Here are a few noteworthy global EHS regulatory changes from December 2018. We cover EHS legislation and standards for over 90 countries and 200 jurisdictions. If you would like to track legislative changes for specific regions, countries or jurisdictions, we are happy to help. Please send us a request for more information here and we will contact you shortly.
Canada
Regulations Amending the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Coal-fired Generation of Electricity Regulations
Industry – Energy Production Distribution
A change to this document has been announced. According to the Government of Canada, the changes:
- “require all coal-fired electricity generating units to comply with an emissions performance standard of 420 tonnes of carbon dioxide per gigawatt hour of electricity produced by 2030, at the latest”;
- will “phase out conventional coal by 2030”;
- specify that captured CO2 must not be subsequently released into the atmosphere to be excluded from quantification; and
- update the standard test for the measurement of the higher heating value for coal or biomass, and for fuel derived from waste.
The first effective date of the document that makes the change is November 30, 2018.
More information about the change is available here.
Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Canada Labour Code
Industry – Rail Transportation
A change to this document has been announced. The changes upgrade the standard used to measure workers’ noise exposure to CAN/CSA-Z107.56-13 Measurement of Noise Exposure.
The first effective date of the document that makes the change is November 23, 2018.
More information about the change is available here.
Alberta
Updated Alberta Environment and Parks Master Schedule of Standards and Conditions
Industry – General
A change to this document has been announced. The effect of the change, according to the Alberta Energy Regulator, is to “[Add] three new sections covering the themes, in situ, reservoir, and geophysical.”
The first effective date of the document that makes the change is November 22, 2018.
More information about the change is available here.
Ontario
Green Energy Repeal Act, 2018
Industry – General
A change to this document has been announced. The change transfers various provisions from the repealed Green Energy Act, 2009, notably to
- allow the government to designate persons that will have to submit reports concerning their energy consumption and water use;
- provide for mandatory verification of the information in these reports; and to
- allow the government to require designated persons to submit an energy conservation and demand management plan.
The first effective date of the document that makes the change is December 6, 2018.
More information about the change is available here.
Saskatchewan
The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Amendment Regulations, 2018
Industry – Construction
A change to this document has been announced. According to the Government of Saskatchewan, the changes notably
- Adopt the 2017 edition of the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) over the 2015 edition;
- Allow for automatic adoption of subsequent editions of the NECB one year after the publication of a new edition; and
- Narrow the definition of farm buildings to exclude buildings which are used for the production, processing, wholesaling, and distribution of cannabis products
The first effective date of the document that makes the change is January 1, 2019.
More information about the change is available here.
United States
Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances; Withdrawal
Industry – General
A change to this document has been announced. The effect of this change is to withdraw significant new use rules promulgated on October 3, 2018 under the Toxic Substances Control Act for 26 chemical substances, which were the subject of pre-manufacture notices.
The first effective date of the document that makes the change is December 3, 2018.
More information about the change is available here.
Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2019 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2020
Industry – General
A change to this document has been announced. This change establishes the annual percentage standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that apply to gasoline and diesel transportation fuel produced or imported in the year 2019. The first effective date of the document that makes the change is February 11, 2019.
More information about the change is available here.
Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances; Withdrawal
Industry – General
A change to this document has been announced. The effect of this change is to withdraw significant new use rules promulgated on October 10, 2018 under the Toxic Substances Control Act for 28 chemical substances, which were the subject of pre-manufacture notices.
The first effective date of the document that makes the change is December 7, 2018.
More information about the change is available here.
