Introduction

This document is designed to help organizations understand their obligations when required under Section 56 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) to prepare and implement a pollution prevention (P2) plan. It describes, in a question and answer format, how the provisions under Part 4 of CEPA 1999 are administered and what affected parties must do. Other documents that may be of interest to you include Guidelines for the Implementation of the Pollution Prevention Planning Provisions of Part 4 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) and the Pollution Prevention Planning Handbook. Please refer to the inside front cover of this document for information on how to obtain a copy of these documents.

Questions Answered in This Document

1. What is a pollution prevention (P2) plan?
2. How will I know if I have to prepare and implement a P2 plan?
3. How much time will I have to prepare and implement the P2 plan?
4. What if I need more time?
5. May I use a P2 plan prepared for another purpose?
6. May I use the same P2 plan to address more than one substance?
7. What information must the P2 plan contain?
8. What information must I submit?
9. When will I have to submit the P2 plan itself?
10. Under what circumstances will the Minister require submission of a P2 plan?
11. May I apply for a waiver of one or more of the "factors to consider" in the Section 56 Canada Gazette Notice?
12. Who must sign submitted declarations, interim progress reports, and waiver and extension forms?
13. What information will the public and other interested parties have access to?
14. How do I deal with confidential business information?
15. Where do I have to keep the P2 plan?
16. Will Environment Canada Enforcement Officers look at the P2 plan?
17. What are the penalties for non-compliance?
18. Where can I get advice on preparing P2 plans?

CEPA defines pollution prevention as "the use of processes, practices, materials, products, substances or energy that avoid or minimize the creation of pollutants and waste and reduce the overall risk to the environment or human health."