This consultation was open from:
October 24, 2022
to December 8, 2022
Decision summary
We have issued a Renewable Energy Approval to the Town of Petawawa to retrofit an existing water treatment facility to help them turn waste into energy. They will use a process called anaerobic digestion to break down waste and create biogas. This biogas will be used to generate electricity.
Location details
Site address
560 Abbie Lane
Petawawa,
ON
K8H 2X2
Canada
Site location details
Petawawa Water Pollution Control Plant
Site location map
The location pin reflects the approximate area where environmental activity is taking place.
View this location on a map opens link in a new windowProponent(s)
The Corporation of the Town of Petawawa
1111 Victoria Street
Petawawa,
ON
K8H 2E6
Canada
Decision details
A Renewable Energy Approval (REA) has been issued to the Corporation of the Town of Petawawa for the Petawawa Net Zero Project, to engage in a renewable energy project consisting of the construction, installation, operation, use, and retiring of a Class 3 anaerobic digestion facility.
The Petawawa Net Zero Project will transform the existing water pollution control plant into a resource recovery facility.
The project involves:
- upgrading the plant’s existing anaerobic digesters
- improving the digestion efficiency of the plant’s sludge
- allowing wastewater solids and organics from food waste or fats, oils, and grease to be brought into the plant from the Town of Petawawa and neighbouring wastewater plants
- allowing wastewater solids and organics from other organics producers such as:
- breweries
- commercial establishments
- restaurants
Biogas generated through the anaerobic digestion process will be used to produce 200 kW of renewable electricity on site through combined heat and power engines. Emissions discharged to the atmosphere include:
- air
- noise
- odour
The REA requires the applicant to construct, install, operate, use, and retire the facility following specific terms and conditions. The terms and conditions, as summarized below, require the applicant to:
- construct and install the facility following the documentation considered for the issuance of this approval
- notify the ministry prior to a change of ownership
- provide the ministry with any requested information concerning the operation of the facility and allow the ministry to carry out authorized inspections of the facility
- properly decommission the facility upon retirement of the facility
- construct and install the facility within 3 years of the date of the approval
- install and maintain temporary erosion and sediment control measures during construction and conduct inspections following the REA
- prepare a stormwater management plan and a groundwater monitoring plan following the REA
- properly address any archaeological resources discovered
- implement the commitments made in the natural heritage assessment report
- prepare a traffic management plan to be provided to the Town of Petawawa and County of Renfrew and make reasonable efforts to enter into a Road Users Agreement
- prepare an odour management plan following the REA
- ensure the biogas flare system is designed and operated, at all times, with a destruction efficiency of at least 98%,
- comply with the ministry’s noise emission limits at all times
- respond to environmental complaints about the operation of the facility
- comply with the service area, approved organic waste receipt rate and types, and approved storage limitations
- post a sign at the entrance of the facility to ensure the facility’s users, operators, and public are aware of important information and restrictions about the facility
- comply with the specified operating hours of the facility, undertake odour control measures, and ensure rejected waste and waste handling and storage are undertaken in an appropriate manner
- ensure the facility is secured, supervised, and operated by trained personnel
- carry out staff training and prepare an operations manual, comprehensive written inspection program, preventative maintenance program, secondary containment plan, and emergency response and contingency plan
- undertake quality control monitoring of incoming organic waste and ensure all processed material is managed, processed, and disposed of following ministry requirements
- implement nuisance control measures
- maintain records of the operation and maintenance of the equipment and inspections and complaints related to the facility
This renewable energy project was approved according to the requirements of Part V.0.1 of the Environmental Protection Act and Ontario Regulation 359/09.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
135 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 1
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1P5
Canada
How to Appeal
This instrument decision can be appealed. You have 15 days from April 25, 2023 to begin the appeal process.
Carefully review the information below to learn more about the appeal process.
How to appealClick to Expand Accordion
Start the process to appeal
If you’re an Ontario resident, you can appeal this Renewable Energy Approval by submitting a notice of appeal to the Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT).
The ERT usually has to issue their decision within six months of receiving your notice.
Notice of appeal
To appeal this decision you need to do these three things:
- prepare an application
- provide notice to the minister
- mail your application to three parties
1. Prepare your application
You’ll need to prepare an application. You may wish to include the following two things in your application:
1. A document that includes:
- your name, mailing address, phone number and/or email address
- the name and address of anyone representing you
- the ERO number and ministry reference number (located on this page)
- that you’re appealing a decision about a Renewable Energy Approval
- the parts of the Renewable Energy Approval that you’re challenging
- how this project could cause serious harm to human health
- how this project could cause serious and irreversible harm to plant life, animal life or the natural environment
- the issues and facts you plan to present at the hearing
- the outcome you’d like to see
- whether you’ll request that the decision be postponed (i.e. seek a stay)
2. A copy of the decision (i.e. Renewable Energy Approval) that you’re appealing. You’ll find this in the decision notice on the Environmental Registry.
What is considered
The only grounds for appealing a Renewable Energy Approval are that engaging in the project in accordance with the Renewable Energy Approval will either:
- cause serious harm to human health
- cause serious and irreversible harm to plant life, animal life or the natural environment
2. Provide your notice
You’ll need to provide notice to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks that you’re appealing this decision. Please include a brief description of the:
- decision that you wish to appeal
- grounds for your appeal
You can provide notice by email at minister.mecp@ontario.ca or by mail at:
College Park 5th Floor, 777 Bay Street
Toronto, ON
M7A 2J3
3. Mail your application
You’ll need to mail your package 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)
The Corporation of the Town of Petawawa
1111 Victoria Street
Petawawa,
ON
K8H 2E6
Canada
Registrar, Ontario Land Tribunal
655 Bay Street, Suite 1500
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1E5
(416) 212-6349
(866) 448-2248
OLT.Registrar@ontario.ca
Include the following:
This is not legal advice. Please refer to the Environmental Bill of Rights for exact legal requirements. Consult a lawyer if you need help with the appeal process.
Connect with us
Contact
Kendrick Doll
135 St Clair Ave West
1st Floor
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1P5
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
The Town of Petawawa owns the Petawawa Water Pollution Control Plant. The Ontario Clean Water Agency is the operating authority.
This proposed renewable energy project, called the Petawawa Net Zero Project will transform the water pollution control plant into a resource recovery facility.
The project involves:
- upgrading the plant’s existing anaerobic digesters
- improving the digestion efficiency of the plant’s sludge
- allowing additional wastewater solids and organics from food waste or fats, oils and grease to be brought into the plant from the Town of Petawawa and neighbouring wastewater plants
- allowing additional wastewater solids and organics from other organics producers such as:
- breweries
- commercial establishments
- restaurants.
Biogas generated through the anaerobic digestion process will be used to produce renewable energy on site through combined heat and power engines and other beneficial use of biogas.
The project is a Class 3 anaerobic digestion facility and will generate 200 kW of electricity.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
135 St. Clair Avenue West
Floor 1
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1P5
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from October 24, 2022
to December 8, 2022
Connect with us
Contact
Sarah Raetsen
1st Flr, 135 St Clair Ave W
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1P5
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
0By email
0By mail
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