Amendments Enhance Environmental Protection

The province is amending the Environment Act to better protect the environment and public health.

Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau introduced the changes today, Nov. 30, after a legislated review that included consultation.

"Nova Scotians have told us that the Environment Act is working well, but we know there is always opportunity to improve," said Mr. Belliveau. "These changes will help focus our people and our resources where they're needed most."

Amendments include:

• changes to allow rules and enforce standards, which allow flexibility to protect the environment
• clarifying the definition of "adverse effect" to ensure department staff do not respond to issues without impact on the environment or human health, or where they do not have authority.
• moving the mandatory review of the act to every 10 years from five, to save resources and provide a more reasonable time frame.
• enhancing the duty to report spills or releases to include professionals who become aware of spills during their work. Currently only people responsible for the spill or property owners must report.

"During consultations, we heard that more discussion and more information about administrative penalties are needed before they are considered, so we won't be moving forward with them at this time," Mr. Belliveau said. "Nova Scotians spoke and we listened."

More than 60 groups and people provided feedback on the proposed changes. The responses are summarized in What We Heard, which is available at www.gov.ns.ca/nse/envact.review .

The public and interested parties will have an opportunity to comment on any changes that come forward.