Site-Specific Noise Standard for Salit Steel's Niagara Falls Facility

Steel manufacturing and products are a fundamental part of Ontario’s economy that supply other essential sectors, such as manufacturing, infrastructure, transportation and energy. We continue to support Ontario businesses and workers by looking for ways to reduce regulatory burden and costs while maintaining strong environmental protections.

To provide more certainty for businesses and municipalities so they can grow, together, in a sustainable way, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) is proposing a regulatory amendment that would provide consistent site-specific sound level limits for noise emissions from the Salit Steel facility located in Niagara Falls. These sound level limits would balance the operational requirements of industry with the need to build more homes in the province. The ministry would continue to ensure Salit Steel meets provincial sound level limits that are protective of the local community.

The proposal would amend Ontario Regulation 1/17 (Air Emissions Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR) regulation) under the Environmental Protection Act to revise the applicable limits for noise emissions from Salit Steel’s facility located at 7771 Stanley Avenue in Niagara Falls. The new limits would be the Class 4 area sound level limits at sensitive receptors within 500 metres of the facility, which would increase the existing sound level limits by 5-10 decibels. This sound level limit already applies to some of the surrounding residential developments. The proposed site-specific limits would better reflect the current mix of industry and residences in the area without affecting ongoing facility operations.

Class 4 area sound level limits and additional proposal details

Sound level limits that industrial facilities must meet for noise emissions are based on the class of nearby areas. Classes of areas and their applicable sound level limits are described under the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry - limits and other requirements for activities with air emissions (EASR publication) and the Environmental Noise Guideline (NPC-300).

This proposal would result in the province providing a consistent area subject to the Class 4 area sound level limits around the Salit Steel facility for both existing and new residential uses. This area would be 500 metres around the facility as measured from the boundaries of the properties on which the facility currently operates. Outside that area, the usual classifications of areas and corresponding sound level limits in the EASR publication would continue to apply.

The proposed sound level limits would apply on the day that the regulation comes into effect and continue to apply regardless of whether the facility changes or expands its operations in the future. As a result, the proposal would provide compliance certainty to Salit Steel to enable ongoing and future operations, and certainty to residents that the facility will continue to meet Class 4 area sound level limits.

If the proposal is implemented, municipal decisions on nearby proposed residential developments would continue to consider the need to incorporate appropriate measures that consider the site-specific sound level limits, such as requiring at-receptor mitigation and noise warnings on property title. This would improve land use compatibility in the area for the existing industry and any future residential developments.

Additional Background on Salit Steel

Salit Steel has a steel finishing facility that has operated in Niagara Falls since 1967. The facility was first constructed in an undeveloped, predominately industrial area which has been redeveloped into residential communities over time. Additional residential developments also continue to be proposed in proximity to the facility.

The ministry has been working with Salit Steel since 2016 to take appropriate actions to address complaints and minimize noise impacts. While Salit Steel has already taken significant action, the facility would not be able to meet current noise limits due to the nature of operations. 

Regulatory Impact Analysis Summary

This proposal would enable Salit Steel’s facility to be in regulatory compliance with the proposed sound limits without the need to incur costs to implement additional mitigation to address noise emissions for current operations or potential expanded operations up to the site-specific limits.