On October 8, 2016, pursuant to subsection 332(1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, the proposed Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2016 (the proposed Regulations) (PDF version is attached). The proposed Regulations will repeal and replace the current Environmental Emergency Regulations (the current Regulations). The current Regulations were last amended in 2011. Key changes in the proposed Regulations include:
the addition of 49 new substances to Schedule 1 and amendment of the thresholds for 3 existing substances;
– a clarification of the requirements for exercising an E2 Plan;
– consolidation of substances into a single list;
– the inclusion of uncontained substances;
– a definition of a container system;
– clarifications for the requirements regarding public notifications before, during and after an environmental emergency; and
– modifications to reporting requirements including periodic reporting to ensure an up-to-date database is available for departmental officials and first responders.
How to submit comments
Pursuant to subsection 332(2), any person may, within 60 days after this publication, file with the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change written comments on the proposed Regulations. All comments must cite in the subject header, “Comments – Canada Gazette, Part I – Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2016†and be sent to:
Lo Cheng, Director, Environmental Emergencies Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St. Joseph Blvd., 16th Floor, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3
email: ec.ue-e2.ec@canada.ca
All comments must be submitted by December 7, 2016.
A summary of the comments and responses from the preliminary 2013 – 2014 Consultations process is available on the Environmental Emergency website.