Proposal
Proposal to end nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions trading | Environmental Registry of Ontario
Regulation Number(s):
O. Reg. 397/01
O. Reg. 194/05
O. Reg. 194/05
Instrument Type:
Proposal
Bill or Act:
Environmental Protection Act, 1990
Summary of Proposal:
Description
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is proposing to end the outdated NOx and SO2 emissions trading program (the Program), by revoking the following regulations:
· O. Reg. 397/01: Emissions Trading made under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990
· O. Reg. 194/05: Industry Emissions - Nitrogen Oxides and Sulphur Dioxide made under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990 (the Regulations)
The Program was originally put in place to meet province-wide emission reduction targets and help address smog and acid rain. Since that time, the targets have been met.
· We are proposing to end the Program because, in its current form, it is no longer effective in reducing emissions from regulated sectors. The following factors support our proposal to end the NOx and SO2 emissions trading program:
o Ontario wide emission targets, set as drivers for the program, have been met.
o Ontario achieved its 2015 SO2 and NOx emissions reduction targets and, overall, the levels of these contaminants have continued to decline across the province.
o Smog days declined from 19 in 2003 to one day in 2019 with one Smog and Air Health Advisory issued.
o Deposition of acid rain in acid-sensitive areas of the Canadian shield in Ontario has also declined.
o Since the trading program was established, Ontario and the federal government have put other regulations in place that are intended to address the discharge of NOx and SO2 emissions to air.
Emissions of NOx and SO2 are already below the caps that were established for the regulated sectors. Also, many of the regulated facilities hold a surplus of allowances and credits that were issued under the Program, reducing the likelihood that actual emission reduction actions would be undertaken before the surplus is used.
These proposed changes would remove administrative burden and costs associated with complying with the requirements of the Regulations and participating in the Program. These changes would apply to regulated facilities in the electricity generation and industrial sectors.
· Regulated facilities would no longer be required to provide the emissions reports required by the Regulations or incur other costs associated with the Program such as the cost of trading with other program participants. Facilities would still need to report on their emissions as required by other provincial regulations or by federal requirements such as the National Pollutant Release Inventory.
Other information
Ontario is also proposing to make an administrative amendment to O. Reg. 79/15 - Alternative Low Carbon Fuels to preserve the requirement in that regulation for the cement sector to monitor NOx and SO2 emissions on an annual basis using a continuous emissions monitoring system or an approved method.
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is proposing to end the outdated NOx and SO2 emissions trading program (the Program), by revoking the following regulations:
· O. Reg. 397/01: Emissions Trading made under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990
· O. Reg. 194/05: Industry Emissions - Nitrogen Oxides and Sulphur Dioxide made under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990 (the Regulations)
The Program was originally put in place to meet province-wide emission reduction targets and help address smog and acid rain. Since that time, the targets have been met.
· We are proposing to end the Program because, in its current form, it is no longer effective in reducing emissions from regulated sectors. The following factors support our proposal to end the NOx and SO2 emissions trading program:
o Ontario wide emission targets, set as drivers for the program, have been met.
o Ontario achieved its 2015 SO2 and NOx emissions reduction targets and, overall, the levels of these contaminants have continued to decline across the province.
o Smog days declined from 19 in 2003 to one day in 2019 with one Smog and Air Health Advisory issued.
o Deposition of acid rain in acid-sensitive areas of the Canadian shield in Ontario has also declined.
o Since the trading program was established, Ontario and the federal government have put other regulations in place that are intended to address the discharge of NOx and SO2 emissions to air.
Emissions of NOx and SO2 are already below the caps that were established for the regulated sectors. Also, many of the regulated facilities hold a surplus of allowances and credits that were issued under the Program, reducing the likelihood that actual emission reduction actions would be undertaken before the surplus is used.
These proposed changes would remove administrative burden and costs associated with complying with the requirements of the Regulations and participating in the Program. These changes would apply to regulated facilities in the electricity generation and industrial sectors.
· Regulated facilities would no longer be required to provide the emissions reports required by the Regulations or incur other costs associated with the Program such as the cost of trading with other program participants. Facilities would still need to report on their emissions as required by other provincial regulations or by federal requirements such as the National Pollutant Release Inventory.
Other information
Ontario is also proposing to make an administrative amendment to O. Reg. 79/15 - Alternative Low Carbon Fuels to preserve the requirement in that regulation for the cement sector to monitor NOx and SO2 emissions on an annual basis using a continuous emissions monitoring system or an approved method.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
Facilities that were captured by O. Reg. 194/05 and O. Reg. 397/01 will be impacted by this change. In most cases it will mean a savings in compliance costs.
· The main effect for regulated businesses of revoking O. Reg. 397/01 is an anticipated reduction in the regulatory compliance costs incurred for monitoring emissions of NOX and SO2 using Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems or equivalent systems for some electricity generators. Only some facilities are expected to benefit from this change; other facilities will continue to monitor their emissions using Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems as part of conditions in their Environmental Compliance Approvals.
· Revoking O. Reg. 194/05 is expected to result in some reductions in reporting costs for all 23 regulated industrial facilities. There may be other potential cost reductions related to equipment at industrial facilities.
For those facilities that transfer allowances/credits, they will no longer incur costs associated with these transactions. Some minor cost increases are associated with learning about the proposal. The ministry will continue to monitor emissions from facilities captured by the Regulations and will consider additional actions or measures to limit emissions, if necessary, following the cancellation of this Program.
· The main effect for regulated businesses of revoking O. Reg. 397/01 is an anticipated reduction in the regulatory compliance costs incurred for monitoring emissions of NOX and SO2 using Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems or equivalent systems for some electricity generators. Only some facilities are expected to benefit from this change; other facilities will continue to monitor their emissions using Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems as part of conditions in their Environmental Compliance Approvals.
· Revoking O. Reg. 194/05 is expected to result in some reductions in reporting costs for all 23 regulated industrial facilities. There may be other potential cost reductions related to equipment at industrial facilities.
For those facilities that transfer allowances/credits, they will no longer incur costs associated with these transactions. Some minor cost increases are associated with learning about the proposal. The ministry will continue to monitor emissions from facilities captured by the Regulations and will consider additional actions or measures to limit emissions, if necessary, following the cancellation of this Program.
Further Information:
O. Reg. 397/01: Emissions Trading made under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990
O. Reg. 194/05: Industry Emissions – Nitrogen Oxides and Sulphur Dioxide made under the Environmenta
Ontario Regulation 79/15 under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990
Proposal Number:
20-MECP002
Posting Date:
October 7, 2020
Comments Due Date:
November 20, 2020
Contact Address:
135 St Clair Ave W, Toronto ON M4V 1P4
Proposal Status:
Our decision to end the Program will take effect when the regulations are filed. This change will remove administrative burden and costs associated with complying with the requirements of the Regulations and participating in the Program. The change applies to up to 70 regulated facilities in the electricity generation and industrial sectors.
Regulated facilities will no longer be required to provide emissions reports or submit allowance applications as required by the Regulations.
Facilities will no longer incur costs associated with trading with other Program participants.
Facilities will still need to report on their emissions as required by other provincial regulations or by federal requirements such as the National Pollutant Release Inventory.
As a consequence of ending the Program, Ontario has also amended O. Reg. 79/15 - Alternative Low Carbon Fuels (the ALCF regulation) to ensure the requirement for cement facilities to monitor their emissions using a continuous emissions monitoring system (CEMS) or a method approved by the Director is maintained once O. Reg. 194/05 is revoked.
The majority of comments received were supportive of the proposal with one comment expressing concerns about the monitoring and reporting requirements for facilities that were captured by the Regulations. Monitoring of nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions will be maintained at many of the facilities currently captured by the Program through their Environmental Compliance Approvals.
Regulated facilities will no longer be required to provide emissions reports or submit allowance applications as required by the Regulations.
Facilities will no longer incur costs associated with trading with other Program participants.
Facilities will still need to report on their emissions as required by other provincial regulations or by federal requirements such as the National Pollutant Release Inventory.
As a consequence of ending the Program, Ontario has also amended O. Reg. 79/15 - Alternative Low Carbon Fuels (the ALCF regulation) to ensure the requirement for cement facilities to monitor their emissions using a continuous emissions monitoring system (CEMS) or a method approved by the Director is maintained once O. Reg. 194/05 is revoked.
The majority of comments received were supportive of the proposal with one comment expressing concerns about the monitoring and reporting requirements for facilities that were captured by the Regulations. Monitoring of nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions will be maintained at many of the facilities currently captured by the Program through their Environmental Compliance Approvals.