Ban on the Land Application of Untreated Portable Toilet Waste

For more information on this regulation and other aspects of the Nutrient Management Act, visit the Queen's Park Watch page on the H2infO web site at www.H2infO.org


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EBR Registry Number: RA03E0016 Type of Posting: Regulation
Ministry: Environment Status of Posting: Proposal
Date Proposal Loaded: 2003/04/25
Comment Period: 30 day(s)
Written submissions may be made between April 25, 2003 and May 25, 2003.

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NOTICE OF PROPOSAL FOR REGULATION
© Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2003
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Proposal Title:
Ban on the Land Application of Untreated Portable Toilet Waste

Short Description:
This notice is a follow up to the Proposed Strategy for the Five-year Phase-out of the Land Application of Untreated Septage released as part of the Stage 2 regulatory initiative under the Nutrient Management Act. As one of the components of the Proposed Strategy, the Ministry of the Environment proposed an immediate ban on the land application of untreated portable toilet waste. Attached is a draft regulation, which will, if passed, impose that ban through an amendment to Regulation 347 under the Environmental Protection Act. The draft regulation will ban the land application of untreated portable toilet waste by July 31, 2003. Portable toilet waste, which has been treated to meet the requirements in the draft regulation, may continue to be land-applied. The ban on the land application of untreated portable toilet waste emerges from the government's efforts to protect drinking water.

Purpose of the Proposal:
The purpose of this proposed regulation is to ban the land application of untreated portable toilet waste. This proposal was one component of the Proposed Strategy for the Five-Year Phase-Out of the Land Application of Untreated Septage which was posted as part of the Stage 2 regulatory initiative under the Nutrient Management Act in December 2002.

Other Public Consultation:
Public Consultation Meetings on Nutrient Management Stage 2 Regulatory Initiative At a series of regional meetings held across the province during December, January and February, the Proposed Strategy for the Five-year Phase-out of the Land Application of Untreated Septage was discussed. Many of the comments received in response to the Environmental Registry posting addressed septage. The ministry met informally with stakeholders during the past four months to discuss these responses.

Activities/Reports/Announcements

March 2003
Release of New Direction on Nutrient Management.

December 2002
Release of Stage 2 draft regulations under the Nutrient Management Act including a Proposed Strategy for the Five-year Phase-out of the Land Application of Untreated Septage

August 2000
Launch of Operation Clean Water

Please refer to Ministry's website for additional information concerning nutrient management and previous public consultations on the matter.


Regulatory Impact Statement:
Untreated portable toilet waste may contain chemicals and foreign objects. The ban on the land application of untreated portable toilet waste will, if made, prevent the release of these pollutants to the environment. The ban on the land application of untreated portable toilet waste could have an impact on some municipalities which may be requested to accept portable toilet waste at municipal sewage treatment plants.


Comments should be directed to the following Contact Person:
Eileen Smith, Manager, Land Application
Waste Management Policy Branch
135 St. Clair Ave. West, 7th floor
Toronto, Ontario, M4V 1P5
PHONE: (416) 314-5135 FAX: (416) 325-4437

Some Government offices have additional information on this proposal for viewing. These are listed below:
Waste Management Policy Branch
135 St. Clair Avenue West
7th floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4V 1P5
PHONE: (416) 325-4440 FAX: (416) 325-4437

Additional material in support of this notice is available by clicking the following hyperlink(s):
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envision/env_reg/er/documents/2003/RA03E0016-reg.pdf

All comments will be considered as part of the decision-making by the Ministry if they:
are submitted in writing;
reference the EBR Registry number; and
are received by the Contact person within the specified comment period.

Please Note: No acknowledgment or individual response will be provided to those who comment. All comments and submissions received will become part of the public record.