Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (S.C. 1999, c. 33)

Marginal note:Report to Parliament

184 The Minister shall include in the annual report required by section 342 a report on the administration of this Division.

DIVISION 8Control of Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material and of Prescribed Non-hazardous Waste for Final Disposal

Marginal note:Import, export and transit

• 185 (1) No person shall import, export or convey in transit a hazardous waste or hazardous recyclable material, or prescribed non-hazardous waste for final disposal, except

  • (a) after notifying the Minister and paying the prescribed fee;

  • (b) after receiving from the Minister whichever one of the following permits is applicable:

    • (i) an import permit or export permit that, except in the case of a permit issued under subsection (4), states that the authorities of the country of destination and, if applicable, of the country of transit have authorized the movement, and that the authorities of the jurisdiction of destination have authorized the final disposal or recycling of the waste or material, or

    • (ii) a transit permit that states that the Minister has authorized the movement; and

  • (c) in accordance with the prescribed conditions.

• Marginal note:Refusal to issue permit

  (2) If the Minister is of the opinion that the waste or material will not be managed in a manner that will protect the environment and human health against the adverse effects that may result from that waste or material, the Minister may refuse, in accordance with the criteria set out in the regulations, to issue a permit even if the relevant authorities have given their authorization.

• Marginal note:Consultation with governments

  (3) Before refusing under subsection (2) to issue a permit to import, the Minister shall consult with the government of the jurisdiction of destination.

• Marginal note:Special circumstances to issue permits

  (4) Where the Minister is of the opinion that the waste or material will be managed in a manner that will protect the environment and human health against the adverse effects that may result from that waste or material, the Minister may issue a permit if the relevant authorities inform the Minister that they lack the legal authority to authorize the movement, final disposal or recycling but are not opposed to it.

Marginal note:Prohibitions — import, export and transit

• 186 (1) For the purpose of implementing international agreements respecting the environment, the Minister may, with the approval of the Governor in Council and taking into account Canada’s international obligations, prohibit, completely or partially and under any conditions that may be prescribed, the import, export or transit of waste or material referred to in subsection 185(1).

• Marginal note:Prohibition of abandonment

  (2) No person shall abandon any waste or material referred to in subsection 185(1) in the course of import, export or transit.

Marginal note:Publication

187 After the Minister receives a notification of the proposed import, export or transit of a waste or material referred to in paragraph 185(1)(a), the Minister shall publish in the Canada Gazette, or in any other manner that the Minister considers appropriate, the name or specifications of the waste or material and

• (a) in the case of a proposed import, the name of the jurisdiction of origin and the name of the importer;

• (b) in the case of a proposed export, the name of the jurisdiction of destination and the name of the exporter; and

• (c) in the case of a proposed transit, the names of the jurisdictions of origin and of destination and the name of the conveyor.

Marginal note:Reduction of export for final disposal

• 188 (1) For the purpose of reducing or phasing out the export of hazardous waste or prescribed non-hazardous waste for final disposal, the Minister may require an exporter, or a class of exporters, of hazardous waste to

  • (a) submit to the Minister, at the same time as the notification referred to in paragraph 185(1)(a) and at any other prescribed time, a plan in accordance with the regulations; and

  • (b) implement that plan.

• Marginal note:Declaration of implementation

  (2) Every person who is required to implement a plan under paragraph (1)(b) shall file with the Minister, within 30 days after the completion of each stage of the plan, a written declaration that the implementation has been completed.

• Marginal note:Sanction

  (3) The Minister may refuse to issue a permit to an exporter who does not comply with subsection (1) or (2).

Marginal note:Movement within Canada

• 189 (1) No person shall undertake movement within Canada of hazardous waste or hazardous recyclable material otherwise than in accordance with this Division and the regulations and unless the person pays the prescribed fee.

• Marginal note:Publication

  (2) The Minister shall publish in the Canada Gazette, or in any other manner that the Minister considers appropriate, information derived from documents received under regulations made for the purpose of this section.

Marginal note:Permits based on equivalent environmental safety level

• 190 (1) The Minister may issue a permit authorizing, subject to conditions fixed by the Minister, any activity to be conducted in a manner that does not comply with this Division if the Minister is satisfied that

  • (a) the manner in which the activity will be conducted provides a level of environmental safety at least equivalent to that provided by compliance with this Division; and

  • (b) in the case of the importation, exportation or transit of a waste or material referred to in subsection 185(1), the activity is consistent with international environmental agreements binding on Canada.

• Marginal note:Scope of permit

  (2) The permit may authorize the activity in terms of the persons who may conduct the activity and in terms of the waste and material that it may involve.

• Marginal note:Revocation of permit

  (3) The Minister may revoke the permit if

  • (a) the Minister is of the opinion that paragraph (1)(a) or (b) no longer applies;

  • (b) the regulations have been amended and address the activity authorized by the permit; or

  • (c) the permit holder does not comply with the conditions of the permit.

• Marginal note:Publication

  (4) The Minister shall publish in the Canada Gazette, or in any other manner that the Minister considers appropriate, a copy of each permit issued under this section.

Marginal note:Regulations

191 The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations generally for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Division, including regulations

• (a) defining, for the purposes of this Division and Part 10, words and expressions used in this Division, and providing criteria, testing protocols and standards in relation to those definitions;

• (b) respecting the notification referred to in paragraph 185(1)(a) and the procedure for applying for a permit under this Division;

• (c) establishing criteria for the purpose of subsection 185(2) that take into account obligations arising from international agreements to which Canada is a party;

• (d) for establishing a classification system for waste and material;

• (e) respecting information and documents to be provided to the Minister;

• (f) respecting conditions governing the import, export, transit and movement within Canada of waste and material;

• (g) respecting plans referred to in subsection 188(1), taking into account

  • (i) the benefit of using the nearest appropriate disposal facility, and

  • (ii) changes in the quantity of goods the production of which generates hazardous waste to be disposed of by an exporter or class of exporters; and

• (h) prescribing anything that by this Division is to be prescribed.

Marginal note:Forms

192 The Minister may establish forms for the purposes of this Division.

PART 8Environmental Matters Related to Emergencies

Marginal note:Definitions

193 The definitions in this section apply in this Part.

environmental emergency

environmental emergency means

• (a) an uncontrolled, unplanned or accidental release, or release in contravention of regulations or interim orders made under this Part, of a substance into the environment; or

• (b) the reasonable likelihood of such a release into the environment. (urgence environnementale)

substance

substance means, except in sections 199 and 200.1, a substance on a list of substances established under regulations or interim orders made under this Part. (substance)

Marginal note:Application

194 For the purposes of this Part, any power, duty or function conferred or imposed under this Part may only be exercised or performed in relation to those aspects of an environmental emergency that

• (a) have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment;

• (b) constitute or may constitute a danger to the environment on which human life depends; or

• (c) constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health.

Marginal note:Research

195 Despite subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act, subsection 123(1) and regulations made under paragraphs 93(1)(a), (b), (c) and (d) and 209(2)(a), (b), (c) and (d), the Minister may

• (a) examine and conduct research, including tests, respecting the causes, circumstances and effects of and remedial measures for an environmental emergency; and

• (b) conduct and publicize demonstration projects.

Marginal note:Guidelines and codes of practice

196 The Minister may issue guidelines and codes of practice respecting the prevention of, preparedness for and response to an environmental emergency and for restoring any part of the environment damaged by or during an emergency.

Marginal note:Consultation

• 197 (1) In carrying out the responsibilities conferred by section 196, the Minister shall offer to consult with the government of a province and the members of the Committee who are representatives of aboriginal governments and may consult with a government department or agency, aboriginal people, representatives of industry and labour and municipal authorities or with persons interested in the quality of the environment or environmental emergencies.

• Marginal note:Minister may act

  (2) At any time after the 60th day following the day on which the Minister offers to consult in accordance with subsection (1), the Minister may act under section 196 if the offer to consult is not accepted by the government of a province or members of the Committee who are representatives of aboriginal governments.

Marginal note:Publication of guidelines and codes of practice

198 The Minister shall publish in the Canada Gazette, or in any other manner that the Minister considers appropriate, guidelines and codes of practice issued under section 196 or a notice stating where copies of those documents may be obtained.

Marginal note:Requirements for environmental emergency plans

• 199 (1) The Minister may at any time publish in the Canada Gazette, and in any other manner that the Minister considers appropriate, a notice requiring any person or class of persons described in the notice to prepare and implement an environmental emergency plan respecting the prevention of, preparedness for, response to or recovery from an environmental emergency in respect of

  • (a) a substance or group of substances specified in Part 1 or 2 of the list of toxic substances in Schedule 1; or

  • (b) a substance or group of substances in relation to which there has been published in the Canada Gazette

    • (i) a statement of the Ministers under paragraph 77(6)(b) indicating that the measure that they propose to take, as confirmed or amended, is a recommendation that the substance be added to Part 1 or 2 of the list of toxic substances in Schedule 1, or

    • (ii) a copy of an order proposed to be made under subsection 90(1).

• Marginal note:Contents of notice

  (2) The notice shall specify

  • (a) the substance or group of substances in relation to which the plan is to be prepared;

  • (b) the period within which the plan is to be prepared;

  • (c) the period within which the plan is to be implemented; and

  • (d) any other matter that the Minister considers necessary.

• Marginal note:Extension of time

  (3) Where the Minister is of the opinion that further time is necessary to prepare or implement the plan, the Minister may extend the period for a person who submits a written request before the expiry of the period referred to in the notice or of any extended period.

• Marginal note:Plan prepared or implemented for another purpose

  (4) Subject to subsection (5), where a person who is required to prepare or implement an environmental emergency plan under a notice published under this section has prepared or implemented a plan in respect of environmental emergencies on a voluntary basis or for another government or under another Act of Parliament that meets all or some of the requirements of the notice, the person may use that plan for the purposes of meeting the requirements of this Part and, in that case, the plan shall be considered to be an environmental emergency plan that has been prepared or implemented under this Part.

• Marginal note:Where partial requirements met

  (5) Where a person uses a plan under subsection (4) that does not meet all of the requirements of the notice, the person shall

  • (a) amend the plan so that it meets all of those requirements; or

  • (b) prepare an additional environmental emergency plan that meets the remainder of those requirements.

• Marginal note:Application of provisions re declarations and keeping plans

  (6) Sections 58 and 59 apply to environmental emergency plans, with any modifications that the circumstances require, as if any reference to a pollution prevention plan were read as a reference to an environmental emergency plan.

• Marginal note:Submission of plans

  (7) The Minister may publish in the Canada Gazette, and in any other manner that the Minister considers appropriate, a notice requiring any person or class of persons described in the notice who are required to prepare or implement an environmental emergency plan under subsection (1) or section 291 or under an agreement in respect of environmental protection alternative measures to submit, within the period specified by the Minister, the plan or any part of the plan.