6.1 Procedures and information requirements to determine financial assurance

This Section presents steps, procedures, concepts and information requirements to determine amounts of financial assurance to be provided to the Ministry for various types of orders, approvals, activities, sites and facilities.

6.1.1 Sections 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4 specify activities and cost items that should be included to determine the amount of financial assurance required. Procedures to calculate financial assurance amounts consist of two broad approaches:

  1. Procedures for projects where the planning period of an order or approval is less than four full years or when there is no known future date for closure, clean-up or remediation expenditures, are presented in Sections 6.5 and 6.6 (No discounting).
  2. Procedures for projects where the planning period of an order or approval is four full years or longer, or when there is a known future date for closure, clean-up or remediation expenditures, are presented in Sections 6.7 and 6.8 (Discounting).

Section 6.9 provides further information regarding the use of financial assurance by owners or operators. Finally, Section 6.10 discusses conditions and procedures which might reduce the amount of financial assurance required by some regulated parties. Further information and guidance relevant to the computation of costs and financial assurance amounts may be found in Appendix A.

6.1.2 Procedures presented in this Guideline incorporate the requirements and procedures found in Ontario Regulation 232/98 - Landfilling Sites which generally applies to new or expanding sites after 1998 and Regulation 352 - Mobile PCB Destruction Facilities. Reference should be made to these regulations for definitive language.

6.1.3 Further information and guidance are provided in Appendix A: Compliance Cost Items to Estimate the Amount of financial assurance Required for Specific Orders, Approvals, Facilities and Activities, and Appendix G: List of Planned Landfill Closures and Post-Closure Care Activities. Appendix H presents an example of financial assurance calculations for a typical landfill site based on the procedures required under Ontario Regulation 232/98.

6.2 Least-cost methods of compliance to satisfy conditions in orders or approvals may be used to determine financial assurance amounts

6.2.1 Where more than one method or technique exists to achieve the specified conditions, tasks, requirements or objectives in an order or approval, the amount of financial assurance required may be based on the least-cost option which is environmentally acceptable regardless of which method is actually chosen by the proponent. For example,

  1. If a landfill is progressively closed and capped as each cell is filled, the amount of financial assurance for closure would only be required for the final active area of the site, not the entire site area. However, financial assurance for post-closure maintenance and monitoring should be based on the entire filled area of the site; and
  2. If hazardous wastes must be cleaned up and removed from a site, these wastes can either be destroyed in a plasma arc furnace or sent to a licensed landfill for disposal. However, the least-cost disposal approach should be used for estimating the amount of financial assurance.

6.2.2 Although the regulated party is permitted to calculate financial assurance amounts based on the least-cost option to provide environmental protection, there may be technical or environmental reasons why a more expensive option should be applied at a particular site rather than the least-cost option. If a more expensive option is required, Ministry staff must provide written reasons for this requirement in the file.

6.2.3 Financial assurance for all types of facilities must be updated periodically to reflect any changes in site conditions or requirements in the order or approval. For example, certificates of approval for landfills usually have a condition that requires financial assurance to be updated at least every three years or as otherwise specified by the Program Director.

6.3 Amounts of financial assurance are based on costs of activities to comply with conditions and requirements in an order, approval or regulation

6.3.1 Examples of compliance cost items include:

  1. Costs of planned site closure, post-closure care and maintenance and potential contingency actions for privately owned landfills which are specified in Ontario Regulation 232/98 or in terms and conditions of an approval;
  2. Capital and operating costs of abatement or prevention technologies and systems to reduce air or water pollution releases to comply with an order; and
  3. One-time capital and annual operating costs of private water and sewage treatment works which do not have municipal commitments to take over operation of the facility.

6.3.2 Definitions of key terms are listed below. A glossary of other terms relevant to financial assurance is found in Appendix J.

  1. Cost or a cost item may be a one-time (capital) expenditure or it may be a recurring annual operating expenditure.
  2. One-time cost items refer to capital costs or consulting services which are incurred usually once during the planning period. One-time costs include the costs of equipment, installation of machinery and equipment, construction of buildings and other site improvements. Other one-time costs include contract services, architect services, design and engineering, construction or installation costs, laboratory testing, project management fees, etc.
  3. Recurring costs refer to costs associated with the operation, maintenance and monitoring of equipment, buildings and the site, including the costs for labour, materials, ongoing consultant services, etc.
  4. Contaminating life span of a landfill is the period of time, after closure, in years, from the expected year of closure until the site finally produces contaminants at concentrations that are below levels which have unacceptable health or environmental effects.
  5. Operating period of a landfill is the period from the first day of operation until the day that the landfill site closes.
  6. Planning period depends on the type of order or approval. Planning periods for a landfill consist of the time between the day the site starts receiving waste until the end of the contaminating life span. For waste processing or transfer facilities, the planning period extends from the day that the Ministry issues an approval for the facility until the day that the site has completed all required clean-up and remediation procedures. The planning period of an order to implement abatement projects, extends from the day that the Ministry issues an order until the day that all compliance actions are completed to the satisfaction of the Director.
  7. Forms of financial assurance include standard, non-standard or unacceptable forms. Definitions and examples of the forms can be found in Appendix J. financial assurance may also be classified as either cash or non-cash forms. Forms are discussed in Section 5.

6.3.3 The amount of financial assurance should be based on the expected one-time and recurring costs of each compliance activity specified in relevant regulations or in specific orders or approvals over the intended planning period. For example,

  1. The costs of cleaning up and disposing of residues from a potential spill and the rehabilitation of a potential spill site, if applicable;
  2. The one-time costs of removal, hauling and disposal of all of the waste materials being generated, processed or stored at a site;
  3. The estimated one-time (capital) costs and long-term recurring maintenance costs (including monitoring, treatment, storage or security) of decommissioning a contaminated site or facility;
  4. Management, supervisory, administrative and any other similar costs. Normally, these costs are expressed as a percentage of one-time and/or recurring costs. Evidence or references to verify the percentage or an alternate estimation procedure used should be provided; and
  5. Contingency costs are budgeted for uncertain or unknown events or occurrences that would force a facility or owner to incur unplanned costs. Contingencies may also refer to cost items that are known but have a low probability of being incurred.
    1. Contingency costs may be expressed as recurring or one-time costs for unexpected construction, operation, maintenance and replacement of works. Where explicit estimates are not available, contingency costs may be estimated as 10 to 15% of total one-time and recurring costs, by all regulated parties except for landfill sites. Contingency costs must be required in a condition in the approval or order.
    2. For new or expanded landfill sites installed after 1998, the amount of financial assurance for contingencies shall be determined in accordance with the formula given in Ontario Regulation 232/98. For all other landfill sites, the amount of financial assurance for contingencies shall be determined by the Program Director on a case by case basis.
    3. Where financial assurance for contingency costs has been provided in a non-cash form (e.g., letter of credit, surety bond), Ministry staff should review the conditions of the approval or order at the time that the landfill site is closed to determine if there are any reasons why the non-cash form should be converted to cash and deposited in the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
    4. Financial Assurance for contingency costs may be used by the Program Director to pay expenses related to any planned or unplanned closure of the site or to the post-closure care of the site, if the owner fails, on direction from the Program Director, to perform the work to cover the expenses.

6.4 Financial assurance proposals

6.4.1 Financial assurance Proposals contain written estimates of the capital, other one-time costs and annual recurring costs associated with each project, activity or facility for which financial assurance is required. The regulated party must provide this information with reference to Appendix A. The proposal should be mandated by a condition in an approval or an order.

6.4.2 Whether a new submission or an update of an existing financial assurance account, the financial assurance Proposal must include:

  1. Facility specifications (as discussed in Table H1 in Appendix H) including, but not restricted to the:
    1. planning period over which financial assurance will be required. There are no predetermined minimum or maximum time periods for which financial assurance should be required;
    2. first year of operation or commencement of project;
    3. anticipated year of closure or project completion;
    4. contaminating life span of a landfill (a minimum of 25 years);
    5. maximum allowable volume of waste on site, if a landfill;
    6. volume of unprocessed and usable (processed) secondary materials on site of a transfer station or waste processing facility;
    7. maximum allowable quantities of processed and unprocessed waste;
    8. total area or footprint of site or facility and the area that financial assurance is being submitted for, if not the same as the total area; and
    9. annual fill rates of a landfill.
  2. Clear explanations of all sources of data and assumptions used in estimates and computations, include, but are not restricted to:
    1. a list of all compliance activities and conditions for which costs will be estimated;
    2. unit or sized costs of different activities;
    3. estimation procedures and steps;
    4. references for all data sources;
    5. worked examples of all computations;
    6. estimation error ranges (i.e., +/− %) for each cost item; and
    7. expected variations in recurring and capital costs over time.
  3. The amount of financial assurance to be provided, the form it is to be provided in (e.g., cash, letter of credit, surety bond, etc.) and the dates that it is to be provided to the Ministry.

6.4.3 Where estimates of many cost items are provided in tables depicting long periods of time, regulated parties should provide tables electronically in spreadsheet formats (either Microsoft Excel or Corel Quattro Pro accepted) with all formulas accessible and active. Please refer to Appendix H for further details.

6.4.4 All data and estimates provided in the financial assurance Proposal will be reviewed to ensure:

  1. Reasonableness;
  2. Completeness, in that all activities and associated costs have been included in the submission to address the conditions or terms of an order or approval;
  3. Appropriateness of financial parameters (inflation and discount rates); and
  4. Accuracy of computations.

6.4.5 If a financial assurance Proposal with required cost estimates and proposed financial assurance amounts is not submitted with a new approval application, the application should be returned to the regulated party.

6.4.6 If an updated/revised financial assurance Proposal for an existing account is not submitted within the required time period, e.g., 3 to 5 years depending on the type of facility, Ministry staff may initiate appropriate enforcement actions to elicit submission of a new financial assurance Proposal.

6.4.7 If an existing operator refuses to provide a financial assurance Proposal and/or the required financial assurance amount as per an order or approval, Ministry staff must initiate appropriate enforcement actions.

6.5 Estimating financial assurance when the planning period is less than four years or when there is no known future date for closure, clean-up or remediation expenditures (no discounting)

6.5.1 The following types of activities and facilities from Section 4 would normally have planning periods of less than four years and/or the future date for closure, clean-up or remediation expenditures is not known:

  1. Private transfer stations and private waste processing sites (Section 6.5.5);
  2. Private waste management (haulage) systems which carry wastes (Section 6.5.6);
  3. Private used tire storage or disposal facilities which contain more than 5,000 tire units (refer to Section 6.5.5 and A.3 in Appendix A);
  4. Regulation 352 - Mobile PCB Destruction Facilities (Section 6.5.7);
  5. PCB storage sites established in accordance with written Director’s instructions under Regulation 362 - Waste Management – PCBs. The financial assurance procedures also apply to other waste materials stored on site (Section 6.5.8);
  6. Approvals under section 53, OWRA including private communal sewage systems and sewage works in unorganized or organized areas without a municipal government agency agreement to take over the system (Section 6.5.9);
  7. Approvals under section 9, EPA (Section 6.5.10);
  8. Approvals for operations which discharge into surface waters subject to section 53, OWRA (Section 6.5.11);
  9. Permits to take water under section 34, OWRA (Section 6.5.12);
  10. Orders to undertake industrial abatement programs under section 18, EPA (Section 6.5.13);
  11. Orders to require decommissioning and remediation of contaminated sites (Section 6.5.14); and
  12. Orders involving storage of subject wastes under Regulation 347 (Section 6.5.15).

6.5.2 When computing financial assurance for these types of facilities and activities, costs required to comply with all conditions and requirements in an order or approval should not be discounted.

6.5.3 Financial assurance for these types of activities or facilities may include contingency costs. Contingency costs may be explicit estimates of one-time or recurring cost elements or they can be estimates of between e.g., 10 to 15%. Reasons should be entered in the file if contingency costs are not required.

6.5.4 Upon request, financial assurance for these activities or cases may be returned or reduced dollar for dollar as the project is completed and the regulated party provides evidence that money has been spent and that part of the financial assurance is not required in respect of the works.

6.5.5 Private transfer stations and private waste processing sites (See also A.1 in Appendix A)

6.5.5.1 Financial assurance to be provided for these facilities is equal to the total cost of removing, transporting and disposing of any materials left on site if the owners or operators cease operations for any reason and could not, or would not, clean up the site.

6.5.5.2 The amount of financial assurance required is equal to:

  1. 100% of the cost of loading, hauling and disposing of all the material to a licensed disposal facility; plus
  2. 100% of the cost of site remediation activities such as construction of a security fence if the site is abandoned; plus
  3. Contingency cost = 10 to 15% of the total removal, disposal and remediation activities.

6.5.5.3 Financial assurance for these facilities may be computed with the following formula:

FA = [(MW × %1 × UC1L) + (MW × %1 × UC1H) + (MW × %1 × UC1D) + (MW × %2 × UC2L) + (MW × %2 × UC2H) + (MW × %2 + UC2D) + (MW × %n × UCnL) + (MW × %n × UCnH) + (MW × %n × UCnD)] + [REM] + [CON]

where,

FA
Financial assurance
MW
Maximum allowable waste for site
%1, 2, …, n
Per cent of different types of waste (1, 2, 3, …, n) that may be subject to different costs
UCnL, H, D
Unit Cost of Loading, Hauling or Disposal for each type of waste, 1, 2, 3, …, n
REM
Other remediation costs such as fences, building demolition
CON
Contingency costs or (Loading + Hauling + Disposal + REM costs) × (10…15% depending on uncertainty of other cost estimates)

6.5.5.4 If conditions in the certificate of approval require actions to prevent potential off-site contamination arising from operation of the site, the costs of these actions should be estimated. It would be prudent to obtain financial assurance for these actions until the owner provides evidence that the actions have been completed.

6.5.5.5 Financial assurance for the above-noted cost items should be obtained by the Program Director before the commencement of operations or as otherwise required by the Program Director.

6.5.6 Private waste management (haulage) systems which carry wastes (See also A.2 in Appendix A)

6.5.6.1 Financial assurance should be provided by haulers of biomedical and PCB wastes. Haulers of any other waste material which satisfy one or more of the criteria in Section 4.4 paragraph a) should also provide financial assurance in order to pay for potential costs such as the clean-up and disposal of contaminated soil or debris from a spill or fire. As per the Guide for Applying for Approval of a Waste Management System, which may be obtained from the Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch of the Ministry of the Environment, a financial assurance amount of at least $50,000 is required for biomedical waste haulers and at least $100,000 is required for PCB haulers. The procedures and input data for arriving at these predetermined dollar amounts should be reviewed every five years by staff to assess sufficiency.

6.5.6.2 For haulers of any other material for which financial assurance may be required, the amount should be equal to 100% of the estimated costs of cleaning up, hauling away and disposing of debris and contaminated soil from a spill or upset involving the largest vehicle owned by the regulated party.

6.5.7 Regulation 352 - Mobile PCB Destruction Facilities (See also A.4 in Appendix A)

6.5.7.1 Mobile PCB destruction facilities with approvals under Regulation 352 should provide the following predetermined amounts of financial assurance:

  1. $50,000 for each Class 1 mobile PCB destruction facility waste disposal site, and
  2. $50,000 for each Class 2 mobile PCB destruction facility waste management system (hauler).

The procedure for arriving at these predetermined amounts should be reviewed every five years by staff to assess sufficiency. These amounts may be adjusted from time to time.

6.5.8 PCB storage sites established in accordance with written Director’s instructions under Regulation 362 - Waste Management – PCBs

6.5.8.1 Financial assurance for PCB storage facilities should equal 100% of the total one- time capital costs of removing the total allowable capacity of the PCBs to a licensed destruction facility plus the charges for destroying all of the PCBs in the facility.

6.5.8.2 The procedure noted in Section 6.5.8.1 applies to regulated parties that store or bury other waste materials such as ash, tailings or sludge on their own properties. Annual cash payments or annual increases in non-cash forms may be allowed for these facilities so long as the operator complies fully with the Ontario Regulation 232/98 conditions. In any event, the full amount of financial assurance must be provided at least one year before the site is closed.

6.5.9 Approvals under section 53, OWRA including private communal sewage systems and sewage works in unorganized or organized areas without a municipal government agency agreement to take over the system (See also A.6 in Appendix A)

6.5.9.1 The amount of financial assurance required should be equal to 100% of three years of undiscounted operating costs plus 15% of the capital costs sufficient to provide funds for upgrading or clean-up that may be required after a default and for temporary operation by the Ministry until a municipality or another local organization takes over operations.

6.5.10 Approvals under section 9, EPA (See also A.7 in Appendix A)

6.5.10.1 Financial assurance should be calculated as follows:

  1. For specific abatement actions that contain deadlines, the amount of financial assurance would be 100% of the capital and all recurring costs to implement all abatement requirements;
  2. For the storage of subject waste materials from air pollution control equipment, the amount of financial assurance would be 100% of the estimated cost to remove the subject waste from the site and dispose of it in accordance with Ministry standards;
  3. For equipment used in the mobile in-situ chemical oxidation process, the amount of financial assurance would be based on the number of sites being operated under the certificate of approval, or some other basis deemed acceptable by the Program Director; and
  4. Where the compliance projects are to be completed within four years, the amount of financial assurance should be 100% of the estimated one-time (capital) costs of replacing the air pollution control equipment with back-up control equipment that is known to control the emissions in question to an acceptable degree as required by the Program Director.

6.5.10.2 Where the compliance projects are to be completed within four years, the amount of financial assurance would be 100% of the estimated one-time equipment, removal and installation costs of replacing the air pollution control equipment with back-up control equipment that is known to control the emissions in question to an acceptable degree as required by the Program Director.

6.5.11 Approvals for operations which discharge into surface waters subject to section 53, OWRA

6.5.11.1 Financial assurance can be required to ensure that compliance with the terms and conditions of an approval are achieved by a specified date.

6.5.11.2 Cost estimates of the required abatement or preventative systems and activities should be provided by the regulated party. If such estimates are not submitted, the Program Director should issue an order to require that the regulated party provide these estimates. The issuing Program Director should confer with the Economic Analysis Section regarding the kind of cost data and other information that should be specified in the order and obtained from the regulated party.

6.5.11.3 Financial assurance would normally be equal to 100% of the capital costs of implementing the required abatement or prevention systems. If costs are to be incurred over four or more years, the recommended amount of financial assurance is equal to the present value of capital and other one-time costs, plus the total annual recurring costs for the entire period.

6.5.12 Permits to take water under section 34, OWRA (See also A.9 in Appendix A)

6.5.12.1 Financial assurance may be applied to permits to take water (PTTWs) where there is evidence that a water taking by a permit holder could cause adverse external effects to other water users. In cases where water taking under a PTTW are expected to cause external effects (such as depletion of neighbouring wells or excessive reduced stream flows), the PTTW will normally not be issued until actions or adjustments are made to prevent adverse effects. However, in some circumstances, such as a temporary dewatering project, the Program Director may issue the PTTW with the condition of financial assurance.

6.5.12.2 The amount of financial assurance required for such cases would be 100% of any one-time or capital costs plus 100% of the recurring costs of an acceptable method of providing alternative water supplies over an agreed-to period of time to all potential parties who would be adversely affected. The time period for these estimates should be a minimum of two years, or for a period deemed appropriate by the Program Director, with reasons.

6.5.12.3 The planning period should be determined with input from the PTTW applicant, other potentially affected water users and Ministry experts.

6.5.13 Orders to undertake industrial abatement programs under section 18, EPA (See also A.10 in Appendix A)

6.5.13.1 Financial assurance may be required as a condition of an order to ensure that:

  1. Sufficient funds for compliance are available, and
  2. Compliance is achieved by the agreed-to deadline.

6.5.13.2 Financial Assurance should be equal to 100% of the one-time equipment, engineering, installation costs of implementing the required air or water pollution abatement or preventative systems. The implementation costs are to include contingency costs.

6.5.13.3 Financial assurance for these types of facilities should be retained until all work required to fulfill the terms and conditions of the order is completed and inspected. However, financial assurance funds may be returned or released in stages as work is completed and invoices submitted. Ministry staff must be satisfied that other part of the financial assurance returned or released is not required in respect of the works. Ministry staff should review financial assurance balances and estimated remaining expenditures every six months to ensure that the financial assurance balance is sufficient.

6.5.13.4 For example, an industrial sewage or water pollution abatement compliance project that is mandated by an order will take three years to complete. financial assurance required would be equal to 100% of the total capital cost of the compliance activities plus contingency costs. Equipment and installation costs total $15 million. financial assurance would thus amount to $15 million plus an additional $1.5 to $2.24 million for contingencies, to arrive at a total financial assurance amount of $16.5 to $17.24 million.

6.5.14 Orders to require decommissioning and remediation of contaminated sites (See also A.11 in Appendix A)

6.5.14.1 An order that requires decommissioning and remediation of a contaminated site may also include conditions to require financial assurance. Financial assurance should be required where one or more of the criteria noted in Section 4.4 paragraph a) apply. It is presumed that such a site will be remediated so that the site may be used for new construction or other purposes.

6.5.14.2 The amount of financial assurance should be equal to 100% of the one-time capital costs for decommissioning and remediation to bring the site into compliance with the terms and conditions of the order and local zoning by-laws. Cost estimates should be made under the assumption that the work will be carried out by a third party contractor.

6.5.14.3 The requirement to estimate costs of the above-noted activities and to report them to the Program Director should be specified as conditions in the order.

6.5.15 Orders involving storage of subject wastes under Regulation 347 (See also A.12 in Appendix A)

6.5.15.1 Financial assurance to be provided for these facilities is equal to the total cost of removing, transporting and disposing of any materials left on site if the owners or operators ceased operations for any reason and could not, or would not, clean up the site. For purposes of financial assurance, these types of sites are similar to those noted in Section 6.5.5 above.

6.6 Payment schedules for short-term (less than four years or when there is no known future date for closure, clean-up or remediation expenditures) cases

6.6.1 Payment schedules refer to the total time period over which regulated parties are to provide the financial assurance to the Ministry in an appropriate form.

6.6.2 Normally, for all the above-noted types of “short-term” cases or projects, 100% of the total amount of required financial assurance should be provided to the Ministry before the commencement of operations or as otherwise directed by the Program Director.

6.6.3 In the case of waste processing and transfer facilities, if the facility begins operating below its approved capacity, the Program Director may allow the regulated party to submit only a portion of the required financial assurance that is in proportion to the amount of material that is brought on site during the beginning months of operation. It is recommended that audits of quantities on site and adjustments of financial assurance payments/deposits for such establishments be conducted quarterly.

6.6.4 Elements of the payment schedule should be specified as conditions in an order or approval. Reasons for obtaining less than 100% of total financial assurance for any case or project should be noted in the order or approval and in a note to file.

6.6.5 If the Program Director chooses to withhold an approval until the financial assurance is received:

  1. The Program Director may send a copy of the draft approval to the proponent and explain that the approval is ready to be issued when financial assurance is provided under the proposed financial assurance conditions. If financial assurance is not provided, the Program Director can refuse to issue the approval, or
  2. A condition of the approval may state that a waste disposal or processing facility cannot start receiving waste until the applicant provides financial assurance in accordance with relevant conditions.

6.7 Estimating financial assurance when the planning period is four or more years or when there is a known future date for closure, clean-up or remediation expenditures

6.7.1 Where the planning period of an order or approval is four or more years or when there is a known future date for closure, clean-up or remediation, discounting of future costs is permitted. This means that regulated parties can provide an initial amount of financial assurance that can grow by means of interest paid on cash deposits or through annual increases in non-cash forms until the balance reaches the amount needed for the specified compliance activities in the future.

6.7.2 For a landfill, the costs of closure and post-closure monitoring and maintenance of a site that will be incurred in future years can be discounted using procedures discussed in this Section. The sum of these future, discounted costs is the present value (PV) and is equal to part of the financial assurance that would be required. financial assurance is also required for contingency costs. The PV of future closure or post-closure costs and the financial assurance for contingency costs are summed to derive the total financial assurance amount.

6.7.3 The types of approvals or activities which may involve planning periods of four years or longer or when future costs will be required by a certain date include:

  1. Private municipal waste landfilling sites (Section 6.7.7);
  2. Incineration facilities including sites burning waste derived fuels (WDF) for which future decommissioning expenses must be incurred (Section 6.7.8);
  3. Industrial and milling activities that generate tailings or ash, section 53, OWRA (Section 6.7.9);
  4. Sewage works that generate waste materials (sludges) that are stored and remain on the site until and after decommissioning, section 53, OWRA (Section 6.7.10); and
  5. Industrial abatement programs, section 18, EPA (Section 6.7.11).

6.7.4 The generic procedure and steps to compute financial assurance for these types of orders, approvals and activities are listed below. Further information and explanations about each step are presented in subsequent sections and appendices of this Guideline.

  1. Produce documented estimates of all relevant one-time and recurring cost items;
  2. Provide a schedule of the entire planning period showing the years when each cost item is to be incurred. Planning periods vary by facility:
    1. For landfills, planning period is equal to the operating period of the facility plus the contaminating life span of the landfill after closure;
    2. For private incinerators, the planning period includes the construction, operation and ultimate decommissioning of the facility;
    3. For industrial and milling activities that generate tailings or ash, the planning period is similar to the landfill planning period stated in 1. above;
    4. For sewage treatment facilities that generate waste materials such as sludges that are stored and remain on the site until and after decommissioning, the planning period is similar to the landfill planning period stated in i) above; and
    5. For orders that require water or air pollution abatement programs, the planning period starts with the date that the order is issued and ends with the last completion deadline specified in the order. Completion means that the Program Director has agreed that compliance with the order is satisfactory;
  3. Using inflation rates specified below in Sections 6.7.6.2 and 6.7.6.3 to inflate all cost items annually until the cost items are no longer incurred;
  4. Discount each cost item back to a pre-specified base year using discount rates indicated below in Sections 6.7.6.4 and 6.7.6.5;
  5. The base year for landfills which are subject to Ontario Regulation 232/98 will be the year when the landfill closes. The base years for other types of activities must be defined in the order or approval; and
  6. Sum the PVs for closure and post-closure and maintenance costs and the financial assurance for contingency costs to derive the total financial assurance required.

6.7.5 The estimates and computations described in Section 6.7.4 should be provided to the Ministry in spreadsheet formats so that all relevant formulas are clearly revealed. Microsoft Excel or Corel Quattro Pro platforms are acceptable. Documentation for all estimates of one-time and recurring cost items should also be provided. Appendix H presents an example of such documentation and spreadsheets for a landfill site.

6.7.6 Inflation and discount rates and procedures

6.7.6.1 For landfill sites that began operation after August 1, 1998 and where the total waste disposal volume is over 40,000 cubic metres, the annual inflation rate shall be derived using the base year of 1997 and the most recent available Annual Average Non-Residential Building Construction Price Index for Toronto (NRCPIT) published by Statistics Canada, Catalogue 62-007. This benchmark index is specified by Ontario Regulation 232/98. The NRCPIT can also be obtained from the Statistics Canada website. The procedures are presented in Appendix K. The NRCPIT is used in the procedure for computing annual inflation rates between 1997 and the most recent available index value presented in Section 6.7.6.2.

The Consumer Price Index is not acceptable for financial assurance calculations. Average inflation rates over prior years are also not acceptable. (See also Section 6.7.6.7)

6.7.6.2 This section has been superseded by the inflation rate methodology found in the Addendum to financial assurance Guideline (F-15): Deriving Inflation Rates and Discount Rates. The Addendum can be found at the end of the Guideline. Please use the new methodology in the Addendum to calculate the inflation rate. Please be aware that the new methodology has not been incorporated in Appendix H, Landfill Example.

6.7.6.3 Costs are inflated from year to year by means of the following formula applied iteratively:

F(n+1) = C(n) × (1+i)n

where,

n
year 0, 1, 2, 3, …, N
year 0
base year = year when project is initiated
N
final year of planning period
F(n+1)
future capital and operating costs in year n+1
C(n)
annual capital and operating costs expended in year n; initial capital and operating costs expended in year n = 0
i
inflation rate derived from NRCPIT

When inflating, base year is equal to n = year 0 of the planning period but for all other purposes, the base year is equal to n+1 = 0+1 = year 1 of the planning period. If the annual expenditures are expected to be incurred each year through the last year of the planning period (which is equivalent to the last year of the contaminating life span), then the expenditures should be inflated until the last year of the planning period, which is equal to N-1 for inflating purposes, but for all other purposes, the last year is equal to N. N is defined as the final year of the planning which is also the final year of the contaminating life span.

For example, using the inflation rate derived in Section 6.7.6.2 above, and a Cost(n) = $1,000, the inflated cost over three years would amount to:

First year: F(0+1) = $1,000 × (1.034)0 = $1,000 current dollars therefore, no inflation

Second year: F(1+1) = $1,000 × (1.034)1 = $1,034

Third year: F(2+1) = $1,000 × (1.034)2 = $1,069

6.7.6.4 This section has been superseded by the discount rate methodology found in the Addendum to financial assurance Guideline (F-15): Deriving Inflation Rates and Discount Rates. The Addendum can be found at the end of the Guideline. Please use the new methodology in the Addendum to calculate the discount rate. Please be aware that the new methodology has not been incorporated in Appendix H, Landfill Example.

6.7.6.5 Costs in a given year may be discounted with the following procedure:

PV Cost(n+1) = Σ(sum of) [F(n) ÷ (1+r)n]

where,

n
year 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …, N
year 0
base year: in the case of landfills, year of site closure, when discounting
year N
final year of planning period (or of contaminating life span for landfills)
F(n)
future (inflated) capital and operating costs
PV Cost(n+1)
present value of future capital and operating costs in year n+1
r
discount rate

For example, the PV of $1,000 in year 10 at a 5% discount rate:

PV Cost (9+1) = $1,000 ÷ (1.05)9

= $1,000 ÷ 1.55133

= $645

The sum of the PVs is expressed by:

Cost (0+1) ÷ (1+r)0 + Cost (1+1) ÷ (1+r)1 + Cost (1+2) ÷ (1+r)2 + Cost (1+3) ÷ (1+r)3 + Cost (n+1) ÷ (1+r)n

When discounting, year of closure is equal to n = year 0 of the contaminating life span but, for all other purposes, it is equal to year n+1 = 0+1 = year 1 of the contaminating life span. Therefore, the last year of the contaminating life span is equal to N−1 when discounting, but for all other purposes, the last year is equal to N.

N is defined as the final year of the contaminating life span which is also the final year of the planning period.

6.7.6.6 Inflation and discount rates are generally used as constants over the entire planning period for the facility. However, these rates will actually vary over time. Therefore, it is advisable to review and update these rates and recalculate required financial assurance every three years.

6.7.6.7 Most recent published inflation and discount rates or indices are recommended for financial assurance computations because:

  1. They are most readily available to all parties and they are more likely to incorporate recent market expectations than would averages of past rates or indices;
  2. Real discount rates or “spreads” are not appropriate for the two-step inflation-discount procedure used for financial assurance; and
  3. Using the same benchmark inflation and discount rates and indices for all regulated parties provides for a level playing field among regulated parties.

6.7.7 Private municipal waste landfilling sites (See also A.13 in Appendix A)

6.7.7.1 Financial assurance requirements for private sector landfill sites should follow Ontario Regulation 232/98 - Landfilling Sites when:

  1. The site came into existence on or after August 1, 1998 and was intended, at the time it came into existence, to have a total waste disposal volume of more than 40,000 cubic metres and to accept only municipal waste for disposal;
  2. The site is being altered, enlarged or extended on or after August 1, 1998 so that, after alteration, the site’s total waste disposal volume will exceed 40,000 cubic metres and will accept only municipal waste for disposal; and
  3. Where a landfill is subject to Ontario Regulation 232/98, the amount of financial assurance to be provided should be equal to the:
    1. present value, at the estimated date of closure, of the costs of planned closure for the largest area that will require final cover,
    2. present value of post-closure care for the entire area of the site for the entire duration of the contaminating life span of the facility, and
    3. contingency costs for the entire area of the site. A numerical example is presented in Appendix H.

6.7.7.2 Financial assurance for a landfill site that has a total waste volume less than 40,000 cubic metres, or has been operating before August 1, 1998 may, at the discretion of the Program Director, be based on technologies and procedures that differ from those specified in Ontario Regulation 232/98. These alternative procedures are noted in Section 6.7.7.9.

6.7.7.3 Subject to Ontario Regulation 232/98, cost items include one-time (capital) and recurring (annual) costs for:

  1. Planned closure;
  2. Post-closure monitoring, security, care and maintenance; and
  3. Contingency costs.

The planning period consists of the:

  1. Remaining operating period of the landfill plus;
  2. Post-closure contaminating life span of the landfill (25 years minimum).

6.7.7.4 Ontario Regulation 232/98 states that, if a landfill operator covers and landscapes each filled portion of the landfill within five years, it does not have to provide financial assurance for planned closure. This privilege should be granted with care until regulated parties actually demonstrate this behaviour.

6.7.7.5 If filled portions of a site are not covered and landscaped properly within five years, financial assurance should be required for the planned closure of the largest area that will require final cover at any one time during the entire operation of the site (including the costs of final cover and landscaping).

6.7.7.6 Steps to calculate financial assurance amount for a typical landfill according to Ontario Regulation 232/98 include:

(The following steps are illustrated by the example in Appendix H - Spreadsheet Template for Calculating financial assurance Amounts for a Typical Landfill Site, According to Ontario Regulation 232/98.)

  1. Confirm the first year of the planning period;
  2. Determine the remaining number of operating years, total capacity of landfill and annual fill rate;
  3. Determine year of closure and post-closure contaminating life span (minimum 25 years);
  4. Generate estimates for all one-time (capital) and recurring cost items associated with planned closure and post-closure maintenance and monitoring activities in current dollars. Planned closure cost estimates should be based on the largest area that will require final cover at any one time during the operation of the site, including the costs of final cover and landscaping;
  5. Inflate each cost item up to the last year the cost will be incurred. All closure costs will typically be incurred during the year of closure. Post-closure care and maintenance costs will be incurred annually from the year after closure to the last year of the contaminating life span (minimum 25 years);
  6. For illustrative purposes, formulae and instructions for inflating and discounting cost items are described in more detail in Appendix H;
  7. Add all the costs incurred in the year of closure. In Table H2, Appendix H, year-of-closure cost items are listed in bold in the row entitled “Closure Year 2024.” The sum of these values for the year of closure is shown in Column U, “Undiscounted Future Expenditures $’s”;
  8. For each year between closure and the final year of the contaminating life span, sum the care and maintenance expenses. In Table H2, Appendix H, these total post-closure care and maintenance costs are shown in Column U;
  9. Sum all the costs listed in Column U to arrive at the total undiscounted future expenditures of $7,938,588;
  10. Compute the present values (PV) of each annual total cost through to the final year of the contaminating life span. The PVs of total costs for each post-closure year are shown in Column V, “Closure Year 2004 Expenditures $’s” in Table H2 in Appendix H. The present value computational procedures are explained and demonstrated in Appendix H;
  11. Sum the PVs of total closure and post-closure costs incurred in each year through to the last year of the contaminating life span. This summation is shown at the bottom of Column V and totals $2,958,525 in the example provided. As noted, the base year for the PV calculations of the total cost of closure and post-closure costs is the year of closure;
  12. As per Ontario Regulation 232/98, use the following formula to compute the contingency cost component of financial assurance:

    F = $0.50 × W × (I2 ÷ I1)

    where,

    F
    the amount of the financial assurance for contingency costs.
    W
    the number of tonnes of waste that have been deposited in the landfilling site at the time the amount of financial assurance is calculated.
    I1
    the 1997 Annual Average Non-Residential Building Construction Price Index for Toronto (NRCPIT), determined with reference to the same base year as is applicable to I2, as published by Statistics Canada, Catalogue 62-007. The NRCPIT for 1997 is 100 and is the base year.
    I2
    the most recent NRCPIT available at the time the amount of the financial assurance is calculated, as published by Statistics Canada, Catalogue 62-007. For example, the most recent NRCPIT is for the year 2003 = 123.8 whereas 1997 = 100.

    Therefore, contingency costs are accumulated over the operating period of the facility. Accumulated financial assurance for contingency costs is shown in Column AA, “Financial Assurance Accumulated for Contingency Costs” in Table H2 in Appendix H. For example, the total estimated amount of financial assurance in Appendix H is shown in Row 26 (2023), Column AA of Table H2 and amounts to $37,140;

  13. The financial assurance amount to be provided is equal to the sum of the PVs of the total costs of closure, post-closure care costs and financial assurance for contingency costs as of the anticipated date of closure, in dollars current at that date. In the example in Table H2, Appendix H, this amount is equal to $2,995,665 as noted in Column AE, “Total Cumulative financial assurance Balance”; and
  14. In each subsequent year after financial assurance has been initially provided, payments must be made to a cash account or the value of non-cash forms such as letters of credit must be increased each year according to the proportion of the total waste that is deposited in the landfill at the end of each year. This process is repeated annually until the site is filled to capacity or closed for other reasons.

6.7.7.7 Where a landfill site is already filled and closed or has only one or two years of capacity left, the financial assurance amount is still equal to the sum of the PVs of the total cost of closure, post-closure care and amounts for contingency costs as of the date of closure. However,

  1. Little or no financial assurance for planned closure is required if the operator has closed and covered the site during its operation. If not, then all relevant closure costs should be obtained as financial assurance until the site is closed to the satisfaction of the Program Director;
  2. Financial Assurance for post-closure maintenance and monitoring plus contingency costs should be obtained as soon as possible. The amount for post- closure maintenance and monitoring that should be provided is equal to the present value of the total costs over the contaminating life span of the site; and
  3. Contingency costs which would be calculated as per Ontario Regulation 232/98 and Section 6.7.7.6, paragraph l), above.

6.7.7.8 As per Ontario Regulation 232/98, financial assurance for contingencies may not be required for:

  1. Individual landfill sites if financial assurance for contingency plans is provided by an approved group financial assurance plan acceptable to the Program Director;
  2. A landfilling site owned by a municipality or the Crown. However, financial assurance is required of a Municipal Corporation as noted in Section 3.10; and
  3. Landfill sites owned by a forest products company if the waste to be deposited at the site is predominately solid, non-hazardous process waste, such as wood waste, effluent treatment solids, hog fired boiler ash, recycling process rejects, lime mud, grits or dregs.

6.7.7.9 Ontario Regulation 232/98 is the preferred method of calculating financial assurance and is mandatory for sites which have been established on or after August 1, 1998 with a capacity over 40,000 cubic metres, and those sites which are altering, enlarging or extending on or after August 1, 1998 so that after the alteration, enlargement or extension the site will have a capacity of over 40,000 cubic metres. The Program Director has the discretion to require other methods for calculating financial assurance as conditions of a certificate of approval. Therefore, for landfill sites that began operation before August 1, 1998 or are under 40,000 cubic metres capacity, the Program Director may direct that financial assurance be derived from the costs of emergency and planned closure, post-closure and contingency activities described below.

6.7.7.9.1 Cost items used to calculate financial assurance include one-time (capital) and recurring (annual) costs for:

  1. Emergency closure;
  2. Post-closure monitoring, security, care and maintenance for emergency closure;
  3. Contingency costs for emergency closure;
  4. Planned closure;
  5. Post-closure monitoring, security, care and maintenance for planned closure; and
  6. Contingency costs for planned closure.

The planning period consists of the:

  1. Remaining operating period of the landfill plus;
  2. Post-closure contaminating life span of the landfill (25 years minimum for both emergency and planned closure calculations).

6.7.7.9.2 Emergency Closure

  1. Emergency closure means that a site is closed prior to the planned closure date for some reason. For emergency closure estimates, the filled area to be covered and rehabilitated each year is equal to the proportion of the site that is filled each year;
  2. The planning period is equivalent to the contaminating life span because it is assumed that emergency closure occurs in the first year of operation for the purposes of financial assurance computation. The time period for the contaminating life span is a minimum of 25 years;
  3. Generate one-time capital, annual operating and maintenance costs for emergency closure, post-closure and maintenance and contingency costs for the 25-year contaminating life span. The first year of operations becomes the year of closure and is considered the first year of the contaminating life span in order to calculate the financial assurance. Emergency closure cost estimates should be based on the filled area to be covered and rehabilitated each year. This is equal to the proportion of the site that is filled each year;
  4. Unlike Ontario Regulation 232/98, a formula is not used to calculate contingency costs. These costs consist of the costs for potential leachate and gas collection and treatment facilities, along with other possible costs noted in Appendix A. The amount of financial assurance should equal the estimated one-time costs plus at least one year of operating costs;
  5. Inflate each cost item from year of closure (year 1) until the end of the contaminating life span using the inflation and discount rates noted in this Guideline;
  6. Discount the future costs back to the year of closure (year 1);
  7. Follow the same inflation and discount procedures found in Section 6.7.7.6;
  8. The financial assurance amount to be provided is equal to the sum of the present values for emergency closure, post-closure care and maintenance and contingency costs, as of the year of closure (= year 1), in dollars current at that date;
  9. Relevant financial parameters (e.g., inflation and discount rates) and cost items should be updated every three years or as otherwise required by the Program Director; and
  10. 100 per cent of the emergency financial assurance amount is required before the facility begins operations or as otherwise directed by the Program Director.

6.7.7.9.3 Planned Closure

  1. Planned closure generally occurs when the landfill reaches approved capacity. The cost estimates are based on the largest area that will require final cover at the end of the operating period of a landfill site;
  2. Planning period is defined as the operating period plus the contaminating life span. This will result in a minimum of 25 years for the contaminating life span plus the number of years during the operating period; and
  3. Follow the same procedures noted in Section 6.7.7.9.2 except for the following:
    1. Inflate each cost item up to the last year the cost will be incurred. All closure costs will typically be incurred during the year of closure. Post-closure care and maintenance costs will be incurred annually from the year after closure to the last year of the contaminating life span (minimum 25 years);
    2. Discount the future costs back to the anticipated year of closure which is equal to the first year of the contaminating life span;
    3. The financial assurance amount to be provided is equal to the sum of the present values for planned closure, post-closure care and maintenance and contingency costs, as of the anticipated year of closure, in dollars current at that date;
    4. 100 per cent of the financial assurance amount is required five years before the anticipated planned year of closure; and
    5. A difference will exist between the financial assurance amounts for emergency closure and for planned closure. This difference can be made up by annually increasing the financial assurance amount to arrive to the required total financial assurance amount for planned closure. This annual increase will be an equal amount which is calculated by taking the difference between the emergency closure and planned closure amounts and dividing this difference by the number of years between the first year and year in which the planned closure amount must be provided (which is 5 years prior to closure).

      For example,

      if: financial assurance for emergency closure (in 2005) = $10,000

      Financial Assurance for planned closure (in 2020) = $40,000

      As per this Guideline, Finance Assurance for planned closure must actually be provided by 2015 (5 years prior to closure).

      The number of years between emergency closure and the year in which planned closure must be provided (2015 − 2005 = 10 years).

      Therefore, the annual increase will be $30,000 ÷ 10 years = $3,000 per year.

6.7.8 Incineration facilities (See also A.14 in Appendix A)

6.7.8.1 Financial assurance for incinerators is for the purpose of funding the decommissioning of the facility. Since decommissioning would take place more than four years after a plant begins operation, financial assurance for the facility would equal the present value of all decommissioning costs.

6.7.8.2 The planning period for a private incinerator includes the construction, operation and ultimate decommissioning of the facility. Decommissioning involves installation of security structures and systems, demolition, removal of rubble and other residues, remediation and clean-up of the site and disposal of all residual materials. So long as ash is not buried on site, it is presumed that the site would be remediated sufficiently for future development. Therefore no post-closure care and maintenance costs are likely. Development of cost estimates for these activities should be required by conditions in the facility certificate of approval.

6.7.8.3 Use present value computational procedures noted in Section 6.7.4 or as otherwise directed by the Program Director. These procedures are similar to the procedures used for landfill sites which are subject to Ontario Regulation 232/98. The estimated operating life of the facility should be consistent with industrial experience and the regulated parties and/or their consultants should provide evidence in support of the operating life they propose.

6.7.8.4 Financial assurance for private incinerators should be equal to the present value of the total future one-time decommissioning costs.

6.7.9 Approvals under section 53, OWRA for industrial and milling activities that generate tailings or ash (See also A.15 in Appendix A)

6.7.9.1 Financial assurance may be required to finance site closure and rehabilitation of tailings, slag or other waste material storage areas and for long-term care. The amount of financial assurance required should include 100% of the present value (at the time of closure) of the total costs of planned closure and rehabilitation activities, plus costs of long-term monitoring, maintenance and contingency plans as required by the Program Director.

6.7.9.2 Present value computational procedures are similar to those for landfills. The time period for present value calculations is the contaminating life span of the disposal facility or a time period that is otherwise acceptable to the Program Director.

6.7.9.3 If the regulated party is a mining company under the authority of the Mining Act, it may have provided financial assurance to the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) to finance the firm’s site closure plan. If a mining operation is issued an order or approval, Ministry of the Environment staff should confer with the “mines group” of MNDM in Sudbury to ensure that sufficient financial assurance has been provided to pay for compliance costs of Ministry of the Environment requirements in addition to the provisions of the site closure plan. If financial assurance for site closure will not cover the costs of Ministry of the Environment requirements, additional financial assurance should be obtained by MNDM.

6.7.9.4 The Ministry of the Environment has a Memorandum of Understanding with MNDM with regard to Part VII of the Mining Act.

6.7.9.5 MNDM will require that financial assurance be provided for all filed or approved Closure Plans. Ministry of the Environment retains authority to require financial assurance, pursuant to Part XII of the Environmental Protection Act, to address any environmental measures not covered in the Closure Plan or any mining activity not covered by the Mining Act. Where agreement between the ministries of the Environment and Northern Development and Mines is put in place, this financial assurance may also be included in the amount held by MNDM.

6.7.9.6 For ash and tailings disposal by non-mining industrial facilities, present value computational procedures are similar to those for landfill sites subject to Ontario Regulation 232/98.

6.7.9.7 The financial assurance amount to be provided is equal to the sum of the present values of the total one-time (capital) and recurring costs for:

  1. Closure;
  2. Long-term post-closure care; and
  3. The financial assurance amount for contingency costs as of the anticipated date of closure, as required by the Program Director, in dollars current at that date.

6.7.9.8 The time period for present value calculations should be the contaminating life span of the tailings or ash deposits of the disposal facility or a time period that is acceptable to the Program Director.

6.7.9.9 As with landfills, the amount of financial assurance on deposit each year should be increased so that the amount of money accumulated by the time the disposal facility is closed will be sufficient to pay for post-closure care. The quantity and/or area of waste materials that are generated each year should be monitored so that sufficient funds will be available to cover long-term care from the time that the facility closes to the end of the contaminating life span or the time period agreed to by the Program Director.

6.7.10 Approvals under section 53, OWRA for sewage works that generate waste materials (sludges) that are stored and remain on the site until and after decommissioning (See also A.16 in Appendix A)

6.7.10.1 Assuming the financial assurance is for the costs of the long-term storage and maintenance of sludges and other waste materials on site, follow procedures for a landfill site subject to Ontario Regulation 232/98.

6.7.10.2 If the waste materials are to be removed from the site upon decommissioning, the amount of financial assurance should be based on the costs of loading, hauling and disposing of the waste solids, similar to the costs associated with a transfer or waste processing facility. All relevant clean-up requirements that are to be included should be noted in the certificate of approval.

6.7.10.3 Sections 6.7.9.6 through 6.7.9.9 noted above may also apply to sewage works that generate waste materials such as sludge, at the discretion of the Program Director.

6.7.11 Orders to undertake industrial abatement programs under section 18, EPA that will last four or more years or have a specified date for closure, clean-up or remediation (See also A.10 in Appendix A)

6.7.11.1 Financial assurance may be required as a condition of an order to ensure that:

  1. Sufficient funds for compliance are available, and
  2. Compliance is achieved by the agreed-to deadline.

6.7.11.2 The order should include a condition to direct the regulated party to provide a work program with completion dates of each phase or stage or major component of the project.

6.7.11.3 Capital and other one-time costs of each stage of the project and any future contingencies must be estimated.

6.7.11.4 Cost to be incurred each yeargreater than year 3 are to be discounted. Costs incurred in year 1 through 3 should not be discounted.

6.7.11.5 Financial assurance to be provided is the sum of the undiscounted costs to be incurred in years 1 to 3 plus the sum of the discounted costs to be incurred in all years beyond three.

6.7.11.6 Financial assurance for these types of facilities should be retained until all work required to fulfill the terms and conditions of the order is completed and inspected. However, financial assurance funds may be returned or released in stages as work is completed and invoices submitted. Ministry staff must be satisfied that other part of the financial assurance returned or released is not required in respect of the works. Ministry staff should review financial assurance balances and estimated remaining expenditures every six months to ensure that remaining financial assurance is sufficient.

6.8 Payment schedules for facilities and operations when the planning period is four or more years or when there is a known future date for closure, clean-up or remediation expenditures

6.8.1 Unless otherwise specified by regulation, all required financial assurance for a site, facility, or activity should be obtained in satisfactory form before a facility begins operation or as otherwise directed by the Program Director.

6.8.2 Ontario Regulation 232/98 allows private landfill owners of new or expanded sites, after August 1, 1998, to provide financial assurance annually in proportion to the degree to which the landfill capacity is filled. For example, at the end of year 5, if 25% of the permitted capacity is used, at least 25% of the total financial assurance required should be provided. These requirements should be specified as conditions in an order or approval.

6.8.3 Where a regulated party is allowed to provide financial assurance in installments, appropriate cash payments must be deposited each year or the value of a non-cash form must be increased each year according to a schedule that was submitted as part of the initial financial assurance proposal and should be incorporated as a condition in the order or approval.

6.8.4 The total financial assurance amount must be provided in full at least one year prior to the expected closure year or decommissioning of a particular facility. financial assurance payment schedules should be included as conditions of orders or approvals.

6.8.5 The financial assurance account balance should be reviewed annually to ensure that it has been increased from year to year. The Financial parameters and cost items that are used to calculate financial assurance should be reviewed at least every three years or as specified by the Program Director in order to ensure that the financial assurance is sufficient to cover the estimated costs.

6.9 Use of financial assurance by owners and operators

6.9.1 If the owner or operator of a facility or site wants to use any of its financial assurance for any compliance-related purpose before the facility is closed, the owner or operator of a site must

  1. Obtain approval from the Program Director;
  2. For landfill sites, ensure that any amount of financial assurance utilized is replaced within six months, unless the Program Director directs otherwise; and
  3. For all other facilities, ensure that any amount of financial assurance utilized is replaced within three months, unless the Program Directors directs otherwise.

6.10 Reductions in the amount of financial assurance required

6.10.1 Regulated parties sometimes ask to have financial assurance obligations reduced because of financial hardship. Some regulated parties may ask to provide only a fraction of the total financial assurance required at the outset of their operation until they “build up their business” or “can better afford the financial assurance.” Parties who ask for such considerations should be reviewed carefully before an approval is issued. They could be vulnerable to failure if economic conditions deteriorate and could constitute a risk of leaving a site remediation problem with little or no financial assurance. Financial Assurance is a necessary cost of doing business and is needed to internalize the environmental risks that would otherwise be borne by the public. Businesses should not be subsidized and should provide their fair share of financial assurance.

6.10.2 Operators of waste processing or recycling facilities may also ask to deduct the estimated market values of saleable materials that are on their site from required financial assurance. The Program Director may, as a condition in an order or approval, deduct the estimated volume or weight of secondary materials that may be sold or otherwise removed free of charge from the removal cost calculations noted in Section 6.5.5.3. Values of saleable materials may not be used because market values for secondary materials can fluctuate rapidly and widely. Also prices and values of materials are difficult to verify and buyers of saleable materials often reject loads altogether if they contain contaminating materials. Documentation should be provided in the form of letters, contracts or written commitments from receivers or other legitimate firms that they will take the materials off-site free of charge.

6.10.3 The Program Director may reduce financial assurance for waste management systems (haulers), if the regulated party can document the following:

  1. The hazard or risk level of material being hauled is low;
  2. The accident frequency is below average for all permitted waste management systems; and
  3. The applicant has no record of environmental infractions or convictions.