Green facts : certificates of approval - air and noise

2010·0.04 MB·English

July 2010
Green Facts
Certificates of Approval - Air & Noise

The Environmental Assessment and Approvals Approval may also be required for some
Branch (EAAB) of the Ministry of the subsurface remedial activities at contaminated
Environment issues “Certificates of Approval” sites.
under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA). Air
& Noise Certificates of Approval are required Operations that require approval include but are
under the EPA for facilities that release emissions not limited to:
into the natural environment, other than into water. • construction of a new manufacturing
This Fact Sheet provides information for facilities operation;
that discharge contaminants into the atmosphere. • adding a second welding line to an existing
facility; and
What Requires Approval? • raw material changes that affect the emissions
from a facility.

Section 9 of the EPA requires equipment,
The responsibility for obtaining approval lies with
structures or processes that may discharge a
the owner or operator of the equipment that may
contaminant to the atmosphere to be approved
discharge a contaminant to the air. If the owner or
before construction, alteration, extension or
operator is a corporation, the person signing the
replacement of the equipment. Approval is also
application on behalf of the corporation must be
required for the ongoing operation of any
someone who is specifically authorized by the
equipment that may discharge a contaminant to the
corporation to do so. If the person signing the
atmosphere.
application is not an official of the corporation, the

application must be accompanied by a letter signed
The definition of a contaminant is very broad.
by an official of the corporation authorizing the
Examples include particulate emissions from a
person to act on its behalf for that purpose.
process, solvent emissions from a painting line,

nitrogen oxides from combustion sources, or sound
Are there exemptions to the requirement to
and vibration from a metal stamping operation.
obtain a Certificate of Approval?
The ministry does not require that compounds have
published criteria to be considered contaminants.
Specific exemptions for selected types of
Unless explicitly exempted, most industrial equipment and activities have been granted by
processes and equipment, and modifications to Subsections 9(3) and 47.3(2) of the EPA, and the
industrial processes and equipment that discharge Approval Exemption regulation (O. Reg. 524/98)
contaminants require approval. made under the EPA.

PIBS 4977e01
July 2010
Examples of exempted processes, equipment or of receipt of your application within two weeks of
modifications to industrial processes include: submitting it to the EAAB.

• equipment associated with a residential Applications are reviewed by engineers to assess if
dwelling such as exhaust fans or home the application demonstrates compliance with the
workshops; EPA and applicable Regulations and Guidelines.
• fuel burning equipment below a specified size;
• specified mobile equipment such as snow- Depending on the complexity of the review,
making or duct cleaning equipment; applications will be reviewed by:
• equipment associated with food preparation at
restaurants; and • the Streamlined Review Unit (SRU); or
• outdoor events such as festivals or fairs. • the Air and Noise Unit (ANU).

Certain renewable energy projects require a Additional information on equipment that may be
Renewable Energy Approval rather than a processed by the SRU is available from the EAAB.
Certificate of Approval. Information on
Renewable Energy Approvals is available on the When can I expect to get my approval?
Internet at
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/business/green- The EAAB typically receives several thousand
energy Certificate of Approval applications per year.
These applications are processed in chronological
How do I obtain a Certificate of Approval? order of their receipt.

The best assurance of a timely review is the
An application for an Air & Noise Certificate of
preparation of a complete application package that
Approval must be submitted to the EAAB for most
clearly demonstrates compliance with the EPA and
industrial processes and equipment or
applicable Regulations and Guidelines. Review
modifications to process and equipment. The
will take longer if additional required information
completed application package should include two
is identified during the review. Applications should
copies of the application form, two copies of all
be filed as early as possible before the anticipated
supporting information and the required fee.
date of construction.
Applicants must include supporting information
which assesses the emissions of all contaminants
associated with the application. A copy of the The information contained in this document is of a
application form and supporting information general nature only and is not intended to
should also be submitted to the ministry’s District constitute advice for any specific fact situation.
Office serving the area of the site. Please note that the text of many Ontario statutes
and regulations are available on the Internet at
Application forms, application guidance material www.e-laws.gov.on.ca.

and contact information for the ministry’s District
For more information about Certificates of
Offices are available from the EAAB, or from the
Approval or to obtain an application package,
“Publications” section of the ministry web site at
please contact:
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/publications/forms/in

dex.php#aircofa.
Ministry of the Environment

Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch
What happens to my application once it is
2 St. Clair Ave W, Floor 12A
submitted? Toronto, ON M4V 1L5

Applications are screened for completeness by the Toll Free: 1-800-461-6290
EAAB. Incomplete applications may be returned Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
at this stage. You should receive acknowledgment Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ene.gov.on.ca

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PIBS 4977e01