Environment and Climate Change Canada: Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2019

MARCH 7, 2019 – The final publication of the Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2019 (the final regulations) were released in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on March 6 2019.The final regulations come into force on August 24, 2019. Until then, the previous regulations, i.e. the Environmental Emergency Regulations, are in force.

A series of webinars, in both official languages, will be offered on the regulations. Please indicate your interest by completing this form before April 1, 2019.

The final regulations apply to the owner or the person in charge, management or control of a substance listed in schedule 1 of the regulations. When specific quantity or container capacity thresholds are met or exceeded, this person must notify Environment and Climate Change Canada and submit information on the installation and substance concerned. When both the quantity and container capacity reach or exceed the thresholds, the responsible person must prepare, bring into force and periodically exercise an environmental emergency plan (E2 plan).The final regulations add 33 substances to the list of regulated substances. They clarify and strengthen requirements for emergency planning and public notification before, during and after an environmental emergency. The regulations introduce obligations to report periodically on facilities, substances, and E2 plans, as well as to activate the E2 plan in the case of an emergency.For more information related to the Environmental Emergency Program, please visit Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Web site at  https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-emergencies-program.html

Should you have any questions, please communicate with:

Environmental Emergencies Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 Saint Joseph Boulevard, 17th floor
Gatineau, Quebec, K1A 0H3
Email: [email protected]