Chapter 2: Environmental Laws (Regulations and Standards) Flashcards
How are environmental laws enacted in Canada?
By the federal government, municipal governments, provincial, and territorial governments.
When can municipal governments enact environmental law? What areas do they legislate locally in?
Under authority delegated by provincial or territorial legislatures. They also legislate
locally in specific environmental areas such as noise and sewer use.
On what level of government does environmental protection primarily fall under?
The jurisdiction of provincial governments
Name key federal laws relating to the protection of the environment.
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999.
- Fisheries Act.
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act 1992.
- Species at Risk Act.
- Migratory Birds Convention Act 1994.
- Nuclear Safety and Control Act.
- Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA).
- In BC, the principal environmental statute is the Environmental
Management Act, administered by the British Columbia
Ministry of the Environment.
What are two general approaches to regulation development?
- Environmental quality (receptor) based regulations
- Emission source and technology based regulations
What are the advantages of environmental quality objectives?
- Based on the scientific knowledge on what the environment will tolerate
- Environment itself is held paramount
What are the disadvantages of environmental quality objectives?
- Hard to consider all aspects of every receiving environment.
- Different tolerance of receiving environments
- Knowledge might be limited
- Regulations change frequently as science evolves; hence, hard to administer the
moving targets
What are ambient air quality objectives based on?
Observed human symptoms and
effects on vegetation, materials and
visibility.
What are the 3 levels of Canada’s national air quality objectives?
Desirable, acceptable and tolerable.
Briefly explain the maximum desirable objectives for Canada’s national air quality objectives.
The maximum desirable objectives are a long-term goal for
air quality.
Briefly explain the maximum acceptable objectives for Canada’s national air quality objectives.
The maximum acceptable objectives provide
protection against harmful effects on soil, water, vegetation, materials, animals, visibility, personal comfort and well-being.
Briefly explain the maximum tolerable objectives for Canada’s national air quality objectives.
The maximum tolerable objectives are concentrations that
require abatement action immediately to prevent deterioration
of air quality that endangers the Canadian life style
or threatens public health.
What are environmental quality objectives based on?
An ecosystem approach
What are environmental quality objectives?
Desirable or tolerable levels of substances in the ecosystem that are
determined through environmental impact studies.
What are two characteristics identified and assigned in environmental quality objectives?
-Permissible total loading of substances
-Discharge limits
What has the been the impact of assigning contributing sources discharge limits?
It has resulted in the development of pollution credits
What is an air quality index?
A dimensionless index scale that converts pollutant concentrations to convey the air quality to
general public.
How does the Canadian air quality index (AQI) work?
-0 to 25 corresponding to 0 to maximum desirable
-50 corresponding to maximum acceptable
-100 corresponding to maximum tolerable
How does the US pollutant standard index (PSI) work?
-0 to 50 corresponding to AAM standard
-100 corresponding to 24 hr average standard
What is the status of water and wastewater regulations in Canada at the federal level?
There is no federally enforceable standard or regulation
on water or wastewater.
Canada is one of the few developed countries that have guidelines
in lieu of regulations.
What is the purpose of the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality (GCDWQ)?
The guideline provides direction concerning Maximum
Allowable Concentrations (MACs) for:
- Microbial characteristics,
- Chemical and radiological characteristics, and
- Aesthetic quality
What is the responsibility of each Canadian province regarding water regulatory standards?
Each province is responsible to adopt and enforce
its own regulatory standards
What have Ontario and Alberta adopted in terms of water provinicial standards?
ONTARIO and ALBERTA adopted the GCDWQ as
their standard
What has BC adopted in terms of provincial water standards?
British Columbia has taken the
Microbial Characteristics of the GCDWQ as the
standard
What factors need to be considered in the establishment of
emission standards:
-Technical feasibility and economical feasibility
– Monitoring stations to measure actual emissions and ambient air
quality
– Enforcement by local authorities
– Need to establish synergistic effects of the different pollutants
involved on the environment and health
– Dispersion modeling may be necessary for many urban areas
– A fairly accurate estimate of future status (growth or decline) of the
industry and population within the region
What are the atmospheric CO2 objectives for limiting global temperature rise?
450 ppm scenario: No more than 1.5 oC rise from the
pre-industrial levels;
- 500 ppm scenario: No more than 2.0 oC rise from the
pre-industrial levels.
What are the characteristics of source-based regulations for emission standards and permits?
- Do not consider environmental quality
- The regulatory limits that apply to each and every
source depend on the nature of the source - Often devised from consideration of best
available technology (BAT)
Why are air emission standards enacted?
To regulate the
emission from industrial sources in order to ensure
local ambient air quality
What influences the transport and dispersion of air pollutants emitted by point and area sources?
Meteorological conditions
Name the agreements that Canada has signed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
- Kyoto Accord
- Copenhagen Accord
- Paris Agreement
- Kigali Amendment to the
Montreal Protocol
What is the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change
In 2016, all Canadian jurisdictions
were to implement carbon pricing mechanisms at least as
stringent as a new national benchmark.
- Provincial and territorial governments can choose to price carbon emissions through a tax or levy, or implement a cap and trade system.
The Framework establishes a minimum carbon price of
$10 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in
2018, rising by $10 per year to reach $50 per tonne of
CO2ein 2022.
What is the purpose of the BC carbon tax?
Government policy aimed at reducing
GHG emissions in Canada
How does the nation-wide carbon pricing work for individuals and businesses?
For individuals and businesses with relatively
small emissions, the carbon levy is applied to liquid and gaseous fuels at the
point of purchase.
How does the financial scaling of BC’s carbon tax work?
Beginning at $10/t CO2-eq emission (2018) and rising by
$10/t each year to $50/t CO2-eq (2022); further increase by $15/t each
year to reach $170/t CO2-eq by 2030.
Who does the output-based carbon pricing system apply to?
For big industrial emitters
What carbon pricing mechanisms do most Canadian provinces and territories adopt, and how do BC, QC, and NS differ in their approach?
-Most provinces and territories adopt the federal carbon levy and the output-based system.
-British Columbia (BC) has a somewhat different carbon levy.
-Quebec (QC) and Nova Scotia (NS) use a cap-and-trade system.
What are the objectives of British Columbia’s carbon tax?
-Signal across the economy to reduce emissions.
-Encourage sustainable economic activity.
-Promote investment in low-carbon innovation.
What does BC’s carbon tax apply to?
The purchase and use of fossil fuels.
Approximately 70% of provincial greenhouse gas emissions.
What is the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)?
Legislation that regulates management of hazardous
waste recycling and disposal.
What is the division of responsibility for managing and reducing waste in Canada?
In Canada, the responsibility for managing and reducing
waste is shared among federal, provincial, territorial and
municipal governments.
How are environmental quality objectives set?
They are based on the impacts of specific pollutants on the
environment and human beings.
Why are environmental laws enacted by federal and
provincial government?
To protect the
environment and human health
What are emission standards based on?
The best
technology available and the economics of
implementation.
What is the purpose of air quality objectives?
To protect the local environment and provide ambient air quality standards
What is the purpose of climate quality objectives.
To protect the global environment and prevent 450 ppm or 1.5 oC temperature rise.
What are the three components of air emission standards?
- Regional and sector emission
standards (companies)
– Local standards and local impacts
– Local emission fees (companies)
What are the three components of GHG emission standards?
-Cap (Maximum allowed emissions)
and trade (companies)
– Local standards and global impacts (Ex. low carbon fuel standards)
– Carbon tax (consumers)
What is the application of wastewater effluent regulations under the Fisheries Act?
Regulations would be applicable to all land-based wastewater
systems that discharge effluent to surface water
Why are permissible total loading of substances identified?
To prevent ecosystem levels from exceeding objectives
Why are all contributing sources assigned discharge limits?
So that the sum inputs are less than or equal to the permissible environmental loading.
What does PEL stand for?
Permissible exposure limit
What does REL stand for?
Recommended exposure limit
What does IDLH stand for?
Immediately dangerous to life
What does TLV-TWA stand for?
Threshold limit value-time-weighted average
What does TLV-STEL stand for?
Threshold limit value short-term exposure limit
What are the types of indoor air quality standards?
-Permissible exposure limit,
-Recommended exposure limit
-Immediately dangerous to life
-Threshold limit-value-time-weighted average
-Short-term exposure limit (threshold limit value)
-Ceiling (threshold limit value)
What is the measurement for permissible exposure limit?
Time-weighted
average and ceiling
What is the measurement for the recommended exposure limit?
Time-weighted
average and ceiling
What is the measurement for “immediately dangerous to life”
The maximum level
What is the measurement for the short-term exposure limit?
15-minute time weighted average
What is the measurement for the threshold limit value-time-weighted average?
8-hr work day and
40-hr work week
What is the measurement for ceiling (indoor air quality standards)?
Instantaneously
Which air quality standards are under the ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists?
- Permissible exposure
limit - Threshold limit value time-weighted average
- Short-term exposure
limit - Ceiling
Which air quality standards is the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
responsible for?
- Recommended
exposure limit - Immediately dangerous
to life
What was Canada’s commitment to the Kyoto Accord?
Kyoto Accord, Canada committed to reducing greenhouse
gas emissions by 6% below 1990 levels by 2012.
What was Canada’s committment to the Copenhagen Accord?
Canada committed to reducing its
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 17% from 2005
levels by 2020.
What was Canada’s committment to the Paris Agreement
Canada ratified the 2015 Paris
Agreement, thereby agreeing to a reduction in GHG
emissions of 30% from 2005 levels by 2030.
What was Canada’s committment to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol
Canada is moving forward with regulatory
measures to phase-out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
What is the economic and technological impact of the BC carbon tax?
The carbon tax provides a signal across the economy to reduce emissions while encouraging
sustainable economic activity and investment in low-carbon innovation.
What is the purpose of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act?
CEPA was enacted to
prevent pollution and protect the environment and human.
What are municipal governments responsible when it comes to waste management and reduction?
Municipal
governments manage the collection, recycling,
composting, and disposal of household waste
What are provincial and territorial authorities responsible for when it comes to solid waste?
Establish waste
reduction policies and programs, approve and monitor
waste management facilities and operations.
