Download Slide 1 - Regional Public Works Commissioners of Ontario

IEPD’s Policy Framework
Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
Regional Public Works Commissioners of Ontario ’s Fall meeting
Muskoka, Ontario – October 9, 2014
Presentation Overview
• Provide an overview of current initiatives in the Integrated
Environmental Policy Division
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Great Lakes Protection
Nutrients
Waste Initiatives
Climate Change
GREAT LAKES PROTECTION
Issues Facing the Great Lakes
The health of the Great Lakes has improved in some areas, while other areas have seen a decline.
The causes are varied and require many partners to achieve solutions.
Beach Closures and Algae
• Shorelines and waterfronts
are being degraded
• Beach postings
• Filamentous (nuisance) algae
(green slime) covering
waterfronts
• Massive blooms of potentially
toxic blue-green algae
Invasive Species
• Changes in the food-web,
decline in fisheries
• Clogged water intakes
• More pathogens
• Risk of new invaders: Asian
carp
Population Growth
• Increased stormwater and
wastewater, treatment not
keeping pace
• Loss of natural cover
• More water use
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Harmful Pollutants
• Toxic chemicals and
chemicals of emerging
concern (e.g., some
flame retardants,
pharmaceuticals)
• Fish consumption
restrictions
• Reproductive/ immune
impairment in some
wildlife
• Potential human health
impacts
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Natural Heritage
Loss of critical habitat
Declining coastal health
More species at risk
Loss of natural and cultural heritage
Climate Change
Could impact:
• Lake levels
• Water availability
• Intensity of storms
• Stressed infrastructure
• Increased flooding
Ontario’s Great Lakes Protection Efforts
Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy
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Proposed Great Lakes Protection Act
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Ontario is committed to passing a strong
proposed Great Lakes Protection Act,
which is designed to give the province
new tools to protect beaches, wetlands
and other coastal areas of the Great
Lakes and the waterways that flow into
them.
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Released in December 2012; provides a roadmap
for how Ontario will focus a variety of tools, across
ministries, to take action to protect the Great Lakes
Outlines future actions to achieve Ontario’s vision of
“Healthy Great Lakes for a stronger Ontario – Great
Lakes that are drinkable, swimmable and fishable”
through six Great Lakes goals:
1. Engaging and empowering communities
2. Protecting water for human and ecological health
3. Improving wetlands, beaches and coastal areas
4. Protecting habitats and species
5. Enhancing understanding and adaptation
6. Ensuring environmentally sustainable economic
opportunities and innovation
A key action under the Strategy is the Great Lakes
Guardian Community Fund, launched by Ontario
to help grassroots community groups, non-profit
organizations and First Nations and Métis
communities restore the lakes through local
projects
Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin
Sustainable Water Resources Agreement
Agreement Background:
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The Agreement, signed in 2005 by the Great Lakes provinces and states, focuses on managing water
quantity and aims to protect, restore and conserve the waters of the Great Lakes.
Ontario has implemented most elements of the Agreement. Current proposal will fully implement the
Agreement in Ontario by:
– Managing the movement of water between Great Lake watersheds (intra-basin transfer) consistent
with Agreement standards
– Regulating large consumptive uses of water within the Basin, consistent with Agreement provisions
Key elements of proposal:
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Manage water takings according to provisions of the Agreement
Regulate intra-basin transfers of 379,000 litres per day or more based on Agreement standards
Retain existing exemptions for watering livestock or for domestic purposes unless a new or increased
transfer is established (i.e., 379,000 litres per day or more)
Identify other Parties to the Agreement that would have the right to challenge water taking and transfer
decisions in specified instances
Identify that proposals for water transfers would be subject to posting on the Environmental Registry in a
manner consistent with existing rules for posting water-taking proposals
Proclaim legislative amendments required to give effect to the Regulations.
Canada-Ontario Agreement (COA)
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Principal mechanism through which Ontario and Canada coordinate their work to address their
respective and shared commitments to protect the Great Lakes
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Province has negotiated with Canada a proposed 8th Canada-Ontario Agreement
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New annexes on nutrients, aquatic invasive species, habitat
and species, climate change impacts, groundwater quality,
discharges from vessels, promoting innovation, and engaging
communities, First Nations and Métis
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Canada and Ontario are close to finalizing the draft CanadaOntario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and
Ecosystem Health (COA). We are considering the many
thoughtful public comments received on the draft text
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In the interim, Ontario and Canada are continuing to
collaborate to protect Great Lakes water quality and
ecosystem health
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We look forward to signing the 8th COA in 2014. Once
signed, COA will support implementation of Ontario’s
Great Lakes Strategy and the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes
Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA)
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NUTRIENTS
Lake Erie Current Canada/US/Ontario Priority
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The 2011 algal bloom in Lake Erie was three
times larger than the next largest previously
recorded.
August 2, 2014, Toledo was forced to close
drinking water system for 2 days due to blue
green algae.
MOECC has a strong blue green algae
monitoring program and has a protocol with
the Ministry of Health, municipalities when
blue green algae is found.
MOECC released a 12 point plan to address
algae September 24, 2014
http://www.ontario.ca/environment-andenergy/blue-green-algae
Ontario committed to supporting Canada in
developing a nutrient target for Lake Erie by
2016.
2011 Algae Bloom, Lake Erie, Western Basin.
Source: MERIS/NASA
Sources of Nutrients
Point source discharges to Lake Erie from Canada (ON) and the US (MI, OH, IN,
PA, NY) include municipal and industrial sewer discharges:
treated effluent,
partially treated bypasses,
untreated bypasses and
combined sewer overflows
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Non-point sources (NPS) include runoff and subsurface drainage from residential,
commercial and industrial property in urban and rural areas as well as from
agricultural land;
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Treated stormwater
Untreated runoff ( urban and agricultural)
Tile drainage
Septic beds (treated)
Landfill seepage
Air
Sediment
Nutrient Loadings
The levels of nutrients from point source discharges are relatively well monitored and controlled and
generally reflect the level of technology and expertise used in wastewater treatment.
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Ontario wastewater treatment policy requires a minimum of secondary
level of treatment.
Municipalities within the Grand River watershed have partnered with the
GRCA and MOECC to champion optimization studies and develop
training programs.
Ontario working with Canada to agree on a one-window approach to
regulating municipal wastewater – requirements for chlorine in effluent,
reporting of CSO and bypasses.
Challenges faced by wastewater treatment service providers are linked to
growth and municipal planning. Loss of wetlands and permeable
surfaces lead to increased flow into sewer systems.
Non-point sources of nutrients are more difficult to monitor and control
• The levels of nutrients arising from non-point sources more typically
reflect conditions in the natural environment
• Non point sources are also more vulnerable to storm events that will
intensify as a result of climate change
Showcasing Water Innovations
• $1.3 million to improve water quality and protect the ecological health of
both land and water resources within the Grand and Thames River
watersheds
• 6 wastewater & stormwater projects in Lake Erie basin receive $2.2 million
to assist in reducing nutrient loading
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WASTE INITIATIVES
Producer Responsibility Legislation
Background:
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Ontario’s overall diversion rate stalled at 25%
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Many stakeholders call for the reform of existing policy framework
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Significant opportunities to recover the economic value in waste; not only from residential sector but
industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) sectors
Path Forward:
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Government is committed to introducing new legislation in near future
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If passed, new legislation would transform Ontario’s waste diversion framework by making producers
responsible for end-of-life management of their products and packaging
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New legislation would build on:
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Lessons learned from previous Waste Reduction Act (Bill 91)
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Stakeholder feedback on harnessing the economic potential of recycling our wastes back into
economy as valuable resources
Look to parties to temper concerns with existing initiatives - focus on path forward
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E.g. move forward with voluntary producer initiatives on fluorescents, rechargeable batteries
Industrial, Commercial & Institutional (IC&I) Review
Background:
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Diversion in industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) sectors is low (11% vs. 47%
for residential sector in 2010). Millions of tonnes of potential raw materials are being
disposed of rather than being recycled back into the economy
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3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) regulations under the Environmental Protection Act,
which focus on waste diversion in the IC&I sectors, are 20 years old
Path Forward:
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In 2012, the ministry accepted a request to review Ontario Regulation 103/94, which
relates to source separation programs in IC&I sectors and broadened its scope to
include all three IC&I regulations for a more comprehensive review
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MOECC is also working with stakeholders to discuss what tools will best achieve
increased IC&I diversion
Organic Waste Diversion
Background:
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Approximately 1/3 of the non-hazardous wastes generated from homes and
businesses in Ontario are organic (e.g. food scraps, leaf & yard wastes)
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When landfilled, organic wastes generate a potent greenhouse gas
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Provincial organic waste diversion rates are ~22-39%
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Could be as low as 9% in IC&I, while residential diversion is between 44-47%
Collection infrastructure, local processing capacity, cheap disposal costs, community
resistance on approval of facilities because of odours.
Path forward:
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The ministry will continue to work with stakeholders to develop a long-term, strategy
to increase diversion of organic wastes.
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The strategy will also include attainable objectives in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions from landfills
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Ontario Leadership on Climate Change
Ontario’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is committed to a new long-term
strategy to fight, adapt and rise to the challenge of climate change.
On September 25, 2014 the Government outlined its priorities in public mandate letters.
The path forward builds on Ontario's actions to date, including meeting our 2014
greenhouse gas reduction target. It also includes:
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Establishing a strategy to achieve our ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets for
2020 and 2050.
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Working with Quebec to push for greater prominence of climate change in the
Canadian Energy Strategy, which includes co-ordinated efforts to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
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Ensuring that climate change is incorporated into government decision making
including greenhouse gas (GHG) impact analyses for significant policies, legislation
and regulations and adaptation considerations for public infrastructure investments.
Ontario Leadership on Climate Change
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In 2007, Ontario established greenhouse gas reduction targets in its Climate Change Action Plan. The
targets are:
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2014 target: 6% below 1990 levels
2020 target: 15% below 1990 levels
2050 target: 80% below 1990 levels
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Ontario is on track to achieve or surpass its 2014 target. Go online to see Ontario’s Climate Change
Update 2014
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www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/ontarios-climate-change-update-2014
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Ontario’s climate change actions have been informed by international and federal actions but driven by
provincial priorities and policy paths under provincial jurisdiction. Ontario’s actions to tackle greenhouse
gas emissions include the following :
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Eliminating coal-fired power – the single largest greenhouse gas initiative in North America.
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Implementing energy initiatives, including the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program, which have attracted
billions of dollars in new private sector investments.
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Transit investments. Moving Ontario Forward will make available nearly $29 billion over the next
10 years for public transit and transportation infrastructure.
Ontario Leadership on Climate Change
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In 2011, the province released Climate Ready: Ontario’s Adaptation Strategy and
Action Plan with 37 actions across government as a first step in addressing
adaptation in Ontario.
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Some examples of recent provincial initiatives include:
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Updated Provincial Policy Statement, requiring planning authorities to consider
the impacts of climate change (MMAH).
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10-Year Infrastructure Plan (Building Together) includes requirements for
municipalities to consider climate change in asset management planning
(MEDEI)
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Municipal Adaptation and Resiliency Service (MARS) developed by Great Lakes
St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (provincial funding) to help municipalities accelerate
local adaptation to climate change in the Great Lakes Region (MOECC)
Appendix A: Ontario Emissions reductions by sectoral initiatives
(climate change)
Sector
Initiative
The Big Move regional transportation plan and Greater Golden
Horseshoe Growth Plan
Passenger vehicle efficiency regulations
Freight truck speed limiter regulation
Transportation Municipal hybrid bus purchase and Green Commercial Vehicle
programs
Ethanol in Gasoline regulation
Greener Diesel regulation
Natural gas utility conservation programs
Industry
Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan
Natural gas utility conservation programs
Buildings
Building Code amendments
Residential retrofits
Long-Term Energy Plan: coal phase-out; Feed-In Tariff program;
residential, commercial and industrial demand management
Electricity
programs; and related electricity plans
Agriculture
Biogas Financial Assistance Program
Landfill Gas Collection and Control regulation
and Waste
All initiatives
Source: Ontario Climate Change Update, 2014)
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Projected
Reductions (Mt)
2014
2020
1.9
4.6
0.3
0.8
0.9
2.3
20.5
32.5
1.5
1.8
25.0
41.9