The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (ministry) is proposing a new policy for Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) in air approvals to more effectively consider cumulative impacts from multiple air pollution sources - both industrial and non-industrial.
Details of the proposal are described in “Proposal for Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) in Air Approvals” (Attachment 1).
The “Discussion Paper: Cumulative Effects Assessment in Air Approvals” (Attachment 2) describes the underlying framework and rationale for the proposed policy and discusses how, in the future, the ministry could further develop the proposed policy through consideration of additional communities and/or contaminants.
The new proposed policy applies to air emissions of benzene and benzo[a]pyrene in the Hamilton/Burlington area and benzene in the Sarnia/Corunna area. The monitored levels for these contaminants exceed the ministry’s ambient air quality criteria (AAQCs) on an annual average basis. These areas also have multiple industrial facilities regulated by the local air quality regulation. In order to have a better understanding of the areas where the AAQCs were exceeded, multi-source models were developed. Through this modelling, the ministry identified areas and action levels where the CEA policy applies.
Action levels were established based on the ministry’s Framework for Managing Risk described in the Guideline for Implementation of Air Standards in Ontario under the local air quality regulation.
Details on the multi-source modelling may be obtained from the ministry on request by contacting Lubna Hussain (Lubna.i.hussain@ontario.ca)
The technology requirements for new/expanded facilities would depend on the action level associated with their location. Enhanced air pollution controls or best management practices may be required even if the facility meets the air standard under the Local Air Quality Regulation (O. Reg. 419/05).