2. Public Participation (Part 2)

• 2.1 CEPA Environmental Registry
• 2.2 Public Consultations

Part 2 of CEPA 1999 provides for the establishment of an environmental registry, whistleblower protection, and the right of an individual to request an investigation and pursue court action.

The CEPA Environmental Registry was launched on Environment Canada's website with the proclamation of CEPA 1999 on March 31, 2000. Since that time, ongoing efforts have been made to increase the Registry's reliability and ease of use. The Registry encompasses thousands of CEPA-related documents and references. It has become a primary source of environmental information for the public and private sectors, both nationally and internationally, and has been used as a source of information in university and college curricula.

From April 2011 to March 2012, over 160 requests for CEPA-related information were received in the Registry mailbox or Environment Canada's general mailbox. Many of these requests were for information on the assessment reports of Batch 11 and 12, substances identified under the Challenge program, a key element of the CMP. Other requests involved pollution, proposed regulations, guidelines, codes of practice, importing chemicals, biotechnology, permits, the Export Control List, and the Domestic Substances List.

During 2011–2012, there were 38 opportunities posted on the Environmental Registry for stakeholders and the public to consult.

Please see the Public Consultations section of the CEPA Environmental Registry.