Environmental Emergency Regulations
These regulations aim to help reduce the frequency and severity of accidental releases of hazardous substances into the environment. Made under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), they improve industry’s capacity to deal with environmental emergencies that may occur at fixed facilities across Canada.
Application
These regulations require that any person who owns, has the charge, management or control of a regulated substance at or above certain quantities notify Environment and Climate Change Canada. For higher-risk facilities, an environmental emergency plan must also be prepared, brought into effect and exercised.
New regulations
The Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2019 (the final regulations) were published in the Canada Gazette on March 6, 2019. They come into force on August 24, 2019, and until then, the Environmental Emergency Regulations are in force.
Hazardous substances
Schedule 1 of the final regulations includes 249 substances that pose an acute hazard to the environment or to human health should an accidental release occur. There are six hazard categories covered under the final regulations:
- aquatically toxic
- combustible
- explosion hazard
- pool fire hazard
- inhalation hazard
- oxidizer that may explode
Related information
- Environmental emergency regulations, 2019 on CEPA registry
- Environmental emergency regulations on CEPA Registry
- Environmental emergency regulations: filing a notice
- Environmental emergency regulations: reporting a spill or release
- Environmental emergency regulations: frequently asked questions
- Environmental emergencies: list of exploding or hazardous substances
- Environmental emergencies: regional contacts
- Environmental emergency planning: risk evaluation framework
- Environmental emergencies: substance evaluations
- Public safety authorities sign-in
- Find out who is registered
- Environmental emergency regulations: previous consultations
Contact us
Environmental Emergencies Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Place Vincent Massey, 17th Floor
351 St-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H3
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