Policy Proposal Notice:

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). 

The intent of this proposal is to strengthen and clarify the consideration of cumulative effects when making decisions related to environmental compliance approvals (ECAs) for activities governed by section 9 of the Ontario Environmental Protection Act (EPA).

The proposal focuses on actions for industrial facilities. It is through other programs such as the ministry’s Air Zone Management Framework that actions by non-industrial sources would be addressed.

This proposal was posted for a 90 day public review and comment period starting November 09, 2017. Comments were to be received by February 07, 2018.

All comments received during the comment period are being considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministry.

Please Note: All comments and submissions received have become part of the public record.

The ministry works with the Air Standards/Local Air Quality Regulation External Working Group (EWG) to seek early input on proposed policies related to local air quality. The EWG is a group of industry, public health, environmental non-governmental organizations and some First Nations community members that meet regularly to discuss issues related to local air quality and to provide recommendations to the government. A Cumulative Air Emissions Assessment (CAEA) subgroup of the EWG met in 2015/2016 to review cumulative effects policies in other jurisdictions, conduct case studies, and to discuss principles of a cumulative effects proposal. The ministry considered the input of the EWG sub-group in the development of this proposal.

For the communities identified in this proposed policy, the ministry will engage community organizations to explain how the contaminants and action levels were established.

Lubna Hussain
Manager
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Environmental Sciences and Standards Division
Standards Development Branch
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 7
Toronto Ontario
M4V 1M2
Phone: (416) 326-3470

Standards Development Branch
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 7
Toronto Ontario
M4V 1M2
Phone: (416) 327-5519