Interim Implementation Guidelines for CEPA Part 8, Section 199, Authorities for Requiring Environmental Emergency Plans

Part 8 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA); Environmental Matters Related to Emergencies, is new and provides the Minister of the Environment with various authorities. Section 199 represents one of the important components of this comprehensive emergencies management framework and will assist in reducing gaps in or between federal and provincial legislation for the prevention of, preparedness for, response to and recovery from an environmental emergency.

Subsection 199(1) of the CEPA authorizes the Minister of the Environment to require the preparation and implementation of environmental emergency plans for:

• substances on the List of Toxic Substances (Schedule 1 of the CEPA); or
• substances determined by the Ministers of the Environment and Health to be toxic under the CEPA and recommended or ordered to be added to the List of Toxic Substances.

The Minister will use these authorities to require environmental emergency plans to complement other existing or forthcoming risk management measures (e.g., regulations, guidelines) for CEPA-toxic substances. The requirement for environmental emergency plans will be determined using a risk assessment approach. These guidelines describe how Environment Canada intends to administer section 199.

You are invited to provide comments on the revised version of the Interim Implementation Guidelines for CEPA Part 8, Section 199 - Authorities for Requiring Environmental Emergency Plans by June 16, 2000.

Comments may be submitted electronically to:

environmental.emergencies@ec.gc.ca

Comments can also be submitted in writing to:

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