Amendment to Renewable Energy Approval (REA) No. 4501-9VJK3N for the Toronto Zoo Anaerobic Digester Project

On December 7, 2022, we amended Renewable Energy Approval No. 4501-9VJK3N issued to ZooShare Biogas Development Inc., as general partner for and on behalf of ZooShare Biogas LP (ZooShare). This amendment is a technical change and involves the following:

• reference to an updated Acoustic Assessment Report that ZooShare was required to prepare due to the noise sources (number of sources, locations and sound power levels) changing from the noise sources identified in the original Renewable Energy Approval
• require ZooShare to undertake a new acoustic audit of the facility to confirm that the facility is meeting the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks’ (ministry’s) noise limits
• at ZooShare’s request, amend the Renewable Energy Approval to update the ministry’s metals sampling frequency for incoming organic waste as the ministry’s metals sampling requirements for organic waste have changed since the original Renewable Energy Approval was issued

Acoustic assessment report

The Renewable Energy Approval issued on August 27, 2015 required ZooShare to:

• undertake acoustic audit measurements on the actual noise emissions from the operation of the facility
• submit an acoustic audit report six months after the start of operations

On August 16, 2021, ZooShare submitted an interim acoustic audit report to the ministry, as the audit that was completed determined that an updated Acoustic Assessment Report would be required to:

• address additional noise sources at the facility and an additional point of reception that were not anticipated at the time the original Renewable Energy Approval was issued
• refine the assessment criteria as warranted by zoning status and background sound

A ministry noise review engineer has reviewed the Acoustic Assessment Report and confirmed that the facility can meet the ministry’s noise limits.

The amendment will require ZooShare to:

• carry out an acoustic audit
• submit an acoustic audit report within 12 months after the date the amendment is issued

Requiring an acoustic audit will provide additional confirmation that the facility is meeting the ministry’s noise limits.

Metals sampling frequency of incoming organic waste

ZooShare’s August 27, 2015 Renewable Energy Approval required them to undertake quarterly sampling and analysis of the metal content in the organic waste received at the facility.

In 2019, the ministry adopted an updated metals sampling frequency for incoming organic waste as the ministry became aware that the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) had more stringent metal limits for the incoming organic waste at regulated mixed anaerobic digestion facilities under the Nutrient Management Act – Ontario Regulation 267/03.

Since OMAFRA’s limits were more stringent than the ministry’s limits and the majority of the digestate from ministry approved anaerobic digestion facilities is also land applied on agricultural lands, the ministry decided to adopt OMAFRA’s limits. In addition to the limits, the ministry noticed that Ontario Regulation 267/03 had a different sampling frequency, which the ministry also adopted.

This amendment will update ZooShare’s sampling requirements to the ministry’s current standard conditions for anaerobic digestion facilities. These conditions require the owner to sample all new incoming wastes for metals preceding its first time receipt at the facility.

Following the initial characterisation of the incoming waste, the owner is required to sample every 1,000 m³ or once a year, whichever comes first, provided the waste is of the same type and is from the same source.

If, after the first year of sampling the results are consistent, the sampling can be reduced to annually unless there are any process changes, operational issues or other factors which may affect the quality of the waste.

No new environmental effects are expected as a result of these changes beyond those that were previously identified, documented and consulted on through the Renewable Energy Approval process. Amending the Renewable Energy Approval to update the Acoustic Assessment Report and the metals sampling frequency for incoming organic waste is considered a technical change.

Re-confirmation letters from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport are not required because the change did not result in relocating any project components beyond the project location that was already assessed.

This Class 3 anaerobic digestion facility, known as the Toronto Zoo Anaerobic Digester Project, is located at 1749A Meadowvale Road in the City of Toronto.

Third party hearing provisions

Any resident of Ontario may require a hearing by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) within 15 days after the date this decision is loaded to the Environmental Registry by written notice served upon all of the following:

Appellate body

In response to COVID-19, all in-person service counters are closed until further notice. Where possible, please use email to contact the OLT:

Document Submission: OLT.Registrar@ontario.ca

General Inquiries: OLT.General.Inquiry@ontario.ca

Telephone Contact Hours: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday
Tel: (416) 212-6349 or toll free (866) 448-2248
TTY: (800) 855-1155 via Bell relay

If submitting in hard copy, applications should be addressed to:

Ontario Land Tribunal
655 Bay Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, ON M5G 1E5

Issuing authority

Mohsen Keyvani, P. Eng.
Director, Section 47.5, Environmental Protection Act
Environmental Permissions Branch
135 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 1
Toronto Ontario
M4V 1P5
Phone: 416-432-7253
Toll Free Phone: (800) 461-6290
Email: enviropermissions@ontario.ca

Proponent

ZooShare Biogas Development Inc., as general partner for and on behalf of ZooShare BioGas LP
c/o Daniel Bida
150 John Street
7th Floor
Toronto, ON M5V 3E3
Email: daniel@zooshare.ca

An applicant for a hearing shall state in the notice requiring the hearing:

1. A description of how engaging in the renewable energy project in accordance with the renewable energy approval will cause either:
   • serious harm to human health
   • serious and irreversible harm to plant life, animal life or the natural environment
2. The portion of the renewable energy approval in respect of which the hearing is required.
3. The relief sought.

Further information is provided on the OLT’s website at:

https://olt.gov.on.ca/about-olt/