Approval to further protect sources of drinking water in the Mattagami Source Protection Area

The Clean Water Act, 2006 protects existing and future sources of drinking water.

The Act ensures communities are able to protect their drinking water sources through prevention - by developing collaborative, locally driven, watershed based drinking water source protection plans founded on science. Protecting local drinking water sources is an important first step in ensuring Ontario’s communities are confident in the quality and quantity of their drinking water. Assessment reports and source protection plans are updated from time to time as needed to keep them current.

Amendments to the assessment report and source protection plan

The Mattagami Source Protection Authority prepared the updates to help further protect sources of drinking water and comply with an amended Minister’s order issued May 7, 2018.

The updates include:

• risk assessments for the above-grade handling and storage of fuel as well as liquid hydrocarbon pipelines
• mapping updates to significant groundwater recharge areas
• addition of policies to address liquid hydrocarbon pipelines and establish an administrative process at the municipality for the local risk management official to review Planning Act and building permit applications
• minor administrative amendments to correct the implementation timing of the handing and storage of fuel policy, out of date references, names and typos

The source protection authority completed the updates in accordance with the legislative and regulatory requirements set out in the Minister’s order, CWA, Ontario Regulation 287/07 (General), and Director’s Technical Rules.

The updates take effect upon posting this information notice on the Environmental Registry.

Other public consultation opportunities

The Mattagami Source Protection Authority held consultations while the updates were being developed.

They invited comments from:

• the City of Timmins
• bodies responsible for implementing plan policies, including the Technical Standards and Safety Authority, Ontario Energy Board and National Energy Board
• the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

The source protection authority also held public consultation on the proposed amendments from August 16 to September 19, 2019.

The source protection authority considered comments and made appropriate revisions. We considered comments received as part of the review process.

The approved updates to the Mattagami Assessment Report and Source Protection Plan are available via the link provided in this notice and on the Mattagami source protection website.

Other information

The ministry has concluded that the legislative requirements under the CWA have been met and that comments the source protection authority received during consultation on the assessment report and source protection plan updates have been adequately considered and addressed.

Please see related environmental registry notice 012-1483.