News Release Archive
ENVIRONMENT--MINISTER DETAILS IMPROVEMENTS IN ENVIRONMENT LAWS
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Faster service and better protection for homeowners and the
environment are the results of changes in Nova Scotia's
environmental regulations.
Environment Minister Wayne Adams told lawyers specializing in
environmental law that the department is working on a new
pollution prevention program for industry to be introduced this
fall.
"Just as an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of
cure," the minister said in recent remarks to the Nova Scotia
chapter of the Canadian Bar Association. "Pollution prevention
concentrates on removing the causes, rather than waiting to treat
the symptoms of environmental maladies. Why wait until the
problem is flowing out of the end of the pipe before acting?"
The department has just released a pollution prevention
discussion paper to gather comments and suggestions from the
public, industry and other interested parties. The strategy is
designed to persuade industry to put higher emphasis on pollution
prevention by integrating more environmentally sensitive
procedures into the production process. This can result in less
energy consumption and a substantial reduction in effluent to
treat at the end of the line.
"The less environmentally harmful inputs go in, the less
environmental outputs are left to treat," said Mr. Adams.
The minister also provided environmental lawyers with an outline
of changes to the regulations governing on-site septic systems.
The new regulations are designed to allow homeowners more
innovative options for on-site systems while maintaining high
levels of environmental protection. Under the old regulations,
only the Department of the Environment was allowed to design
septic systems.
"Well, we have smashed our own monopoly," Mr. Adams told the
lawyers. "Today, there's a choice. We are still there to design a
system. But there is now the option of going to qualified persons
in the private sector. This will mean faster service for those
who choose either the government or private sector options. It is
all about doing things better."
Homeowners interested in more details can obtain information from
their local office of the Department of the Environment.
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Contact: Paul J. McEachern
Department of the Environment
902-424-2575
jlw June 20, 1997 10:10 a.m.
