Ontario ECA (Air) Update: Ministry's Phasing in of Schedule 3 for All Facilities Starts February 1st, 2019

Phase-in of Schedule 3 Standards

Schedule 3 standards will apply to all facilities as of February 1st, 2020, and the Reg346 model will no longer be an approved dispersion model under O.Reg.419/05.

However, as of February 1st, 2019, all ECA applications must already include ESDM reports showing compliance with Schedule 3 standards and using SCREEN3, AERMOD, or other non-regulatory model with Ministry s7(1) approval (except Reg346).

Applications will be returned if Reg346 is used, or if AERMOD or SCREEN3 are used to demonstrate compliance with a Schedule 2 standard.

 If you have questions, you can contact the Client Services and Permissions Branch by phone at: 416-314-8001 or 1‑800-461-6290; or by e-mail at: enviropermissions@ontario.ca.

Amendments to Ontario Regulation 455/09 and creation of a new services documents regulation under the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009

On April 24, 2018, the MOECC posted a decision on when facilities have to review their toxic reduction plans.  This will help to align the first two plan reviews with federal timelines and ensure facilities plan and report on current and relevant toxic substances. The MOECC also made a new regulation to provide more options to serve documents making it consistent with other regulations. 

Click HERE for the Decision Details.

Latest updates to Ontario’s Air Dispersion Models

Just in from the MOECC...

As per the pre-notification sent out on October 2, 2017, please note that the ministry adopted the updated air dispersion model versions today!

 Latest updates to Ontario’s Air Dispersion Models

On April 4, 2018, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change adopted updated versions of United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) AERMOD/AERMET and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) air dispersion models under O.Reg. 419/05.

For more information on the updated air dispersion models, please refer to the Information Notice on the Environmental Registry Number 013-2472.