Forward Regulatory Plan 2017 to 2019, Environment and Climate Change Canada, chapter 3

Fisheries Act

Proposed Regulatory Initiatives

Amendments to Schedule 2 of the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations

Enabling Act

Fisheries Act

Description

The proposed amendments would add fish-frequented water bodies to Schedule 2 of the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER). This would allow these water bodies to be used for the disposal of mine waste.

Each proposed amendment would be associated with a single Canadian metal mine.

These proposed amendments would affect the metal mining sector.

Indication of business impact

There are no expected business impacts.

Consultation

Environment and Climate Change Canada holds consultations with stakeholders for each mining project before proposed amendments to Schedule 2 are published in the Canada Gazette. Timing and further details are to be determined.

Contact

Aimee Zweig
Director, Mining and Processing Division
Telephone: 819-938-4398
Fax: 819-420-7381
Email: aimee.zweig@canada.ca

Regulations Amending the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations – General

Enabling Act

Fisheries Act

Description

The proposed amendments to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations include strengthening the effluent limits and improving the efficiency and efficacy of the environmental effects monitoring requirements. The proposed amendments would also expand the regulations to include diamond mines.

Indication of business impact

There may be business impacts. The "One-for-One" Rule and/or the Small Business Lens may apply.

Consultation

Canadians were invited to review the proposed amendments and submitted comments when the proposed amendments were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2017/2017-07-12/html/sor-dors129-eng.php on May 13, 2017 for a 60-day comment period.

Target date for publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II is spring 2018. 

Contact

Aimee Zweig
Director, Mining and Processing Division
Telephone: 819-938-4398
Fax: 819-420-7381
Email: aimee.zweig@canada.ca

Coal Mining Effluent Regulations

Enabling Act

Fisheries Act

Description

The proposed regulations would include national baseline effluent quality standards for all coal mines and would include environmental effect monitoring provisions.

The proposed regulations would apply to the coal mining sector, which currently includes mines in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia.

Indication of business impact

There may be business impacts. The "One-for-One" Rule and/or the Small Business Lens may apply.

Consultation

Pre-consultations were held in spring 2017 with relevant stakeholders.  Additional stakeholder engagement is planned prior to publication in Canada Gazette, Part I. 

The proposed regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I for a 60-day comment period. Target date for publication is fall 2018.

Contact

Aimee Zweig
Director, Mining and Processing Division
Telephone: 819-938-4398
Fax: 819-420-7381
Email: aimee.zweig@canada.ca

Regulations Repealing the Chlor-Alkali Mercury Liquid Effluent Regulations

Enabling Act

Fisheries Act

Description

This regulation is no longer required and is therefore being repealed. The last Canadian mercury cell plant closed in June 2008. It is unlikely that any new chlorine production facilities in Canada will use mercury cell technology, since Canada signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury in October 2013, and there are now alternate processes.

Related to: Regulations Repealing the Chlor-Alkali Mercury Release Regulations

Indication of business impact

There are no expected business impacts.

Consultation

Regulations (for the repeal) will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II. The publication is targeted for fall 2017.

Contact

Nathalie Morin
Director, Chemical Production Division
Telephone: 819-420-8047
Fax: 819-944-5030
Email: nathalie.morin4@canada.ca

Regulations Amending the Deposit Out of the Normal Course of Events Notification Regulations

Enabling Act

Fisheries Act

Description

The proposed regulations would make minor amendments to the Deposit Out of the Normal Course of Events Notification Regulations.

Organizational changes which occurred within Environment and Climate Change Canada and other federal, provincial or territorial governments, as well as the amendments made to the Fisheries Act and other regulations referenced in the Deposit Out of the Normal Course of Events Notification Regulations have caused some information in the Deposit Out of the Normal Course of Events Notification Regulations to become out of date.  Updates are required in order to keep these Regulations current and clear.

Related to:

Regulations Amending the Release and Environmental Emergency Notification Regulations

These proposed amendments would not affect the regulated community or the public.

Indication of business impact

There are no expected business impacts.

Consultation

The proposed regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I for comment period. Target date for publication is fall 2017.

Contact

Tanya Bryant
A/Director, Environmental Emergencies
Telephone: 819-938-4072
Fax: 819-420-7624
Email: tanya.bryant@canada.ca

Regulations Amending the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations (PPER)

Enabling Act

Fisheries Act

Description

The proposed amendments would modernize the regulations by streamlining requirements, reflecting current and future industry practices and amending certain requirements such as environmental effects monitoring.

These amendments would provide greater regulatory certainty to the pulp and paper sector.

Indication of business impact

There may be business impacts. The “One-for-One” Rule and/or the Small Business Lens may apply.

Consultation

Pre-consultations will be held prior to publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I.

The proposed regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I for public comment. Target date for publication is fall 2019.

Contact

Caroline Blais
Director, Forest Products and Fisheries Act Division
Telephone: 819-938-4251
Fax: 819-420-7384
Email: caroline.blais@canada.ca

Order Declaring that the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations do not apply in Quebec

Enabling Act

Fisheries Act

Description

The order under the Fisheries Act will declare that the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (WSER) do not apply in Quebec, for wastewater systems for which the regulatory regime for wastewater is equivalent in effect with the WSER as provided in a bilateral equivalency agreement.

Indication of business impact

There are no expected business impacts.

Consultation

The proposed equivalency agreement and order were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on March 21, 2015 for a 30-day comment period. (http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2015/2015-03-21/html/reg3-eng.html)

Target date for publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II is spring 2018.

Contact

Caroline Blais
Director, Forest Products and Fisheries Act Division
Telephone: 819-938-4251
Fax: 819-420-7384
Email: caroline.blais@canada.ca

Order Declaring that the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations do not apply in British Columbia

Enabling Act

Fisheries Act

Description

The order under the Fisheries Act will declare that the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (WSER) do not apply in British Columbia, for wastewater systems for which the regulatory regime for wastewater is equivalent in effect with the WSER as provided in a bilateral equivalency agreement.

Indication of business impact

There are no expected business impacts.

Consultation

If the provincial regime is deemed equivalent, a proposed equivalency agreement and order will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I for a 30-day comment period. Target date for publication is spring 2018.

Contact

Caroline Blais
Director, Forest Products and Fisheries Act Division
Telephone: 819-938-4251
Fax: 819-420-7384
Email: caroline.blais@canada.ca

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