Introduction

Proponent

Waste Management of Canada Corporation (WMCC)

Location

Ottawa

Type

Waste

Reference Number

05040

Contact

Environmental Approvals Branch, 416-314-8001
Toll free 1-800-461-6290

Current Status

Terms of reference: withdrawn April 16, 2007

Due to the volume of comments received and the issues that were raised by government agencies and the public during the Terms of Reference (ToR) comment period, WMCC determined that the time remaining for the “time out” was not sufficient to address these concerns. As such, WMCC informed ministry staff that it is withdrawing its Ottawa Waste Management Facility ToR in order to revise the document and consult further with stakeholders.

Project Summary

The purpose of the undertaking is to develop additional waste disposal capacity in the City of Ottawa to meet the needs of the Province of Ontario, and more specifically the City of Ottawa.

Project History

  • Terms of reference: withdrawn
    • Date submitted: January 12, 2007
    • Expiry of public comment period: February 12, 2007
    • Date withdrawn: April 16, 2007
  • Designation (voluntary agreement): granted
    • Date submitted: September 19, 2006
    • Decision date: November 28, 2006

Terms of Reference

Due to the volume of comments received and the issues that were raised by government agencies and the public during the Terms of Reference (ToR) comment period, WMCC determined that the time remaining for the “time out” was not sufficient to address these concerns. As such, WMCC informed ministry staff that it is withdrawing its Ottawa Waste Management Facility ToR in order to revise the document and consult further with stakeholders.

Should WMCC submit a new ToR to the ministry, the review process will begin again. There will be a 30-day comment period and all comments received during that comment period will be considered by the Minister before a decision is made about the ToR.

Designation (Voluntary Agreement)

Waste Management of Canada Corporation (WMCC) operates the Ottawa Waste Management Facility (Ottawa WMF) located on Carp Road in the City of Ottawa. The site currently accepts non-hazardous municipal solid waste from the Province of Ontario, with the majority of the waste coming from the Ottawa area. WMCC estimates that the landfill site has approximately four years of approved capacity remaining. In anticipation of the Ottawa WMF reaching capacity, WMCC has proposed to develop additional waste disposal capacity in the City of Ottawa to meet the needs of the Province of Ontario, and more specifically the City of Ottawa.

As a private sector proponent, WMCC is not subject to the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA). Instead of designating such undertakings by regulation, section 3.0.1 of the EAA provides for proponents who would not normally be subject to the EAA to enter into a written agreement with the Minister to have the EAA apply to a major commercial, business, enterprise, activity, proposal, plan or program. Entering into a voluntary agreement to designate WMCC’s proposal subject to the EAA is the first step in this environmental assessment process. A voluntary agreement is not an approval of the undertaking. By having the Act apply, the proponent subject to the EAA, the proponent must complete an individual EA which includes identifying a problem or opportunity, considering alternative ways of addressing the problem or opportunity, evaluating the environmental effects of each alternative, and selecting a preferred alternative that minimizes the effects on the environment. The EA process will allow WMCC to determine if an expansion of its existing landfill is appropriate.