Act
Removing Environmental Assessment Requirements for the York1 Waste Disposal Site Project
Regulation Number(s):
Instrument Type:
Act
Bill or Act:
Environmental Assessment Act
Summary of Proposal:
To help provide additional waste capacity in Ontario due to the threat of US tariffs impacting Ontario's waste sector, the province is proposing to remove environmental assessment (EA) requirements for the York1 waste project through the proposed Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025.
This would include revoking Ontario Regulation 284/24 designating Chatham-Kent Waste Disposal Site and removing environmental assessment (EA) requirements for York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd.'s proposal to resume landfill operations and expand waste handling, processing, and transfer operations at the former Dresden Tile Yard, in Chatham-Kent (the Project).
The proposed legislation, if passed, would:
• Revoke Ontario Regulation 284/24: Designation - Chatham-Kent Waste Disposal Site, which designates the Project as a Part II.3 project requiring a comprehensive environmental assessment; and
• Amend the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) to exempt the Project from other EA requirements.
The project will remain subject to strong provincial oversight and other regulatory requirements including Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECA) under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA).
This would include revoking Ontario Regulation 284/24 designating Chatham-Kent Waste Disposal Site and removing environmental assessment (EA) requirements for York1 Environmental Waste Solutions Ltd.'s proposal to resume landfill operations and expand waste handling, processing, and transfer operations at the former Dresden Tile Yard, in Chatham-Kent (the Project).
The proposed legislation, if passed, would:
• Revoke Ontario Regulation 284/24: Designation - Chatham-Kent Waste Disposal Site, which designates the Project as a Part II.3 project requiring a comprehensive environmental assessment; and
• Amend the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) to exempt the Project from other EA requirements.
The project will remain subject to strong provincial oversight and other regulatory requirements including Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECA) under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA).
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
Based on information available to the ministry and assumptions made at this time, the ministry estimates that the proponent will save upwards of $2 million by removing environmental assessment (EA) requirements under the Environmental Assessment Act (Act). The proponent would also save approximately 4 years of implementation time, as the comprehensive EA process can take approximately 4 years to complete. These values are based on best available estimates.
Further Information:
Link to Environmental Registry
Proposal Number:
25-MECP003
Posting Date:
April 17, 2025
Comments Due Date:
May 17, 2025
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