[GREN-Exec] Fw: Discussion Paper under the Nutrient Management Act

[Theo Negoita]

FYI

 
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Land, Water (ENE)" <LAND.WATER at ontario.ca>
To: "info at gren.ca" <info at gren.ca> 
Sent: Monday, March 4, 2013 7:17:34 PM
Subject: Discussion Paper under the Nutrient Management Act
  
 
TO:                              Susan Bryant, Grand River Environmental Network 
   
  
SUBJECT:     Notice of a discussion paper for a regulatory proposal to allow for the management and land application of nutrient feedwater under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 and invitation to attend a public discussion meeting 
   
  
We are writing to inform you of a regulatory proposal for the land application of greenhouse nutrient feedwater set out in a discussion paper that has been posted on the Regulatory and Environmental Registries. We welcome your feedback on the proposal either through the registries or at one of several public discussion meetings.   
  
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) and Ministry of the Environment (MOE)  have developed this regulatory proposal for the land application of greenhouse nutrient feedwater under the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 (NMA) in an effort to simplify the approval process without compromising environmental protection. The proposal is being developed jointly by the two ministries as they share responsibility for implementing the NMA.  
  
The discussion paper describes a regulatory proposal that, if passed, would maintain the environmental and economic sustainability of Ontario’s agri-food industry while safeguarding the Great Lakes and other waters of Ontario. The greenhouse nutrient feedwater could provide a source of nutrients and supplemental irrigation water to local farms to replace expensive commercial fertilizers and water drawn from lakes, rivers and wells. It should be noted that direct discharges of nutrient feedwater to surface water or groundwater would continue to be regulated under the OWRA. 
  
This initiative is consistent with Ontario’s vision under the Great Lakes Strategy of healthy Great Lakes for a stronger Ontario and Great Lakes that are drinkable, swimmable and fishable within the recently re-introduced proposed Great Lakes Protection Act.  The nutrient feedwater proposal also aligns with Ontario’s Open for Business initiative of streamlining approvals. 
  
You can find the proposal on the Environmental Registry www.ebr.gov.on.ca by searching number 011-8075 or 011-8101, the paper can also be found on the Ontario’s Regulatory Registry at http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/by searching “Nutrient Management”.  It has been posted for 45 days on both registries for public comment in both English and French (March 1, 2013 – April 15, 2013).  
  
If you would like to provide feedback on the discussion paper, “comment” buttons are provided on the Regulatory and Environmental Registries and e-mails can be sent to sara.moore-german at ontario.ca or Land.Water at ontario.ca (Attention: Sara Moore-German or Henry Jun, respectively).  Please refer to the registry postings for complete contact information.  
  
You are also invited to participate in a public meeting where we will provide information about the proposal and provide you an opportunity to ask questions and provide your feedback.  The meetings will be held at the following locations, dates and times: 
  
	* March 18, 2013 (7:00 – 9:00 pm) – Roma Club, 19 Seacliff  Drive East, Leamington, ON N8H 2L3; 
	* March 19, 2013 (7:00 – 9:00 pm) – Ramada Jordan Beacon Harbourside, 2793 Beacon Blvd, Jordan Station, ON L0R 1S0 (Niagara); 
	* April 2, 2013 (10:00 am – 12:00 pm) – Queen’s Park Conference Room (Superior Room), 900 Bay Street, Toronto, ON.
	* April 2, 2013 (1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (French only meeting)) – Queen’s Park Conference Room (Superior Room), 900 Bay Street, Toronto, ON. 
  
In order to make appropriate arrangements, please let us know which meeting you plan to attend and how many people from your community or organization will be present.  Please RSVP by contacting the Agricultural Information Contact Centre (Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300; Local: (519) 826-4047; E-mail: ag.info.omafra at ontario.ca). 
  
Thank you in advance for your thoughtful participation in this important process. We look forward to your comments on the discussion paper. 
  
Sincerely, 
  
John Mitsopulos, Director                                           Sharon Bailey, Director 
Food Safety and Environmental Policy Branch  
Ministry of Agriculture and Food  
1 Stone Road West, 2nd Floor 
Guelph, ON   N1G 4Y2       Land and Water Policy Branch  
Ministry of the Environment 
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 6th floor 
Toronto ON   M4V 1P5      
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/executive_gren.ca/attachments/20130304/3d851b37/attachment.html>