Regulation - LGIC
Amendments to 2019 greenhouse gas emissions reporting requirements in response to the COVID-19 outbreak
Regulation Number(s):
390/18
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Environmental Protection Act
Summary of Decision:
Ontario recognizes the impact the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the province and is taking necessary steps to ensure the health of all Ontarians while ensuring good and services continue to be delivered.
To align with the federal government's recent greenhouse gas reporting extension and maintain harmonization, Ontario has made amendments to Ontario's greenhouse gas emissions: quantification, reporting and verification regulation, O. Reg. 390/18 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
These include:
• providing authority to the director to extend the June 1 reporting deadline and the September 1 verification deadline in specific circumstances, including:
o emergency situations (such as the COVID-19 outbreak)
o technical issues with the reporting platform
o corresponding changes to relevant federal GHG reporting deadlines
• waiving or delaying the requirement for site visits by third-party verifiers for 2019 in certain circumstances
• delaying the requirement for select facilities to change third-party verifiers specifically for the 2019 reporting year.
These amendments allow the director to provide temporary relief for large emitters by extending administrative greenhouse gas emissions reporting and verification requirements without compromising our strong protections for the environment and human health and harmonizes with the federal government.
We also understand that an on-site visit is often part of the verification process and that many businesses are not allowing external visitors on-site or the sites are closed due to physical distancing measures being taken to limit the spread of COVID-19. As a result, we have temporarily removed or delayed site visit requirements in certain circumstances which will help ensure worker safety and physical distancing rules.
Details on these changes will be posted to Ontario's greenhouse gas reporting webpage once the Director's decision is finalized.
To align with the federal government's recent greenhouse gas reporting extension and maintain harmonization, Ontario has made amendments to Ontario's greenhouse gas emissions: quantification, reporting and verification regulation, O. Reg. 390/18 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
These include:
• providing authority to the director to extend the June 1 reporting deadline and the September 1 verification deadline in specific circumstances, including:
o emergency situations (such as the COVID-19 outbreak)
o technical issues with the reporting platform
o corresponding changes to relevant federal GHG reporting deadlines
• waiving or delaying the requirement for site visits by third-party verifiers for 2019 in certain circumstances
• delaying the requirement for select facilities to change third-party verifiers specifically for the 2019 reporting year.
These amendments allow the director to provide temporary relief for large emitters by extending administrative greenhouse gas emissions reporting and verification requirements without compromising our strong protections for the environment and human health and harmonizes with the federal government.
We also understand that an on-site visit is often part of the verification process and that many businesses are not allowing external visitors on-site or the sites are closed due to physical distancing measures being taken to limit the spread of COVID-19. As a result, we have temporarily removed or delayed site visit requirements in certain circumstances which will help ensure worker safety and physical distancing rules.
Details on these changes will be posted to Ontario's greenhouse gas reporting webpage once the Director's decision is finalized.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
The regulatory amendments are not expected to result in added administrative costs to business.
Further Information:
Link to Environmental Registry
O. Reg 390/18 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Quantification, Reporting and Verification
Report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
O. Reg. 218/20: GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS: QUANTIFICATION, REPORTING AND VERIFICATION
Proposal Number:
20-MECP006
Posting Date:
Summary of Proposal:
We have made administrative amendments to O. Reg 390/18 in response to the challenges industry is facing during the COVID-19 outbreak, such as staffing shortages. The changes provide temporary relief by allowing for extensions to the 2019 greenhouse gas emissions reporting and verification deadlines.
Contact Address:
n/a
Effective Date:
May 14, 2020
Decision:
Approved