Environmental Planning aims to integrate environmental considerations into the global framework of the University.

Environmental regulatory framework

Environmental legal requirements relevant to the university’s activities are set out in a variety of Federal and Provincial statutes and regulations and in Municipal bylaws. Some requirements set out specific actions or preventive measures that must be in place with respect to a given activity; others are restrictions or prohibitions on given activities; and others set out the powers of government bodies to apply additional regulations or controls in specific circumstances.

The tables below are a summary of the environmental requirements relevant to the university’s activities. The tables are grouped into the following categories:

  • Spill response and reporting
  • Environmental studies and management plans
  • Operational requirements
  • Permits, authorizations, design standards, and specifications
  • Wastewater monitoring
  • Annual reporting

In each category, the left table on the left lists the requirements, and the right table lists the tools and programs in place to address those requirements. Links are provided to online legislation where available. Note that the tables are a summary only and should not be considered exhaustive.

Definitions of acronyms

OCROOffice of the Chief Risk Officer
PIPrincipal Investigator (Professor responsible for a laboratory)
H & SHealth and Safety
USTUnderground Storage Tank
NPRINational Pollutant Release Inventory
CWCChemical Weapon Convention

More information

The Environmental Department specializes in providing consulting services such as Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (Phase I ESA) for real estate due diligence and land development planning at the University.

A Phase 1 ESA, with a careful review of environmental records and an on-site visit, can uncover information regarding spills, past high-risk occupants or contamination impacting the property. It is important to understand the environmental history and regional context before finalizing property transactions or when planning a redevelopment.

A Phase I ESA is a great risk management tool that helps to identify conditions that could have material and financial impacts and to obtain an understanding of any potential liability. Or, how environmental conditions may affect the property’s value and development process.

The Phase I ESA is completed by performing:

  • A review of available environmental reports for the subject site;
  • A review of historical data in order to identify areas of potential environmental concern and area of potential contaminating activity on the subject site and on adjacent properties through an evaluation of past land use;
  • A site reconnaissance and preliminary examination of the subject site;
  • Preparation of a report on the results of the work undertaken, including professional opinion of the potential environmental risks, if any, and recommendations for additional investigations as required. The table of contents (PDF, 109KB) for the OCRO preliminary phase one ESA outlines the elements included in the final report.