington's concerns to date.
3. Comments
3.1 An EA is about assessing undertakings and part of this particular assessment could
include a site analysis of many potential sites. They also determine what mitigation can
be implemented to address adverse effects of a proposed project at the specific
location. Clarington Council does not support the Regionally approved location of the
Pre-Sort/AD therefore requesting an EA of the project at the Energy Park location may
be counterproductive.
3.2 Having considered this dilemma, Staff are proposing two options for Council's
consideration:
• Option 1 — Formally request the project be subject to a full EA under the
Environmental Assessment Act at an alternate site; and
• Option 2 — Request the Province intervene based on the Provincially Significant
Employment Zone (PSEZ) designation.
Option 1
3.3 Council could request the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks recommend
to Cabinet that the project be subject to the requirements of the Environmental
Assessment Act, and that the EA consider at least two alternate sites; an acceptable
location in Clarington and the existing Regional Material Recovery Facility site in Whitby
at 4600 Garrard Road.
3.4 The only study available to Staff to support this request is the Region's Siting Study. To
build a case as to why an alternate site is a better location, a number of additional
technical studies will have to be undertaken. The Municipality would need to retain a
consultant to prepare an overall justification report. The consultant would have to
develop an argument and line of reasoning as to why the Regionally approved South
Clarington site is not the most appropriate site. While staff have not prepared a Terms
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-056-21
Page 4
of Reference, environmental assessment expertise would be required in the areas of
Traffic and Transportation, Socio-Economic effects, Environmental (siting) effects, and
the overall environmental permitting (i.e. Environmental Assessment and Environmental
Compliance Approval) process.
3.5 The Municipality has not prepared EAs for facilities. Rather, the Municipality has peer
reviewed, with the assistance of consultants, EAs prepared by agencies proposing
facilities in Clarington. Recent examples include:
• Peer Review of the EFW EA in 2007 at a cost of $300,000;
• Peer Review of the New Nuclear New Build in 2009 at a cost of $242,000; and
• Peer Review of Clarington Transformer in 2014 at a cost of $250,000.
3.6 Municipal staff have been involved in the preparation of Municipal Class Environmental
Assessments for Roadwork projects. These are typically carried out by consultants that
report to a municipal staff project manager and are in the-$100,000 - $250,000 range
depending on size, complexity of modeling, environmental investigations, etc. Most of
the Region of Durham linear infrastructure projects (e.g. trunk sanitary sewer
extensions) range from $500,000-$1 Million. Vertical infrastructure (e.g. treatment plant,
pumping station, reservoirs) can range from $1-2+Million.
3.7 Due to resource constraints and specialized expertise required, Municipal Class EA's
are typically completed by third party consultants. The expertise to prepare an
Environmental Assessment is beyond resources and technical feasibility of municipal
staff.
Option 2
3.8 An alternate option for Council's consideration is to direct staff to submit PSD-013-20 to
the Ministry with supporting documentation and a request the Province intervene to
protect the Provincially Significant Employment Zone (the Energy Park is part of the
"Durham South (Oshawa East and Clarington)" PSEZ) and Major Transit Station Area
(the Courtice GO Station is a MTSA) from incompatible development, which does not
meet the Prestige Employment Zoning of the Energy Park or targets for jobs and
economic return of PSEZ and MTSA areas. Consulting assistance to set out the
requirements of the provincial designations and why the Pre-Sort/AD does not meet the
intent would be necessary but could be achieved for an estimated $100,000 to $150,000
and could potentially be sole sourced from Urban Strategies, the consultant for the
Energy Park Secondary Plan.
ECA Conditions
3.9 To address the inquiry by the Minister about the pending ECA process, both options can
clearly articulate that the ECA process is not designed to address socio-economic
Municipality of Clarington
Report PDS-056-21
Page 5
impacts, in this case the anticipated loss of potential jobs over the long term and the
perception that the Energy Park is becoming a "waste cluster" and thus a less desirable
location for supply chain offices serving the energy, and in particular nuclear sectors.
Region's Response
3.10 Clarington would need to demonstrate how the Municipality has tried to resolve our
issues with the Region. To date, the Region has not provided reasonably satisfactory
responses to the Municipality's economic development questions. In this case staff
would outline the lack of response to requests in PSD-013-20 for an economic
development strategy and lack of progress on any property sales by the Region. There
have been no development proposal inquiries for the Region's properties in the Energy
Park.
4. Concurrence
4.1 This Report has been reviewed by the Directors of Legislative Services, Public Works
and Financial Services who concur with the comments.
5. Recommendation
5.1
5.2
That Council provide direction on whether to pursue Option
the necessary funding to not exceeding $
Stabilization Fund.
OR Option 2; and allocate
from the Tax Rate
A subsequent report will be brought forward when a consulting proposal for the selected
option is in hand.
Staff Contact: Faye Langmaid, Manager of Special Projects, 905-623-3379 x2407 or
fangmaid@clarington.net
Attachments:
Attachment A — Planning and Development Services Director's Memo of October 18, 2021
Attachment B — Waste Projects Subject to the Environmental Assessment Act
Interested Parties:
List of Interested Parties available from Department.
Attachment 1 to PDS-056-21
Clarftwu
MEMO
If this information is required in an alternate format, please contact the
Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131.
To: Mayor and Members of Council
From: Ryan Windle, Director, Planning and Development Services
Date: October 18, 2021
File No.: PLN 33.19
Re: Requirements to Request a Full Environmental Assessment for the
Mixed Waste Transfer/Pre-Sort and Anaerobic Digestion Organics
Processing Facility
Background
Clarington's Unwilling Host Declaration and Siting Report comments - April 27, 2020
PSD-013-20 - provided a number of comments to be addressed by the Region on the Mixed
Waste Transfer / Pre -Sort and Anaerobic Digestion Organics Processing Facility Siting
Report (GHD, March 6, 2020). The comments were provided to the Region and the Ministry
of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).
At the same time Clarington declared itself an unwilling host community to the Regional Pre-
Sort/AD Facility. Subsequently, the Region and Clarington entered into mediation regarding
Clarington's objections to hosting the Pre-sort/AD facility under the process outlined in the
Energy from Waste Host Community Agreement.
Request for an Environmental Assessment
Council approved Resolution #GG-244-20- July 6-7, 2020
That Clarington Council advise our Member of Provincial Government, Lindsey Park, of
Council's declaration of being an unwilling host to the planned recycling plant and anaerobic
digestion proposal on Megawatt Drive;
That Council ask the Provincial Government, and our MPP, to place a `hold' on the
proposed site until a full and proper Environmental Assessment (EA) can be conducted; and
That the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks be requested to pass an order
prohibiting the Region of Durham from proceeding with the planned recycling plant and
anaerobic digestion facility until the EA is completed to the satisfaction of Clarington
Council.
The Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington, 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville, ON L1 C 3A6
1-800-563-1195 1 Local:905-623-3379 1 info@clarington.net I www.clarington.net
Page 2
Staff followed up with MECP as outlined in Attachment 1 which is a timeline of
correspondence on this issue.
In response to the Minister's letter of Sept 2, 2021, on Sept 27, 2021; Committee approved
Resolution #GG-457-21
Clarington provide all necessary information to the MECP in order that they can give due
consideration to ordering an Environmental Assessment for the anaerobic digester.
The letter of Sept 2, 2021 (Attachment 2) and follow-up meeting (Sept 16, 2021) with the
Minister and his staff, was further clarified by the Minister's subsequent letter of October 5,
2021 (Attachment 3) and ongoing e-mail communications. It has been made clear that for
Clarington to request an EA of the Pre-Sort/AD Facility, Clarington will have to provide clear
reasoning as to why an EA is justified. The test that the Ministry has indicated will have to
be outlined is reasoning for Cabinet as to why this project requires an EA, when it is not
required under the existing Environmental Assessment Act regulations. In other words what
potential threat and harm to the environment will occur and why are appropriate controls
beyond what can be included in the Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA).
Staff continue to follow up with the MECP but have yet to receive the specifics of how to
submit a formal EA designation request and the type of supporting information that should
accompany the request. To date, the only study available to Staff is the siting study; we do
not have any environmental studies that we can point to say whether the Region has or has
not planned for potential impacts.
Staff anticipate that to draft a formal EA designation request, the Municipality would retain
appropriate expertise to assemble the case for an EA. To retain such expertise the
Municipality will have to prepare a terms of reference, identify a budget and carryout a
proposal call to retain a consultant or consulting team qualified in the necessary background
topics and knowledge for the various topics. The EA request would have to be assembled
into a coherent and defensible package as to how the existing information (e.g. studies) and
process followed by the Region and its consultants have not addressed the necessary
requirements which a full EA would explore (Attachment 4).
To address the inquiry by the Minister about the pending ECA process, Clarington would
also need to clearly explain why the ECA process would be inadequate for addressing what
Council believe are the outstanding concerns.
In addition, Clarington would need to demonstrate we have tried to resolve our issues with
the Region, but they have been unresponsive or have not provided reasonably satisfactory
responses.
The Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington, 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville, ON 11 C 3A6
1-800-563-1195 1 Local:905-623-3379 1 info@clarington.net I www.clarington.net
Page 3
Next Steps
When Staff receive additional information from the MECP, an overall request for funding for
a consulting study will be submitted to Council.
Staff will continue to follow up on other aspects outlined in the Minister's letter including
confidential direction that has been provided to staff.
Sincerely,
Ryan Windle, MCIP,
Director of Planning
RPP, AICP
and Development Services
cc: June Gallagher, Municipal Clerk
Andy Allison, CAO
Rob Maciver, Director of Legislative Services
Stephen Brake, Director of Public Works
Attachments:
Attachment 1
— Chronology of correspondence and resolutions
Attachment 2
— MECP Minister's letter of Sept 2, 2021
Attachment 3
— MECP Minister's letter of October 5, 2021
Attachment 4
— Assumed minimum requirements of a Full EA
The Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington, 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville, ON L1C 3A6
1-800-563-1195 1 Local:905-623-3379 1 info@clarington.net I www.clarington.net
Attachment 1
Chronology of correspondence and resolutions relating to the Region's Pre -Sort /
Anaerobic Digestion Facility and Clarington Council's request to the MECP for a
full EA to be undertaken:
Prepared by: Amy Burke, Senior Planner, Planning & Development Services
Last updated: October 12, 2021
2020:
Jul. 6-7, 2020 (Council)
Council approved Resolution #GG-244-20.
That Clarington Council advise our Member of Provincial Government, Lindsey Park, of
Council's declaration of being an unwilling host to the planned recycling plant and
anaerobic digestion proposal on Megawatt Drive;
That Council ask the Provincial Government, and our MPP, to place a `hold' on the
proposed site until a full and proper Environmental Assessment (EA) can be conducted,
and
That the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks be requested to pass an
order prohibiting the Region of Durham from proceeding with the planned recycling
plant and anaerobic digestion facility until the EA is completed to the satisfaction of
Clarington Council.
Resolution sent to Hon. Jeff Yurek, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, in
a letter dated July 9, 2020 from June Gallagher. Region of Durham copied.
Aug. 26, 2020
Amy Burke and Rob Maciver met with (conference call) Gavin Battarino, Ministry of
Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) to discuss Resolution #GG-244-20 and
the process and information requirements for submitting a request for Environmental
Assessment designation. A summary of the discussion and comments received from
the MECP is provided in Gavin Battarino's supplemental email, dated Sep. 23, 2020,
which appeared as correspondence on the Sep. 28, 2020 General Government
Committee (GGC) agenda (item 21.3).
Sep. 14, 2020 (Joint Committee)
Item 10.3 correspondence from Elaine Baxter-Trahair, CAO, Region of Durham, dated
July 15, 2020, in response to #GG-244-20.
Item 11.13 correspondence from Andrew Evers, Manager, Environmental Assessment
Branch, MECP, dated August 13, 2020, in response to #GG-244-20.
Items 10.3 and 11.13 were both referred to closed session at the end of the meeting.
Later in the meeting, these items along with other matters were referred to a Special
GGC meeting to be held on Sep. 21, 2020.
Page 1
Attachment 1
Sep. 21, 2020 (Special GGC)
Items 10.3 and 11.13 referred from the Sep. 14 GGC meeting were both referred to
consideration during Closed Session of the Sep. 21 Council meeting.
Sep. 21, 2020 (Council)
Following closed session, Council approved Resolution #C-389-20
That correspondence item 14.4 from Andrew Evers, Manager, Environmental
Assessment Branch, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, regarding
the Proposed Recycling and Anaerobic Digestion Facility, be received for information.
According to the Sep. 28, 2020 GGC minutes, the Region of Durham's letter, dated July
15, 2020 was referred from the Sep. 21 Closed Session to the Sep. 28, 2020 GGC
meeting.
September 28, 2020 (GGC)
The unfinished business of the Region of Durham's July 15, 2020 letter in response to
#GG-244-20 had been referred to this meeting (item 21.2).
Item 10.1 correspondence from Andrew Evers, Manager, Environmental Assessment
Branch, MECP, dated September 22, 2020, in response to the Region of Durham's
letter of July 15, 2020.
Item 21.3 correspondence from Gavin Battarino, Special Project Officer, MECP, dated
September 23, 2020 regarding the Municipality's EA designation request.
With respect to the above, Council referred the Region's correspondence and MECP's
response to the Region's correspondence to Closed Session and then to the Oct. 13,
2020 Council meeting.
The correspondence from Gavin Battarino regarding the Municipality's EA designation
request was received for information (#GG-335-20).
Oct. 13, 2020 (Council)
The unfinished business of the Region of Durham's July 15, 2020 letter in response to
#GG-244-20, which had been combined with the MECP's response to the Region of
Durham's letter at the Sep. 28 GGC meeting, was received for information (#C-409-20).
The matter of Mixed Waste Pre -Sort and Anaerobic Digestion Project was then
considered during Closed Session and no resolutions were passed.
2021:
Sep. 2, 2021
Letter from Hon. David Piccini, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks to
Mayor Foster, responding to Clarington Resolution #GG-244-20 and requesting a
meeting.
Page 2
Attachment 1
Sep. 13, 2021 (Joint Committee)
Councillor Neal brings forward as New Business (item 9.4.2) a motion that:
Clarington provide all necessary information to the MECP in order that they can give
due consideration to ordering an Environmental Assessment for the anaerobic digester.
The matter was procedurally referred to the Sep. 27, 2021 GGC meeting.
Sep. 16, 2021
Mayor Foster, Ryan Windle, Faye Langmaid and Amy Burke met with (conference call)
Minister Piccini, MECP, Deputy Minister Serge Imbrogno, Staff from the Minister's office
and MECP Staff in response to Minister Piccini's Sep. 2, 2021 letter. The Minister
confirmed that a sufficiently detailed written request for the Region's Pre -Sort / AD
Facility to be subject to an EA must be submitted in order for the Minister to give
consideration. In addition, the Minister confirmed that an EA is not a requirement for the
project, and highlighted the opportunities for issue resolution and additional consultation
as part of the Environmental Compliance Approval application process for the Facility.
The Minister indicated that it was of the understanding that the proposed project aligned
with local zoning. The Minister offered to follow up with additional details on the formal
request process and information requirements, and appropriate contacts from the
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to further discuss zoning -related matters.
Sep. 27, 2021 (GGC)
Committee approved Resolution #GG-457-21.
That Clarington provide all necessary information to the MECP in order that they can
give due consideration to ordering an Environmental Assessment for the anaerobic
digester.
Oct. 5, 2021
Letter from Hon. David Piccini, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks to
Mayor Foster, extending appreciation for the meeting held on Sep. 16, 2021, confirming
next steps for submission of a formal request that the Pre -Sort / AD Facility be made
subject to an EA, and providing appropriate contacts from the Ministry of Municipal
Affairs and Housing to further discussion matters relating to zoning.
Page 3
Ministry of the Environment,
Conservation and Parks
Office of the Minister
777 Bay Street, 5th Floor
Toronto ON M7A 2J3
Tel.: 416-314-6790
September 2, 2021
Ministere de I'Environnement,
de la Protection de la nature et des
Pares
Bureau du ministre
777, rue Bay, 5e etage
Toronto (Ontario) M7A 2J3
Tel.: 416.314.6790
Adrian Foster
Mayor
Municipality of Clarington
Email: ma or clarington.net
Dear Mayor Foster:
rrr�► �
\�I
Ontario
357-2021-3034
As I settle into my new role as Ontario's Minister of the Environment, Conservation and
Parks (MECP), I have taken the time to read previous correspondence from the past
number of months. I understand that at a council meeting held on July 6-7, 2020, the
Municipality of Clarington passed a council resolution authorizing that a request be
made to MECP to require that an individual environmental assessment be completed for
Durham Region's proposed Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion Facility.
Subsequent to receiving the council resolution, I understand that my ministry staff
liaised with municipal staff to provide clarification on the designation request process,
and the supporting rationale and information the ministry would expect to see
accompany a formal designation request submitted by the municipality. I am advised
that to date, no formal request has been received by my ministry to designate the
project as being subject to the Environmental Assessment Act. I also understand that in
early July 2021, you contacted the ministry's York Durham District Office to discuss this
proposal as well as the Durham York Energy Centre.
As you may be aware, the Municipality of Clarington may have tools available, such as
zoning bylaws and zoning changes to respond to community concerns with respect to
this project at the municipal level, without provincial involvement.
I understand that there has also been significant public concern regarding the potential
overall environmental impact and potential increase in activities in the area because of
the Durham York Energy Centre and the proposed Mixed Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic
Digestion Facility. I would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you to discuss
potential options available to the Municipality and provincial government to thoroughly
consider local concerns about the project, including the potential option of requiring
Durham Region to complete an environmental assessment for the proposed project.
W
Mayor Adrian Foster
Page 2.
I look forward to meeting with you about this important matter, my office will be reaching
out shortly to schedule a meeting.
Sincerely,
David Piccini
Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
c: Joe Neal, Regional Councillor Wards 1 and 2
Granville Anderson - Regional Councillor Wards 3 and 4
Janice Jones, Councillor Ward 1
Ron Hooper - Councillor Ward 2
Corinna Traill - Councillor Ward 3
Margaret Zwart - Councillor Ward 4
Andy Allison, CAO
Lindsey Park, MPP, Durham
Ministry of the Environment,
Conservation and Parks
Office of the Minister
777 Bay Street, 5th Floor
Toronto ON M7A 2J3
Tel.: 416-314-6790
October 5, 2021
Minist6re de I'Environnement,
de la Protection de la nature et des
Pares
Bureau du III inistre
777, rue Bay, 5e 6tagJ
Toronto ON M7A 2J3
T61.: 416-314-6790
Adrian Foster
Mayor
Municipality of Clarington
By email to: mayor@cJarington.net
Dear Mayor ter: )
Ontario
It was a pleasure meeting with you on September 16, 2021 to discuss matters of
interest to Clarington and local residents, including Durham Region's proposed Mixed
Waste Pre-sort and Anaerobic Digestion Facility.
I understand from our meeting that the Municipality is considering submitting a formal
request to my ministry asking that Durham Region's proposed project be made subject
to the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act. As committed to at our
meeting, staff from my ministry will be providing information to municipal staff about the
Environmental Assessment (EA) designation request process, including information
about how to submit a formal designation request and the type kof supporting information
that should accompany the request. Should the Municipality decide to submit a formal
EA designation request to my ministry, it would be given due consideration.
Finally, if you would like to further discuss zoning -related matters in relation to Durham
Region's proposed project site, the stry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH)
would be best positioned to assist in this regard. To that end, I would recommend that
municipal staff connect with Sean Fraser, Regional Director, Central Municipal Services
Office, MMAH, to discuss zoning -related matters. Sean can be reached at 647-282-
1171 or Sean.Fraser@ontario.ca.
Thank you again for meeting with me and please accept my best wishes.
Sincerely,
David Piccini
Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Attachment 4
Assumed Minimum Requirements of a Full EA
Below are the questions proponents have to answer when completing an Environmental
Screening Process under the Environmental Assessment Act. At a minimum, Staff
anticipate Clarington would need to demonstrate in their request to the Ministry that a
number of these questions have not been answered in a satisfactorily manner by the
Region to date, and that the answer to many of them is "no" and it does not appear that
mitigation is being planned to address the negative impacts.
The questions to be addressed are:
1. Surface and Ground Water
1. cause negative effects on surface water quality, quantities or flow?
2. cause negative effects on ground water quality, quantity or movement?
3. cause significant sedimentation or soil erosion or shoreline or riverbank erosion
on or off site?
4. cause negative effects on surface or ground water from accidental spills or
releases (e.g., leachate) to the environment?
2. Land
1. cause negative effects on residential, commercial, institutional or other sensitive
land uses within 500 metres from the site boundary?
2. not be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, provincial land use or
resource management plans?
3. be inconsistent with municipal land use policies, plans, zoning by-laws (including
municipal setbacks)?
4. use lands not zoned as industrial, heavy industrial or waste disposal?
5. use hazard lands or unstable lands subject to erosion?
6. cause negative effects related to the remediation of contaminated land?
3. Air and Noise
1. cause negative effects on air quality due to emissions (for parameters such as
temperature, thermal treatment exhaust flue gas volume, nitrogen dioxide,
sulphur dioxide, residual oxygen, opacity, hydrogen chloride, suspended
particulates, or other contaminants)?
2. cause negative effects from the emission of greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane)?
3. cause negative effects from the emission of dust or odour?
Attachment 4
4. cause negative effects from the emission of noise?
5. cause light pollution from trucks or other operational activities at the site?
4. Natural Environment
1. cause negative effects on rare (vulnerable), threatened or endangered species of
flora or fauna or their habitat?
2. cause negative effects on protected natural areas such as, ANSIs, ESAs or other
significant natural areas?
3. cause negative effects on designated wetlands?
4. cause negative effects on wildlife habitat, populations, corridors or movement?
5. cause negative effects on fish or their habitat, spawning, movement or
environmental conditions (e.g., water, temperature, turbidity, etc.)?
6. cause negative effects on locally important or valued ecosystems or vegetation?
7. increase bird hazards within the area that could impact surrounding land uses
(e.g., airports)?
5. Resources
1. result in practices inconsistent with waste studies and/or waste diversion targets
(e.g., result in final disposal of materials subject to diversion programs)?
2. result in generation of energy that cannot be captured and utilized?
3. be located a distance from required infrastructure (such as availability to
customers, markets and other factors)?
4. cause negative effects on the use of Canada Land Inventory Class 1-3, specialty
crop or locally significant agricultural lands?
5. cause negative effects on existing agricultural production?
6. Socio-economic
1. cause negative effects on neighbourhood or community character?
2. result in aesthetics impacts (e.g., visual and litter impacts)?
3. cause negative effects on local businesses, institutions or public facilities?
4. cause negative effects on recreation, cottaging or tourism?
5. cause negative effects related to increases in the demands on community
services and infrastructure?
6. cause negative effects on the economic base of a municipallity or community?
7. cause negative effects on local employment and labour supply?
8. cause negative effects related to traffic?
2
Attachment 4
9. be located within 8 km of an aerodrome/airport reference point?
10. interfere with flight paths due to the construction of facilities with height (i.e.,
stacks)?
11.cause negative effects on public health and safety?
7. Heritage and Culture
cause negative effects on heritage buildings, structures or sites, archeological
sites or areas of archeological importance, or cultural heritage landscapes?
2. cause negative effects on scenic or aesthetically pleasing landscapes or views?
8. Aboriginal
1. cause negative effects on land, resources, traditional activities or other interests
of Aboriginal communities?
9. Other
1. result in the creation of non -hazardous waste materials requiring disposal?
2. result in the creation of hazardous waste materials requiring disposal?
3. cause any other negative environmental effects not covered by the criteria
outlined above?
If a response to a question indicates "Yes", there is potential for negative environmental
effects, the proponent must provide additional information and analysis in the
Environmental Screening Report to describe those effects, identify impact management
measures (including mitigation measures) to prevent or reduce the effects, and assess
the significance of any net effects.
[Source: Guide to environmental assessment requirements for waste management
projects (MECP, March 2007)]
Attachment B to
PDS-056-21
Waste Projects Subject to the Environmental Assessment Act:
Requirements for waste management projects under the Environmental Assessment
Act are set out in Ontario Regulation 101/07: Waste Management Projects (O.Reg.
101/07). A companion guideline, Guide to Environmental Assessment Requirements
for Waste Management Projects (MECP, March 15, 2007), has been developed to help
interested Proponents and persons determine what environmental assessment
requirements (if any) apply to a particular waste project.
Under O.Reg. 101/07, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has
classified waste management projects based on the type of waste to be managed, the
size, in some cases, the ability of the planned facility to recover energy from the waste
and in the case of thermal treatment sites, the kind of fuel used in the treatment
process, in relation to environmental assessment requirements.
There are three process streams that waste management projects could fall under.
The first process stream is for major projects with the potential for significant
environmental effects, and generally includes the establishment or changes to thermal
treatment sites using specific fuel types, large landfill sites and hazardous or liquid
industrial waste management sites. These projects require the preparation of a Terms
of Reference and an individual environmental assessment. Part II of O.Reg. 101/07
describes the waste management projects that are designated by the Regulation and
thus subject to the Environmental Assessment Act.
The second process stream is for those projects which have predictable
environmental effects that can be readily mitigated. Part III of the Regulation identifies
the projects that are designated under the Environmental Assessment Act and then
exempted from meeting these requirements provided that the proponent carries out the
project in accordance with the Environmental Screening Process for Waste
Management Projects. This is a proponent driven, self -assessment process.
The third process stream is for those projects that do not require approval under
the Environmental Assessment Act, and are not designated as being subject to the
requirements of the Act in the Waste Management Projects Regulation. Although
projects in this category are not required to meet the Environmental Assessment Act,
they are required to comply with any other applicable existing legislative requirements.
The types of facilities in this process stream are those which are expected to have
minimal environmental effects. Section 22 describes the projects that are exempted
from the Environmental Assessment Act.
In accordance with subsection 11(1)4 of O. Reg. 101/07 the establishment of a new
waste disposal site at which waste would be handled, treated or processed and that
would transfer less than 1,000 tonnes of waste per day for final disposal does not trigger
provincial environmental assessment requirements. These facilities are not designated
by the Act.