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Appeal of David Elstone Operating As Haliburton Septic Pumping - Environmental Compliance Approval (waste)

Numéro du ERO
019-1101
Étape de l'avis
Appel
Appel publié
Dernière mise à jour

Résumé de l'appel

Darren and Teresa Johnston are seeking leave to appeal under section 38 of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993.

Détails de l’appel

This notice is given by the applicant in accordance with section 47 of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993. The notice was prepared by the appellant and represents its position. It does not represent or reflect the views of the Government of Ontario, nor does the Government of Ontario make any representations about the accuracy of the content of this notice.

The applicants are seeking leave to appeal the Ministry's decision to issue a waste Environmental Compliance approval to David Elstone operating as Haliburton Septic Pumping.

Grounds for appeal

The location of the proposed field is situated in a neighbourhood, not in a remote location. The applicants are requesting an in-person site visit so that we may discuss the impacts this field will have on our home and our surrounding neighbourhood. The applicants also want confirmation that the location of a new well has been accounted for in the planning of this field.

Additional information can be found on the Ontario Lands Tribunal's website

Documents justificatifs

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Personne-ressource

L’organe d’appel peut fournir davantage d’informations, notamment des dates et des lieux d’audience. Des informations supplémentaires sur le processus d'appel en vertu d'instruments peuvent être fournies par le ministère de l'Environnement, de la Conservation et des Parcs.

Environmental Review Tribunal
Attention: The Secretary
655 Bay Street
Floor 15
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1E5
(416) 212-6349
(866) 448-2248
OLT.Registrar@ontario.ca

About the Environmental Review Tribunal


Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Environmental Bill of Rights Office
40 St. Clair Ave. West
12th Floor
Toronto, ON
M4V 1M2

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Original decision

David Elstone Operating As Haliburton Septic Pumping - Environmental Compliance Approval (waste)

La traduction française de cet avis n'est pas disponible. Nous nous excusons pour le dérangement.

Type d'acte: Environmental Compliance Approval (waste)

Numéro du REO
019-1101
Numéro de référence du ministère
19-PET-72453
Type d'avis
Instrument
Loi
Environmental Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990
Affiché par
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Étape de l'avis
Décision Appel Mis à jour
Décision publiée
Période de consultation
Du 7 janvier 2020 au 21 février 2020 (45 jours) Fermé
Dernière mise à jour

Update Announcement

This proposal notice has been updated on November 03, 2021 to advise the public that this application is still under active review. The ministry is reviewing the comments it has received to date. The original proposal date and comment period have not been altered.

Cette consultation a eu lieu :

du 7 janvier 2020
au 21 février 2020

Résumé de la décision

An Environmental Compliance Approval19-PET-72453 (Waste Disposal Site) was issued on 04/05/2022 for a hauled sewage disposal site in Haliburton County

Détails de l'emplacement

Adresse du site

1197 Barry Line Road
Guilford, ON
K0M 1J1
Canada

Détails de l'emplacement du site

Lot 4 Concession 6

Carte de l'emplacement du site

L'épingle de localisation correspond à la zone approximative où a lieu l’activité environnementale.

Afficher cet emplacement sur une carte opens link in a new window

Promoteur(s)

David Elstone Operating As Haliburton Septic Pumping
2628 Eagle Lake Road
West Guilford, ON
K0M 1M0
Canada

Détails de la décision

Site Location: 1197 Barry Line Road, Dysart et al, Haliburton County

Application Type: New

Total Useable Area: 2.05 hectares

Type of Disposal: Surface Spreading

Conditions on the Environmental Compliance Approval include requirements to develop and follow spill response procedures, train staff and maintain records. The approval also includes the following operational requirements:

No Hauled Sewage shall be spread or disposed of at the Site when the ground is frozen, ice-covered or snow covered.

No Hauled Sewage shall be spread at the Site under conditions which Hauled Sewage may runoff or discharge from the Site. 

Hauled sewage cannot be spread during winter months.

The approval sets out a maximum spreading rate.  In addition, spreading cannot take place within specified distances of sensitive features such as surface water, wells and residences or on steeper sloped areas.

Prior to spreading of hauled sewage, the operator shall ensure the useable spreading area is clearly flagged or digitally designated to clearly identify setbacks from sensitive features and any areas where spreading is not allowed.

No processed organic waste, grease trap waste or other waste, other than Hauled Sewage, shall be disposed of at the Site.

In addition to standard operational requirements, a precautionary requirement to undertake a site groundwater monitoring program was incorporated within the ECA to confirm the conclusion of the technical evaluation that the activity will not have any significant environmental impacts or cause any adverse effects.

Approval expires on 11/30/2023

Other:

Prior to the spreading of hauled sewage, the operator is responsible for ensuring that all necessary approvals, licences or permits that may be required from other authorities, such as the local municipality, conservation authority, Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, have been acquired.

To access a copy of this approval, please contact the Peterborough District Office

Peterborough District Office

300 Water Street
Floor 2, Robinson Place South Tower
Peterborough, ON
K9J 3C7
Canada
1-800-558-0595

Commentaires reçus

Par l'entremise du registre

125

Par courriel

0

Par la poste

0
Consulter les commentaires soumis par l'entremise du registre

Effets de la consultation

Summary of Decision Rationale

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (ministry) reviewed and assessed the information provided by the proponent to support the Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) application, including the environmental setting of the proposed disposal site.

Ministry review of the application package determined that the site meets the ministry’s requirements for environmental protection and is suitable for the proposed use. The approval was issued in accordance with ministry policies and practices.

The ministry also reviewed and considered the public comments submitted for the Proposal Notice posting on the Environmental Registry.

Additional time was required to evaluate this site application to allow for detailed technical evaluations, including the installation of three groundwater monitoring wells and hydrogeological assessment work, and the assessment of endangered species.

In addition to standard operational requirements, a precautionary requirement to undertake a site groundwater monitoring program was incorporated within the ECA to confirm the conclusion of the technical evaluation that the activity will not have any significant environmental impacts or cause any adverse effects.

Based on the ministry’s review of the application package and the public comments received, the Director decided to approve the ECA application and has issued ECA (Waste Disposal) No. 19-PET-72453, dated April 5, 2022.

Adverse effects are not anticipated if the activities are carried out in accordance with the conditions of the ECA.

ECAs that are issued for hauled sewage disposal sites contain an expiry date.  The ECA issued for this site expires in late 2023, after two operational field seasons (2022 and 2023).

The two-year duration of the permit provides the ministry with the opportunity to review and assess the monitoring data and evaluate any changes to surrounding land use before deciding whether to renew the approval for the site if the proponent seeks a renewal.

Many public commenters were opposed to the overall practice of allowing hauled sewage to be directly land applied.  Some commenters indicated that the ministry’s standard separation distances (i.e., the required separation distances from the waste disposal area to environmental features, residences, commercial/community use properties, and water wells) are inadequate to prevent environmental impacts.

Many comments referred to the need for the development of ‘municipal’ hauled sewage disposal facilities. The ministry encourages residents to work with the municipality to explore such long-term options. However, there is a current need for hauled sewage disposal services in Haliburton County.

Public Comments received and how they were considered by the Director:

  • On January 7, 2020, a Proposal Notice was posted on the Environmental Registry for a 45-day commenting period.
  • Approximately 125 comments were received during the commenting period in addition to some direct calls and emails: 71 comments in support, 54 comments opposed.
  • Generally, the main concerns were regarding the possibility of environmental impacts to local surface water features (e.g., water quality, ecological, water supply and recreational uses), including the Redstone River and Green Lake, as well as, in regard to potential impacts to groundwater resources and water wells,
  • There were also concerns about the possibility of odour impacts on local residences and the local community in general, and about potential impacts to human health in relation to the possibility of contaminants in air and water and their potential human intake/consumption or recreational contact.
  • Comments were received regarding potential terrestrial ecological impacts, including potential impacts to endangered species at risk (e.g., birds and turtles),
  • A substantial proportion of the comments raised concerns with potential negative effects on property values, increased truck traffic and road safety issues, tourism, as well as non-conformance with municipal zoning.
  • Many positive comments were received about the land application method of hauled sewage disposal as being a practical and cost-effective method that is necessary for rural un-serviced areas that do not have other cost-effective disposal options.
  • Some commenters indicated that environmental impacts do not typically occur with this type of hauled sewage disposal site, and that they would be supportive of the ministry approving the site.

The public comments received through the Environmental Registry posting of this proposal were reviewed by the ministry, and the various comments and concerns are summarized in the following category sections, followed by a description of how they were considered by the Director:

A) Potential Environmental and Ecological Impacts, including:

  1. Pollution impacts to surface water quality in local water courses and lakes, such as bacteriological, viruses, pathogens, nutrient loadings and other pollutants, such as household and pharmaceutical chemicals, due to surface runoff or the discharge of impacted groundwater from the site.
  2. Potential impacts to groundwater resources and the water quality of local water wells due to the infiltration of contaminants and their possible transport off-site via groundwater flow from the site.
  3. Impacts to local ecological resources including natural habitats and local wildlife, including species at risk (e.g., birds and turtles),
  4. Odour impacts at local properties affecting their use and enjoyment.

Director’s Consideration:

Ministry staff have assessed the application and site information with respect to the ministry’s requirements for the approval of hauled sewage disposal sites that includes standard separation distances to various environmental features (e.g., surface water streams, rivers and lakes, water wells, residences), and operational conditions designed to mitigate the potential for environmental and ecological impacts to occur, including the public concerns described above.

Ministry technical experts in the fields of surface water quality and groundwater resources have reviewed the application information and inspected the site with respect to the proposed hauled sewage disposal site operation in relation to these concerns.

Ministry specialist staff were also engaged regarding concerns about impacts on endangered/threatened species, and the applicant (company) undertook an ‘Species at Risk Assessment’ and submitted a summary report as to the potential impact of the proposed disposal site on species protected under the Endangered Species Act, 2007.

Ministry staff found that the report’s conclusions [that neither sections 9 nor 10 of the Endangered Species Act will be contravened, regarding the protection of the endangered species and their habitat], are reasonable and valid and therefore authorization (permit) under the Endangered Species Act is not required.

The ‘Species at Risk Assessment’ did not identify any endangered species or their habitats at the proposed site. However, the ministry noted that the applicant will need to continue to monitor for the activity of certain species during site development to document any changes and advised the applicant that they remain responsible for ensuring compliance with the Endangered Species Act.

It is noted that the ministry’s technical groundwater reviewer recommended that a groundwater monitoring program be required as a precautionary measure to confirm that the operation does not cause adverse groundwater impacts. A condition has been included in the ECA that requires the company to undertake a specified groundwater monitoring program and to report the results to the ministry annually, as well as to report to the ministry immediately any detected exceedances of certain parameter limits.

The ministry’s various requirements for the approval of hauled sewage disposal sites, including minimum separation distances to various types of receptors and features in conjunction with the standard operational conditions incorporated in the ECA, are designed to ensure the prevention of adverse impacts to the natural environment and human health. If any incidents of adverse impact or non-compliance occur, the ministry must be contacted for follow-up or field response as appropriate.

Based on these assessments, as well as inspection of the site by the Director and the ministry’s local Agricultural Environmental Compliance Officer, the Director considers that this proposed site meets the ministry’s various guidelines and requirements and is suitable for the proposed use.

B) Potential Environmental and Ecological Impacts, including:

  1. Contamination of water wells and surface water supply intakes used for domestic consumption/purposes.
  2. Contamination of recreational waters used by swimmers.
  3. Airborne contaminants from the site reaching residences and residents/persons, as well as potential impacts on nearby agricultural crops.
  4. Increased populations of flies/insects possibly carrying diseases; and
  5. Mental health impacts and stress on residents due to concerns and fears about possible and actual impacts to environmental health.

Director’s Consideration:

The proposed site meets the ministry’s various guidelines and separation distance requirements to residences and various other types of property uses, water wells and surface waters that are designed to prevent adverse impacts to human health and the natural environment. As well, there are restrictions on the use of the spreading site for agricultural crops and grazing.

As such, and in consideration of technical assessments undertaken, provided that the site is operated in accordance with the ECA and its conditions, impacts to human health are not expected to occur.

If residents experience potential health effects believed to be caused by the site operations, they should notify the ministry for its assessment, in addition to seeking medical attention if necessary.

C) Potential Economic Impacts,

including the potential to depress property values near the site, and that the local tourism industry and businesses could be impacted.

Director’s Consideration:

The Director’s decision is focused primarily on ensuring the protection of the natural environment and human health, however, under the EPA, the definition of adverse effect includes loss of enjoyment of normal use of property, and interference with the normal conduct of business. It is not expected that the proposed undertaking will cause either of these impacts.

D) Increased Road Traffic:

the waste disposal site operation would lead to an increase in truck traffic causing negative impacts to local roads, including increased dust, noise, road wear, and safety concerns.

Director’s Consideration:

The proposed operation involves a limited amount of truck traffic going to and from the disposal site when the company is doing business.

The truck drivers must obey traffic laws and drive safely.  If people have concerns about traffic safety, they should contact the local police and/or municipality.

The Director considers that this aspect does not affect his decision to approve the site.

E) Municipal Zoning:

Some comments indicated that the proposed waste disposal site should not be approved because it does not comply with municipal zoning by-law requirements for this land use (i.e., waste disposal site).

Director’s Consideration:

Municipal zoning by-laws are administered under the Planning Act, and it is the municipality’s role, jurisdiction and responsibility to enforce its municipal zoning and property use bylaws. 

The ministry is responsible for regulating Hauled Sewage Disposal Sites under the Environmental Protection Act and its regulations, and through ECAs issued under Part II.1 of the Act. These are independent from municipal Official Plans/zoning/by-laws, which are instruments produced, administered and enforced by local municipalities.

Condition 1(b) in the ECA indicates that ‘The issuance of, and compliance with, the approval does not relieve any person or the company of any obligation to comply with any provision of any applicable statute, regulation or other legal requirement.’

The ministry has ensured the municipality and the company are aware of this aspect, and it is the municipality’s decision as to how it may choose to enforce its bylaws.

F) Previous issues of non-compliance by the company:

Director’s Consideration:

The ministry does not consider the previous alleged incidents of non-compliance by the company at its previous sites to be significant enough to preclude the ministry’s approval of this hauled sewage disposal site. 

Ministry staff will monitor site activities to ensure the conditions of the ECA and other applicable ministry requirements are being complied.

G) Positive Supporting Comments:

In addition to the negative comments opposing the proposal, there were many positive supporting comments about the proposed disposal site:

  • The proposed site is well suited for the proposed use with good physical characteristics and a low risk of environmental impacts.
  • There are limited septage disposal sites/options available in the area and septic tank pump-outs are a necessary service,
  • Hauled sewage disposal sites, such as this one, typically do not cause adverse environmental impacts and they provide nutrients to the soil.
  • If the site meets the ministry’s requirements and criteria, then it should be approved.

Director’s Consideration:

Comments about the site being suitable for hauled sewage disposal are consistent with the Director’s decision, as described in the sections above.

Commentary about there being limited hauled sewage disposal sites/options available in the local area, noting that septic tank pump-outs (and disposal) is a necessary service, is a valid interest.  A significant number of commenters indicated that the municipality should construct new facilities for the disposal of hauled sewage.

The ministry has discussed this concern with the Township and has suggested that the Township undertake a process to evaluate options for municipally developed and operated hauled sewage disposal facilities to ensure residents have a reasonable long-term option for septic tank pump outs (as well as, holding tanks and portable toilets) which are necessary for the proper maintenance and function of septic systems, as well as for other community needs.

Documents justificatifs

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Certains documents justificatifs peuvent ne pas être accessibles en ligne. Si tel est le cas, vous pouvez demander à consulter les documents en personne.

Veuillez communiquer avec le bureau mentionné ci-dessous pour savoir si les documents sont accessibles.

Peterborough District Office
Address

300 Water Street
Floor 2, Robinson Place South Tower
Peterborough, ON
K9J 3C7
Canada

Office phone number

How to Appeal

Cet avis de décision peut être porté en appel. Vous avez jusqu’à 15 jours à partir du 20 avril 2022 pour entamer le processus d’appel.

Veuillez lire les renseignements suivants attentivement pour en savoir plus sur le processus d’appel.

Comment interjeter appelClick to Expand Accordion

For instrument decisions published on or after June 1, 2021, please refer to the updated instructions for information on how to appeal a decision.

Appeal process for decisions published before June 1, 2021

If you’re an Ontario resident, you can start the process to appeal this instrument decision.

First, you’ll need to seek leave (i.e. get permission) from the relevant appellate body to appeal the decision.

If the appellate body grants leave, the appeal itself will follow.

Seek leave to appeal

To seek leave to appeal, you need to do these three things:

  1. prepare your application
  2. provide notice to the minister
  3. mail your application to three parties

1. Prepare your application

You’ll need to prepare an application. You may wish to include the following things in your application:

  1. A document that includes:
    • your name, phone number, fax number (if any), and/or email address
    • the ERO number and ministry reference number (located on this page)
    • a statement about whether you are a resident in Ontario
    • your interest in the decision, and any facts you want taken into account in deciding whether you have an interest in the decision
    • the parts of the instrument that you’re challenging
    • whether the decision could result in significant harm to the environment
    • the reason(s) why you believe that no reasonable person – having regard to the relevant law and to any government policies developed to guide decisions of that kind – could have made the decision
    • the grounds (facts) you’ll be using to appeal
    • the outcome you’d like to see
  2. A copy of the instrument (approval, permit, order) that you you are seeking leave to appeal. You’ll find this in the decision notice on the Environmental Registry
  3. Copies of all supporting documents, facts and evidence that you’ll be using to appeal
What is considered

The appeal body will consider the following two questions in deciding whether to grant you leave to appeal:

  1. is there is good reason to believe that no reasonable person, with respect to the relevant law and to any government policies developed to guide decisions of that kind, could have made the decision?
  2. could the decision you wish to appeal result in significant harm to the environment?

2. Provide your notice

You’ll need to provide notice to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks that you’re seeking leave to appeal.

In your notice, please include a brief description of the:

  • decision that you wish to appeal
  • grounds for granting leave to appeal

You can provide notice by email at minister.mecp@ontario.ca or by mail at:

College Park 5th Floor, 777 Bay St.
Toronto, ON 
M7A 2J3

3. Mail your application

You’ll need to mail your application that you prepared in step #1 to each of these three parties:

  • appellate body
  • issuing authority (the ministry official who issued the instrument)
  • proponent (the company or individual to whom the instrument was issued)

Autorité compétente
David Bradley
District Manager

Peterborough District Office - Robinson Pl South Tower
300 Water Street
Floor 2
Peterborough, ON
K9J 3C7
Canada

705-755-4307

Proponent(s)

David Elstone Operating As Haliburton Septic Pumping
2628 Eagle Lake Road
West Guilford, ON
K0M 1M0
Canada


Organe d’appel

Environmental Review Tribunal
Attention: The Secretary
655 Bay Street
Floor 15
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1E5
(416) 212-6349
(866) 448-2248
OLT.Registrar@ontario.ca

About the Environmental Review Tribunal


Inclure les éléments suivants:

Numéro du REO
019-1101
Numéro de référence du ministère
19-PET-72453

Il ne s'agit pas d'un avis juridique. Veuillez vous reporter à la Charte des droits environnementaux de 1993 pour connaître les exigences exactes prévues par la loi. Consultez un avocat si vous avez besoin d'aide avec le processus d'appel.

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Contact

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Suivre cet avis

Proposition initiale

Numéro du REO
019-1101
Numéro de référence du ministère
19-PET-72453
Type d'avis
Instrument
Loi
Environmental Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990
Affiché par
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Proposition affichée

Période de consultation

7 janvier 2020 - 21 février 2020 (45 days)

Détails de la proposition

Description of instrument

Hauled sewage, commonly known as septage, is the waste material removed from portable toilets, sewage holding tanks and septic systems. Untreated hauled sewage from holding tanks and septic tanks may be disposed of on land in accordance with an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) issued under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA).

Prior to operating at the site, the company shall develop written procedures covering the following:

  • procedures for reporting to the ministry, and municipal authorities as required in the event a spill occurs at the site
  • a list of the personnel responsible for operations at the site

The company shall ensure that all personnel involved in the operation of this hauled sewage disposal site are aware of the requirements of this approval and are trained in spill prevention.

Spills of a pollutant that cause or may cause an adverse effect are to be reported to the Ministry's Spills Action Centre and the company shall take appropriate remedial action to limit the impact. The company must ensure that no unnecessary off-site effects, such as vermin, vectors, odour, dust, litter, noise or traffic, result from the operation of this site.

Written records must be maintained in a log book that documents daily operations as well as any spills that occur and any complaints received.

No hauled sewage shall be spread or disposed of at the site when the ground is frozen, ice-covered or snow covered.

No hauled sewage shall be spread at the site under conditions where hauled sewage may runoff or discharge from the site.

Hauled sewage cannot be spread during winter months.

The approval sets out a maximum spreading rate. In addition, spreading cannot take place within specified distances of sensitive features such as surface water, wells and residences, or on steeper sloped land.

Prior to the spreading of hauled sewage, the operator shall ensure the useable spreading area is clearly flagged or digitally designated to clearly identify setbacks from sensitive features and any areas where spreading is not allowed.

No processed organic waste, grease trap waste or other waste, other than hauled sewage, shall be disposed of at the site.

Documents justificatifs

Consulter les documents en personne

Certains documents justificatifs peuvent ne pas être accessibles en ligne. Si tel est le cas, vous pouvez demander à consulter les documents en personne.

Veuillez communiquer avec le bureau mentionné ci-dessous pour savoir si les documents sont accessibles.

Peterborough District Office
Address

300 Water Street
Floor 2, Robinson Place South Tower
Peterborough, ON
K9J 3C7
Canada

Office phone number

Commentaire

La consultation est maintenant terminée.

Cette consultation a eu lieu 7 janvier 2020
au 21 février 2020

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Contact