NEW – ON: Amendments to emission standards for large industrial plants

In September 2020, the federal government accepted Ontario’s emissions performance standards (EPS) program as an alternative to the federal output-based pricing system (OBPS) and will remove the application of the OBPS from Ontario facilities as of January 1, 2022.  

The EPS program is a key commitment in the Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan and is intended to hold polluters accountable for their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while helping meet 2030 emissions reduction targets. 

The EPS program regulates GHG emissions from large industrial facilities by setting the standards for lowering emissions that facilities are required to meet. The EPS considers specific industry and facility conditions while allowing for economic growth.

The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MOECP) is now conducting a consultation on proposed amendments to this program. These changes aim to clarify compliance and reporting requirements, and support program administration and enforcement.

The full proposal is posted on the Environmental and Regulatory registries (ERO 019-3719). Members are invited to send their comments by July 11, 2021. Affected members may also contact CPA Ontario Government Relations Director, Marcelline Riddell, with any input they would like the CPA to convey on their behalf by July 7, 2021. Members can direct specific questions with respect to the implications of the proposed amendments to their facilities, to the ministry contact, Melissa Ollevier at melissa.ollevier@ontario.ca and copy Marcelline Riddell at marcellineriddell@propane.ca for her information and follow-up.