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
