Implementation guidelines for Environmental Emergency Regulations: appendix 7

Appendix 7: notification and reporting of environmental emergencies under Section 201 of CEPA

Reporting of environmental emergencies under Section 201 of CEPA

Section 9(1) of the Environmental Emergencies Regulations states:

When an environmental emergency occurs in respect of a substance set out in column 1 of Schedule 1, the person who is designated for the purpose of paragraph 201(1)(a) of the act, to be provided with a written report is the Regional Director of the Environmental Enforcement Division of the Enforcement Branch of the Department of the Environment in the region where the environmental emergency occurs.

The written report information requirements are in the list below and the designated person to whom you should provide this information can be found in column 3 of Table 1.

Written report

The following information must be included in the written report:

1. the name, civic address and telephone number of the person who owns or has the charge, management or control of the substance released
2. the date, time and location of the release
3. the name and Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number of the substance released
4. the quantity of the substance released or, if the quantity cannot be determined, an estimate of the quantity
5. the identification of the container from which the substance was released and a description of its condition
6. the location of the release and description of the potential negative effects on the environment or on human life or health
7. a description of the circumstances and of the cause of the release (if known) and of the measures taken to mitigate any negative effects on the environment or on human life or health
8. the identification of all persons and agencies notified as a result of the release
9. all measures taken or planned to be taken to prevent similar releases

For verbal notification, the schedule Notification of release or environmental emergency of the Release and Environmental Emergency Notification Regulations provides telephone numbers set out in column 3 of this schedule and in column 2 in Table 1 below.

In order for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to fully comprehend the details surrounding an environmental emergency incident, ECCC recommends that a verbal notification include the following information:

Verbal notification

1. the reporting person’s name, and the telephone number at which the person can be immediately contacted
2. the name of the person who owns or has the charge, management or control of the substance immediately before the environmental emergency
3. the date and time of the release
4. the location of therelease
5. the name/CAS registry number of the substance released
6. the estimated quantity of the substance released
7. the means of containment (from which the substance was released) and a description of its condition
8. the number of deaths and injuries resulting from the environmental emergency
9. the surrounding area/environment affected and potential impact of the release (mobility of release and weather or geographic conditions at the site)
10. a brief description of the circumstances leading to the release
11. the cause of the release (if known)
12. details of the actions taken or further actions contemplated (to contain, recover, clean up and dispose of the substance involved)
13. the names of agencies notified or on-scene
14. other pertinent information

* This information is from the Release and Environmental Notification Regulations, SOR/2011-90.