The Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010
The Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010
The Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010
The
Environmental
Management and
Protection Act, 2010
being
NOTE:
This consolidation is not official and is subject to House amendments and Law
Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel changes to Separate Chapters that may be
incorporated up until the publication of the annual bound volume. Amendments
have been incorporated for convenience of reference and the official Statutes and
Regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpretation and application
of the law. In order to preserve the integrity of the official Statutes and Regulations,
errors that may have appeared are reproduced in this consolidation.
2
Table of Contents
PART I DIVISION 5
Short title and Interpretation Registry
1 Short title 22 Registry
2 Interpretation 23 Obligations of municipalities re sites that are
the subject of documents in the registry
PART II
Minister’s Responsibilities and Powers and the State PART IV
of the Environment Report General Rules Respecting Permits, Environmental
Protection Plans and Notices
DIVISION 1
Minister’s Responsibilities and Powers 24 Permits required for certain activities
3 Responsibilities and powers of minister re the 25 Regulations and codes respecting permits
environment 26 Minister may require or waive permits
4 Advisory committees 27 Minister’s decision on permits and environmental
protection plans
DIVISION 2
State of the Environment Report 28 Amendment, suspension, cancellation of permits,
accepted environmental protection plans and
5 Preparation of report
status of qualified persons
6 Presenting of report
29 Offences for Part
7 Report of the state of provincial forests
30 Duties imposed on qualified persons re certificates,
PART III documents and opinions
Unauthorized Discharges and
PART V
Environmentally Impacted Sites
Protection of Water
DIVISION 1 31 Interpretation of Part
Unauthorized Discharges and Obligation to Report
32 Drinking water quality report
8 Prohibition on discharges
33 Duty to provide safe drinking water
9 Duty to report
34 Easements – sewage works
10 Duty to take immediate action
35 Waterworks protection order and sewage works
11 Power of minister to require report on protection order
environmentally impacted sites
36 Advisories and emergency orders
DIVISION 2
37 Amendment of waterworks protection orders
Persons Responsible
and sewage works protection orders
12 Persons responsible
38 Offences under Part
DIVISION 3
PART VI
Site Assessment
Waste Management
13 Site assessment
DIVISION 1
DIVISION 4 Beverage Container Program
Corrective Action Plan
39 Interpretation of Division
14 Corrective action plan
40 Obligation to pay deposit and environmental
15 More than one person responsible handling charge
16 Minister’s consideration of corrective action plan 41 Obligation to recover deposit and environmental
17 Financial assurances handling charge on subsequent sales
103 Transitional
5
CHAPTER E-10.22
An Act respecting the Management and Protection of the Environment,
repealing The Clean Air Act, The Environmental Management and
Protection Act, 2002, The Litter Control Act and The State of the
Environment Report Act and making consequential amendments to
certain Acts
PART I
Short title and Interpretation
Short title
1 This Act may be cited as The Environmental Management and Protection
Act, 2010.
Interpretation
2(1) In this Act:
(a) “accepted environmental protection plan” means an environmental
protection plan that is accepted by the minister pursuant to section 27;
(b) “adverse effect” means impairment of or damage to the environment or
harm to human health, caused by any chemical, physical or biological alteration
or any combination of any chemical, physical or biological alterations;
(c) “business day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday;
(d) “code” means the code adopted by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
in the regulations;
(e) “corrective action plan” means a plan that details the methods
employed to prevent, minimize, mitigate, remedy or reclaim adverse effects;
(f) “deputy environment officer” means a person appointed pursuant to
section 75;
(g) “discharge” means a discharge, drainage, deposit, release or emission
into the environment;
(h) “environment” means:
(i) air and the layers of the atmosphere;
(ii) land, including soil, subsoil, sediments, consolidated surficial deposits
and rock;
(iii) water;
(iv) organic and inorganic matter and living organisms; and
(v) the interacting natural systems and ecological and climatic
interrelationships that include the components mentioned in subclauses (i)
to (iv);
6
(s) “industrial waste works” means any works for the collection,
containment, storage, transmission, treatment or disposal of industrial waste;
(t) “minister” means the member of the Executive Council to whom for the
time being the administration of this Act is assigned;
(u) “ministry” means the ministry over which the minister presides;
(v) “notice of site condition” means a notice of site condition filed in the
registry pursuant to section 18;
(w) “occupant” means a person or tenant, other than the owner, who is in
actual possession of land;
(x) “owner”, with respect to land, means:
(i) the registered owner of the land as defined in The Land Titles
Act, 2000; or
(ii) a purchaser of the land pursuant to an agreement for sale who has
registered an interest based on the agreement for sale against the title
to that land pursuant to The Land Titles Act, 2000;
(y) “permit” means a permit issued pursuant to this Act or the regulations
and includes a permit continued as a permit issued pursuant to this Act;
(y.1) “person” includes an unincorporated association, partnership or other
organization;
(z) “person responsible” means a person described in section 12;
(aa) “prescribed” means prescribed in the regulations;
(bb) “qualified person” means:
(i) a member of a class of persons that is prescribed or is set out in the
code; or
(ii) an individual designated by the minister for one or more purposes
or activities that are governed by this Act;
(cc) “registry” means the environmentally impacted sites registry established
pursuant to section 22;
(dd) “sewage” means any liquid waste of domestic, commercial or industrial
origin containing animal, vegetable or mineral matter in suspension or solution
and includes rainwater or storm water that enters any sewage works;
(ee) “sewage works” means any works that:
(i) are designed for the collection, storage, transmission, treatment or
disposal of any sewage; and
(ii) are designated in the regulations or in the code;
(ff) “sewage works protection order” means a sewage works protection
order issued pursuant to section 35 and includes a replacement of that order
and any amendments or alterations to that order made pursuant to section 37;
8
(gg) “site assessment” means any activity to determine the cause, nature
or extent of a potential or existing adverse effect that satisfies any prescribed
requirements or any requirements set out in the code;
(hh) “storm water” means rainwater or water resulting from the melting
of snow or ice;
(ii) “substance” means any solid, liquid, particulate or gas that:
(i) is capable of becoming dispersed in or discharged into the environment;
or
(ii) is capable of becoming transformed in the environment into matter
described in subclause (i);
(jj) “surface water” means water that is above the surface of land and in a
river, stream, lake, creek, spring, ravine, coulee, canyon, lagoon, swamp, marsh
or other watercourse or water body, whether the water is there permanently
or intermittently;
(kk) “terrorist activity” means a terrorist activity as defined in the Criminal
Code;
(ll) “waste” means a solid or liquid that is one or more of the following:
(i) rubbish;
(ii) tailings;
(iii) effluent;
(iv) sewage;
(v) garbage;
(vi) refuse;
(vii) scrap;
(viii) discarded articles, bottles or cans;
(ix) any other material that is prescribed or is set out in the code;
(mm) “waste dangerous good” means a waste dangerous good that is
prescribed or is specified in the code;
(nn) “waste minimization” means any activity, process or measure
undertaken for the purpose of reducing, reusing, recycling or recovering waste;
(oo) “water” means surface water, ground water or drinking water;
(pp) “waterworks” means any works that:
(i) are designed to supply, collect, treat, store or distribute water that is
intended or actually used for human consumption or hygiene, regardless
of whether any other uses have been made of that water; and
(ii) are designated in the regulations or in the code;
9
PART II
Minister’s Responsibilities and Powers and the
State of the Environment Report
DIVISION 1
Minister’s Responsibilities and Powers
(e) make or cause to be made any investigation that the minister considers
necessary with respect to a discharge or the presence of any substance that
may cause or is causing an adverse effect, including an investigation respecting:
(i) the source and extent of the discharge or presence of the substance;
(ii) the effect of the discharge or presence of the substance on the
environment; and
(iii) any advisable corrective action;
(f) consult with any person, any government agency or any other government
about any matter governed by this Act;
(g) provide information to the public on:
(i) the quality and use of the environment;
(ii) the quantity of any substances or things in the environment; and
(iii) any activity that has an adverse effect;
(h) inquire into or hold, or appoint a person to conduct, public hearings or
inquiries respecting:
(i) the management, protection or use of the environment; and
(ii) any economic, social or other effects relevant to the environment;
(i) manage, administer and promote the conservation, and economical and
efficient use, of drinking water in Saskatchewan;
(j) approve or accept any laboratory or any analytical procedure that meets
the criteria that are prescribed or are set out in the code;
(k) exercise any of the minister’s powers set out in this Act with respect to any
mineral exploration and mineral and industrial construction and development
activities that may cause or are causing an adverse effect;
(l) develop or establish standards or requirements respecting any matter
governed by this Act;
(m) designate individuals or classes of individuals who are qualified persons
and impose terms and conditions that the minister considers appropriate on
those designations;
(n) do any other thing that the minister considers appropriate to carrying out
the minister’s responsibilities or to exercising the minister’s powers pursuant
to this Act and the regulations.
(3) The minister shall recommend to the Lieutenant Governor in Council the
adoption of a code.
11
(4) The minister shall cause notice of any standards or requirements that are
developed or established pursuant to clause (2)(l) and that are set out in the code,
and of any amendments to those standards and requirements, to:
(a) be published in the Gazette; and
(b) be made public in any other manner that the minister considers
appropriate.
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the regulations or the code, at
the request of a person proposing to engage in an activity governed by this Act, the
minister may approve criteria, terms, conditions or requirements submitted by that
person as alternatives to those set out in the code if the minister is satisfied that:
(a) those alternative criteria, terms, conditions or requirements provide an
equivalent or better level of safety or protection to human health and the
environment; and
(b) it is in the public interest to do so.
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the regulations or the code, a
person may comply with the alternative criteria, terms, conditions or requirements
approved by the minister pursuant to subsection (5) instead of the criteria, terms,
conditions or requirements set out in the code.
(7) For the purposes of an inquiry or hearing held or conducted pursuant to
clause (2)(h), the minister or the person appointed to conduct the inquiry or hearing
has the powers conferred on a commission by sections 11, 15 and 25 of The Public
Inquiries Act, 2013 .
(8) Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, for the purposes
of furthering, undertaking and enforcing the minister’s activities and responsibilities
pursuant to this Act, the minister may enter into agreements on behalf of the
Government of Saskatchewan with:
(a) the Government of Canada;
(b) a government agency;
(c) the government of any other province or territory of Canada;
(d) the government of any other country, any state or division of that country
or any minister, agent or official of that government; or
(e) any person, agency, board, commission, organization, institution or body.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.3; 2013, c.27, s.15.
Advisory committees
4(1) The minister may appoint advisory committees, which shall meet on the
request of the minister.
(2) An advisory committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the minister on
matters of general interest respecting the provisions of this Act.
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DIVISION 2
State of the Environment Report
Preparation of report
5(1) In this Division, “report” means the State of the Environment Report
prepared in accordance with this section.
(2) The minister shall ensure that a report is prepared every two years, to be
known as the State of the Environment Report, concerning the current condition
of the environment in Saskatchewan and the relationships between the condition
of the environment and the economy of Saskatchewan.
(3) The minister may use any environmental indicators that the minister considers
relevant in the preparation of a report.
(4) The report must:
(a) present baseline information on the environmental indicators mentioned
in subsection (3);
(b) present the relationships between the condition of the environment and
the economy of Saskatchewan;
(c) identify, and present analyses, respecting how the environment is
changing; and
(d) identify emerging concerns for the environment.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.5.
Presenting of report
6 In accordance with section 13 of The Executive Government Administration
Act, the minister shall lay before the Legislative Assembly every report prepared
pursuant to this Division.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.6; 2014, c.E-13.1, s.62.
PART III
Unauthorized Discharges and Environmentally Impacted Sites
DIVISION 1
Unauthorized Discharges and Obligation to Report
Prohibition on discharges
8(1) No person shall discharge or allow the discharge of a substance into the
environment in an amount, concentration or level or at a rate of release that may
cause or is causing an adverse effect unless otherwise expressly authorized pursuant
to:
(a) this Act or the regulations;
(b) any other Act, Act of the Parliament of Canada or the regulations made
pursuant to any other Act or Act of the Parliament of Canada;
(c) any approval, permit, licence or order issued or made pursuant to:
(i) this Act or the regulations; or
(ii) any other Act, Act of the Parliament of Canada or the regulations
made pursuant to any other Act or Act of the Parliament of Canada;
(d) the code; or
(e) an accepted environmental protection plan.
(2) No person shall discharge or allow the discharge of a substance into the
environment in an amount, concentration or level or at a rate of release that is in
excess of that expressly authorized by an Act, an Act of the Parliament of Canada,
an approval, a permit, a licence, an order, the code, an accepted environmental
protection plan or any regulations mentioned in subsection (1).
2010, c.E-10.22, s.8.
Duty to report
9(1) Every person who, in contravention of section 8, discharges or allows the
discharge of a substance into the environment that may cause or is causing
an adverse effect shall report the discharge in accordance with any prescribed
requirements or any requirements set out in the code.
(2) Every person who owns or occupies land on which a substance is discovered that
may cause or is causing an adverse effect shall report the discovery in accordance
with any prescribed requirements or any requirements set out in the code.
(3) Every person who, while conducting work, discovers a substance that may
cause or is causing an adverse effect shall report the discovery in accordance with
any prescribed requirements or any requirements set out in the code.
(4) A police officer or employee of a municipality or government agency who is
informed of or who investigates a discharge or discovery of a substance that may
cause or is causing an adverse effect shall report the discharge or discovery in
accordance with any prescribed requirements or any requirements set out in the code.
14
(5) Subsection (4) does not apply if the police officer or employee has reasonable
grounds to believe that the discharge or discovery has been reported by another
person.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.9.
DIVISION 2
Persons Responsible
Persons responsible
12(1) In this section, “substance” means a substance that may cause or is causing
an adverse effect.
(2) Subject to subsections (3) to (5), the following persons are persons responsible
for the purpose of this Act:
(a) every person who caused or contributed to the discharge or the presence
of the substance;
(b) every person who had possession, charge, management or control of a
substance whose actions or omissions caused or contributed to the discharge
or the presence of the substance;
(c) every owner or occupant of land on which a substance is discharged if the
discharge occurs in consequence of the acts or omissions of:
(i) the owner;
(ii) the occupant; or
(iii) any person on the property with consent of the owner or occupant
or the consent of the person in lawful possession of the property;
(d) every owner or occupant of land subsequent to the owner or occupant
described in clause (c);
(e) if the discharge of a substance occurs in the course of transporting the
substance, the person transporting that substance;
(f) every owner of a substance in prescribed circumstances;
(g) every director of a corporation:
(i) who directed, authorized, assented to, acquiesced in or participated
in an act or omission of the corporation that resulted in the discharge or
the presence of a substance; or
(ii) who, after the coming into force of this section, authorized a dividend
or distribution at a time when the director knew or should have known
the dividend or distribution impaired or could reasonably be expected to
have impaired the ability of the corporation to prevent, mitigate, remedy
or reclaim adverse effects on land owned or occupied by the corporation;
(h) every person who has agreed by contract:
(i) to be liable for the discharge or presence of the substance; or
(ii) to mitigate, remedy or reclaim adverse effects caused or contributed
to by the discharge or presence of the substance;
(i) every person to whom responsibility for an environmentally impacted site
has been transferred in accordance with section 19.
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(3) Subject to subsection (4), the following persons are not persons responsible in
the following circumstances:
(a) a municipality with respect to land shown on its tax arrears list prepared
pursuant to The Tax Enforcement Act, unless, after the date on which the
municipality is entitled to take possession of the land or becomes the owner of
the land, the municipality aggravates an existing adverse effect or discharges
a new or additional substance into the environment that:
(i) may cause or is causing an adverse effect; or
(ii) aggravates the adverse effect of the previous discharge of a substance
on that land;
(b) a secured creditor of a person mentioned in subsection (2), unless the
secured creditor would otherwise qualify as a person responsible in consequence
of satisfying any requirement set out in subsection (2);
(c) a person who provides advice or assistance regarding the handling of a
substance or the work of remedying the land and who exercised due diligence
in providing advice or assistance, unless that person:
(i) discharges a new substance or an additional amount of the substance;
or
(ii) aggravates an existing adverse effect;
(d) a person:
(i) who is or was an owner or occupant of land on which a substance
was discharged before that person became the owner or occupant; and
(ii) who could not reasonably have been expected to know about or
discover the existence of a substance at the time the person became the
owner or occupant;
(e) a person who is or was an owner or occupant of land on which a substance
was discharged before that person became the owner or occupant if a notice of
site condition was filed with respect to the site;
(f) an owner of land for which surface rights have been acquired pursuant
to The Surface Rights Acquisition and Compensation Act with respect to the
activities for which the surface rights were acquired.
(4) Clause (3)(e) applies:
(a) if the owner or occupant has not aggravated an existing adverse effect and
has not discharged a new substance or an additional amount of a substance
into the environment; and
(b) only to the extent of the relief granted pursuant to section 20 by the notice
of site condition and subject to any conditions or restrictions set out in the
notice of site condition or this Act.
17
(5) A person who undertakes an activity on land on which a notice of site condition
has been filed in the registry is a person responsible if that activity aggravates an
existing adverse effect, but only with respect to the additional adverse effect.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.12.
DIVISION 3
Site Assessment
Site assessment
13(1) The minister may require a person who is or may be a person responsible
to conduct a site assessment if the minister reasonably believes that a site may be
an environmentally impacted site.
(2) If the person responsible mentioned in subsection (1) does not own or occupy
the land on which a site assessment is to be conducted, the person shall obtain the
consent from the owner and occupant of the land to enter on the property and to
engage in the activity necessary to conduct the site assessment.
(3) If the owner or occupant of land does not consent, the person responsible who
is required to conduct the assessment in accordance with subsection (1) may request
the minister’s assistance in obtaining access to the site.
(4) If the minister believes it is in the public interest, the minister may obtain
access to the site, and for that purpose, the minister may use the powers set out in
section 77 and that section applies, with any necessary modification.
(5) The site assessment must be conducted in accordance with any prescribed
requirements or any requirements set out in the code.
(6) The site assessment conducted in accordance with this section must be
submitted to the minister immediately after it is completed.
(7) If the minister is not satisfied with a site assessment submitted pursuant to
subsection (6), the minister may direct the person who submitted the site assessment
to conduct a further investigation in the manner directed by the minister.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.13.
DIVISION 4
Corrective Action Plan
Financial assurances
17(1) The minister shall not accept a corrective action plan that proposes risk
management with future reclamation unless the responsible party provides a
financial assurance that will ensure that the site is ultimately reclaimed.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the financial assurance must be in the amount
and in a form that is acceptable to the minister.
(3) The minister may require a financial assurance in an amount and in a form
that is acceptable to the minister for corrective action plans that propose actions
different than those set out in subsection (1).
2010, c.E-10.22, s.17.
(b) the minister shall not issue an environmental protection order to the
person who transferred responsibility for the environmentally impacted site
with respect to any matter set out in the corrective action plan.
(3) Clauses (1)(a) and (2)(a) apply only with respect to the substances identified in
the notice of site condition or corrective action plan, as the case may be.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.20.
DIVISION 5
Registry
Registry
22(1) The minister shall establish an environmentally impacted sites registry.
(2) The registry is to contain the following documents that are accepted or received
by the minister:
(a) notices of site condition;
(b) corrective action plans;
(c) site assessments;
(d) environmental protection orders;
(e) any other prescribed documents or prescribed classes of documents.
(3) Every person required to prepare a site assessment in accordance with section 13
shall register a notice respecting the site that satisfies any prescribed requirements
or any requirements set out in the code.
(4) Every person required to prepare a corrective action plan in accordance with
section 14 or 15 shall register that plan in the prescribed format or a format that
is set out in the code.
(5) The minister shall require a person to whom an environmental protection
order is issued to register a notice respecting the site that satisfies any prescribed
requirements or any requirements set out in the code.
(6) The registry is to be open for public inspection.
(7) The minister shall provide notice of registration of a document respecting an
environmentally impacted site to the municipality or municipalities in which the
site is located.
(8) The minister may charge the prescribed fees for filing documents and for
inspecting documents in the registry.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.22.
Obligations of municipalities re sites that are the subject of documents in the registry
23 If a site is the subject of a document filed or registered in the registry, every
municipality in which the site is wholly or partly located shall:
(a) if that site is zoned for a purpose that is not compatible with the condition
of the site as set out in the documents registered in the registry, amend the
zoning to be compatible; and
(b) not issue any building permits, licences or other permits for the site if
the activity contemplated by the proposed permit is not compatible with the
condition of the site as disclosed in the documents registered in the registry.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.23.
22
PART IV
General Rules Respecting Permits, Environmental
Protection Plans and Notices
(b) the person will engage in the activity in a manner that provides an
equivalent or better level of safety or protection to human health and the
environment to that provided by this Act, the regulations and the code; and
(c) it is in the public interest to do so.
(3) The minister may impose any terms and conditions that the minister considers
appropriate on a waiver granted pursuant to subsection (2).
(4) Subsection (2) does not apply to permits required by section 24.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.26.
(7) In the prescribed circumstances, the minister shall obtain the approval of
the Lieutenant Governor in Council before issuing a written decision pursuant to
subsection (6).
(8) An environmental protection plan is deemed to have been accepted by the
minister 45 business days after receiving the application to accept the environmental
action plan unless, before the expiry of that period, the minister notifies, in writing,
the person submitting the application that the minister intends to act pursuant
to clause (3)(b) or (c) or that the minister requires further information or time to
determine whether or not to accept the environmental protection plan.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.27.
(2) If the minister is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so, the minister
may:
(a) impose terms and conditions that must be met before the minister will
accept any documents or written materials prepared by a qualified person; or
(b) refuse to accept any documents or written materials prepared by a
qualified person.
(3) Before the minister does any of the things mentioned in subsection (1) or (2),
the minister shall give the person mentioned in subsection (1) or (2):
(a) written notice of the minister’s intended action and the reasons for that
intended action; and
(b) an opportunity to make written representations to the minister, within 30
days after the written notice mentioned in clause (a) is served, as to why the
intended action should not be taken.
(4) The minister is not required to give an oral hearing to any person to whom a
notice has been given pursuant to subsection (3).
(5) After considering the representations mentioned in subsection (3), the minister
shall issue a written decision and shall serve a copy of the decision on the person
who made the representations.
(6) If the minister cancels, amends, alters, imposes additional or new terms or
conditions on or suspends a permit or an accepted environmental protection plan,
the minister:
(a) may issue any additional order that the minister considers appropriate
requiring any repair, restoration or reclamation of the environment; and
(b) in an order mentioned in clause (a), shall specify the period within which
the order must be complied with.
(7) No person to whom an order pursuant to subsection (6) is directed shall fail to
comply with that order.
(8) A person to whom a permit has been issued or who received acceptance for an
environmental protection plan may apply to the minister to cancel, amend or alter
the permit or accepted environmental protection plan.
(9) On receipt of an application pursuant to subsection (8) and if the minister
considers it appropriate to do so, the minister may cancel, amend or alter the permit
or the environmental protection plan.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.28.
(2) No person whose environmental protection plan has been accepted by the
minister shall:
(a) fail to comply with the accepted environmental protection plan and any
terms and conditions imposed on the accepted environmental protection plan;
(b) fail to comply with the code as it applies to the activities engaged in by
that person; or
(c) fail to provide notice to the minister when required to do so by this Act,
the regulations or the accepted environmental protection plan.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.29.
PART V
Protection of Water
Interpretation of Part
31 In this Part and for the purposes of Table 1 of the Schedule:
(a) “bank” means the rising ground bordering a water body or watercourse
that serves to confine the water to the channel or bed;
(b) “bed” means that portion of a water body or watercourse that is
periodically or continuously covered by water;
(c) “boundary” means the line or elevation contour surrounding a water
body or watercourse where the aquatic vegetation and terrestrial plant species
known to tolerate water saturated soils change entirely to terrestrial vegetation
tolerating little or no soil saturation, and includes a minimum surrounding
area of five metres measured outward from the top of the bank;
(d) “person responsible for a sewage works” means a prescribed person
or a prescribed class of persons;
(e) “person responsible for a waterworks” means a prescribed person or
a prescribed class of persons;
27
(f) “sewage collection works” means that part of a sewage works that
includes the collection system and pumping stations;
(g) “sewage treatment works” means that part of a sewage works that
modifies or holds sewage, but does not include those parts that constitute a
sewage collection works;
(h) “water distribution works” means that part of a waterworks that:
(i) includes the distribution system and pump houses; and
(ii) only treats water by means of chemical additions;
(i) “water treatment works” means that part of a waterworks that is used
to filter or condition water for the purpose of rendering water acceptable for
human consumption or hygienic use.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.31.
(b) obtain from any other person having a registered interest in the land
mentioned in clause (a) a consent to the granting of the easement; and
(c) apply to the Registrar of Titles to register the easement against the titles
to the affected lands.
(3) A permit holder or owner of the sewage works who has received a written request
pursuant to subsection (2) shall comply with that request, and notify the minister
of the registration of the easement, within the time specified by the minister in the
written request.
(4) Every easement registered pursuant to subsection (2):
(a) runs with the land; and
(b) is binding on:
(i) the grantor and the grantor’s heirs, executors, administrators and
assigns; and
(ii) all persons, in addition to those mentioned in subclause (i), who are
interested in the land.
(5) No easement registered pursuant to this section shall be discharged
without the written consent of the minister.
(6) The minister may discharge an easement registered by the minister
pursuant to a similar provision of a former Act if the minister considers it
appropriate to do so.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.34.
(g) suspend any operator of the waterworks or sewage works from that
operator’s duties relating to the waterworks or sewage works;
(h) appoint a person as project manager to oversee the operations of the
waterworks or sewage works and direct the person responsible for the
waterworks or sewage works to pay all costs associated with the appointment
and activities of the project manager;
(i) take any measures other than those described in clauses (a) to (h) that
the minister considers necessary to:
(i) facilitate compliance with an order made pursuant to this section; or
(ii) protect human health or the environment.
(4) A waterworks protection order or a sewage works protection order may specify:
(a) the method or procedures to be used in carrying out the measures required
by the order and the manner in which those measures or procedures are to be
carried out; and
(b) the period within which any measure required by the order is to be
commenced and the period within which the order or any portion of the order
is to be complied with.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.35.
PART VI
Waste Management
DIVISION 1
Beverage Container Program
Interpretation of Division
39 In this Division:
(a) “beverage container” means a container that is within a category of
prescribed containers;
(b) “consumer” means a person who purchases a beverage container
containing a beverage:
(i) for use of the beverage container by that person;
(ii) for use of the beverage container by another person at the first
person’s expense; or
(iii) on behalf of, or as agent for, a principal for use of the beverage
container by the principal or by another person at the principal’s expense.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.39.
Collection
43(1) Unless otherwise provided in this Part or in the regulations, the deposit
and environmental handling charge imposed by section 40 are to be collected and
remitted to the minister responsible for the administration of The Revenue and
Financial Services Act in accordance with Part III of The Revenue and Financial
Services Act and the regulations made pursuant to that Part.
(2) The minister responsible for the administration of The Revenue and
Financial Services Act may enforce the collection and remission of the deposit and
environmental handling charge imposed by section 40 in accordance with this Act, the
regulations, Part III of The Revenue and Financial Services Act and the regulations
made pursuant to that Part.
(3) All amounts collected pursuant to Part III of The Revenue and Financial Services
Act with respect to deposits and environmental handling charges shall be deposited
in the general revenue fund.
(4) For the purposes of applying Part III of The Revenue and Financial Services Act:
(a) the person required to remit the deposits and environmental handling
charges is deemed to be a collector within the meaning of that Part;
(b) this Act is deemed to be a revenue Act within the meaning of that Part; and
(c) the consumer is deemed to be a taxpayer within the meaning of that Part.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.43.
Refund
44(1) In this section, “depot” means a depot operated by a person with whom the
minister has entered into an agreement for the purposes of this section.
34
(2) Subject to subsection (5), every person who delivers a beverage container to
the operator of a depot is entitled to receive a refund respecting that container if
the refundable deposit and environmental handling charge mentioned in section 40
have been paid.
(3) A refund pursuant to subsection (2) must be made to the person who delivered
the beverage container to the depot.
(4) The operator of a depot may determine the maximum number of beverage
containers a person may deliver within a specified period and shall post notice of that
number and specified period at each depot for which that operator is responsible.
(5) The operator of a depot may refuse to pay a refund for any beverage container
in excess of the maximum number.
(6) No person shall claim or attempt to claim a refund if the refundable deposit
and environmental handling charge mentioned in section 40 have not been paid.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.44; 2018, c 9, s.6.
DIVISION 2
Stewardship Programs
(3) Before operating an interim product stewardship program, the minister shall:
(a) provide all persons who manufacture, import or sell the prescribed product
with the following:
(i) 30 days’ notice in any manner the minister is satisfied will bring
the notice to their attention and to the attention of the public that the
minister intends to operate an interim product stewardship program and
setting out:
(A) the date on which the interim product stewardship program
is to commence operation; and
(B) any other information the minister considers appropriate;
(ii) an opportunity to make written representations within 30 days after
the date on which the notice mentioned in subclause (i) is given; and
(b) post the notice mentioned in subclause (a)(i) on the ministry’s website and
cause the notice to be made available to the public in any manner the minister
considers appropriate.
(4) If the minister operates an interim product stewardship program, the minister
may, by order:
(a) prepare a detailed description of the scope and operations of the interim
product stewardship program;
(b) set rates and fees required to be paid by persons who manufacture, import
or sell a prescribed product to the minister for the operation of the interim
product stewardship program; and
(c) enter into an agreement with any person to implement and administer
the interim product stewardship program.
(5) As soon as is reasonably practicable after making an order pursuant to
subsection (4), the minister shall cause the order:
(a) to be printed in the Gazette; and
(b) to be made available to the public in any manner the minister considers
appropriate, including posting it on the ministry’s website.
(6) If the minister operates an interim product stewardship program:
(a) every person who manufactures, imports or sells the prescribed product
for which the program is being operated:
(i) shall comply with the interim product stewardship program; and
(ii) is no longer required to comply with any regulations respecting
product stewardship programs with respect to that prescribed product; and
(b) any regulations with respect to a product stewardship program dealing
with that prescribed product cease to apply during the period that the minister
is operating the interim product stewardship program.
36
(7) The minister may operate an interim product stewardship program for a period
of not more than 2 years.
(8) Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the minister
may extend the period mentioned in subsection (7) by 1 year.
2018, c 9, s.7.
DIVISION 3
Solid and Liquid Waste Management
Interpretation of Division
47 In this Division, “waste management works” includes the following facilities
and operations for the management of solid waste, liquid domestic waste, industrial
waste and industrial tailings:
(a) a prescribed category of landfills;
(b) a prescribed category of transfer stations;
(c) any other prescribed category of facilities.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.47.
Littering prohibited
50(1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall discard, or abandon or cause to be
discarded or abandoned or allow to be discarded or abandoned, any waste:
(a) on any land that is owned by another person or the Crown; or
(b) into or on any water.
(2) It is not an offence for a person to discard or abandon, or cause to be discarded
or abandoned or allow to be discarded or abandoned, any waste:
(a) in a receptacle provided for the purpose of receiving the waste; or
(b) on lands or sites authorized by this Act or the regulations for the purpose
of receiving the waste.
(3) No person shall discard, abandon or dispose, or cause to be discarded, abandoned
or disposed or allow to be discarded, abandoned or disposed, any hazardous substance
except in a location or at a site that is permitted by this Act, the regulations or the
code to receive that hazardous substance.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.50.
39
PART VII
Air Quality
Interpretation of Part
51 In this Part and in Part VIII:
(a) “air contaminant” means a solid, liquid, gas or combination of any of
them in the ambient air that may cause or is causing an adverse effect;
(b) “ambient air” means the air surrounding the earth but does not include
the air within a structure or within any underground space;
(c) “greenhouse gases” means greenhouse gases as defined in The
Management and Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Act;
(d) “industrial activity” means prescribed activity that is a source of air
contaminants that may cause or are causing an adverse effect;
(e) “industrial source” means a source of air contaminants that is from a
prescribed category of facilities, operations or equipment.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.51.
Application of Part
52(1) Subject to subsection (3) and clauses 53(j) to (o), this Act does not apply to
any greenhouse gases.
(2) Without restricting the generality of subsection (1), this Act does not apply to
greenhouse gas stored by way of geological sequestration.
(3) This Act does apply to greenhouse gases:
(a) during storage other than by geological sequestration;
(b) during transportation;
(c) when used as an input in an industrial process; and
(d) if unintentionally discharged:
(i) during storage, including discharge from geological sequestration; or
(ii) when greenhouse gases are transported or used as an input in an
industrial process.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.52.
Control order
54(1) The minister may issue a control order to any person who contravenes this
Part or the regulations made for the purposes of this Part.
(2) In a control order issued pursuant to subsection (1), the minister may require
the person to whom the order is directed to do any one or more of the following:
(a) refrain from emitting an air contaminant permanently, for a specified
period, during certain times or in the circumstances specified in the order;
(b) control the emission of an air contaminant in accordance with the
directions specified in the order;
(c) comply with any directions specified in the order relating to the manner
in which an air contaminant may be emitted or the procedures to be followed
in the control of the emission of an air contaminant;
(d) install, replace or alter any equipment designed to control or eliminate
the emission of an air contaminant;
(e) measure the rate of emission of an air contaminant;
(f) measure the concentration of an air contaminant in the ambient air;
(g) provide the minister with information, statistics or other data with respect
to the operating conditions or other circumstances that have a bearing on the
emission of an air contaminant;
(h) measure or monitor the meteorological conditions that have a bearing on
the dispersion of an air contaminant;
(i) carry out studies or investigations in response to a specific air pollution
problem that may cause or is causing an adverse effect;
(j) refrain from leaking or discharging a halocarbon;
(k) install, repair, service, replace or alter any equipment that is designed to
control or eliminate the discharge of a halocarbon;
(l) refrain from removing, repairing, servicing, replacing or altering any
equipment that is designed to control or eliminate the discharge of a halocarbon;
(m) remove or discharge a halocarbon from a container;
(n) store a halocarbon in the manner specified in the order;
(o) report to the minister with respect to any matter mentioned in clauses (a)
to (n) in accordance with the instructions specified in the order.
(3) The minister may, by a further order, amend, alter or replace a previous control
order.
(4) A person to whom a control order is directed shall comply with the order
immediately on being served with the order unless the control order specifies a
future day on and from which the order is to be complied with.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.54.
42
PART VIII
General Rules Respecting Orders and Terrorist Activity
DIVISION 1
General Rules Respecting Orders
Project manager
59(1) The minister may appoint a person as a project manager to oversee the
carrying out of an environmental protection order.
(2) A project manager appointed pursuant to subsection (1) may issue written
directives to any person to whom an environmental protection order is issued that,
in the project manager’s opinion, facilitate compliance with the measures set out
in the environmental protection order.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.59.
(2) If the minister files a certificate pursuant to subsection (1), the minister shall
serve a copy of the certificate on the person from whom the certificate states the
costs and expenses are recoverable.
(3) A certificate filed pursuant to this section has the same force and effect as if it
were a judgment obtained in the Court of Queen’s Bench for the recovery of a debt
in the amount specified in the certificate, together with any reasonable costs and
charges with respect to its filing.
(4) A person who has been served with a copy of a certificate pursuant to
subsection (2) may, within 30 days after receiving the copy, make written
representations to the minister requesting the minister to reconsider the amount
of the costs and expenses.
(5) After considering the representations mentioned in subsection (4), the minister
may:
(a) withdraw the certificate;
(b) vary the amount of the costs and expenses and, for that purpose, withdraw
the certificate and file a new certificate with the new costs and expenses; or
(c) confirm the certificate.
(6) The minister shall serve a copy of the minister’s decision made pursuant to this
section on the person who made the written representations as soon as is reasonably
practicable after making the decision.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.62.
(5) On hearing an appeal pursuant to this section, the judge of the Court of Queen’s
Bench may issue an order:
(a) confirming the environmental protection order or the entering of the
certificate against the appellant, as the case may be;
(b) amending the environmental protection order or the certificate, as the
case may be;
(c) quashing the environmental protection order or the certificate, as the
case may be; or
(d) doing any other thing that the judge considers appropriate.
(6) In an order issued pursuant to subsection (5), the judge of the Court of Queen’s
Bench may specify the period within which the environmental protection order
must be complied with.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.63.
DIVISION 2
Terrorist Activity
Interpretation of Division
66 In this Division and in section 91, “minister’s designate” means a person
designated by the minister for the purposes of this Division.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.66.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a minister’s designate may make any order described
in clause (1)(a) if:
(a) the minister’s designate believes, on reasonable grounds, that:
(i) a terrorist activity:
(A) is occurring or might occur; and
(B) is causing or might cause an adverse effect or constitutes a
serious threat to the health or safety of the public; and
(ii) the requirements set out in the order are necessary to decrease or
eliminate that adverse effect or that serious threat; and
(b) in the opinion of the minister’s designate, there will be insufficient time
for the minister to make an order pursuant to this section because of the nature
of the adverse effect or serious threat.
(3) An order made by a minister’s designate pursuant to subsection (2):
(a) must specify the time at which it is made; and
(b) terminates 72 hours after it is made unless the minister makes an order
extending its effect.
(4) Immediately after making an order pursuant to subsection (1) or (2), the
minister or the minister’s designate, as the case may be, shall:
(a) serve a copy on any person named in the order; and
(b) publish the order by any means of communication that the minister or
minister’s designate reasonably considers will make the order known to the
majority of the population in the area affected by the order.
(5) No person to whom an order made pursuant to subsection (1) or (2) is issued
shall fail to comply with the order.
(6) The minister may:
(a) do all or any of the things mentioned in an order pursuant to subsection (1)
or (2) if the person to whom the order is issued fails to comply with the order:
(i) within the period specified in the order; or
(ii) if no period is specified in the order, within a reasonable period after
the order was issued; and
(b) recover the costs and expenses incurred pursuant to clause (a) on behalf
of the Crown in right of Saskatchewan as a debt due to and recoverable by the
Crown from the person who failed to comply with the order.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.67.
50
PART IX
General Matters Respecting Administration,
Environment Officer’s Powers and Public Information
DIVISION 1
Administration and Environment Officer’s Powers
Compliance evaluation
68(1) The minister may direct, in writing, a person who has a permit issued in
accordance with this Act or who engages in activities that are required to be carried
out in accordance with the code or an accepted environmental protection plan to
provide the minister with any compliance evaluation that the person is required to
conduct as part of that person’s environmental management system.
(2) The person to whom a written direction is made pursuant to subsection (1)
shall cause the compliance evaluation to be conducted at that person’s expense and
shall provide the compliance evaluation to the minister within the period set out
in the written direction.
(3) The compliance evaluation must contain:
(a) an assessment of how well the person mentioned in subsection (1) has
complied with this Act, the regulations, the code or the terms and conditions
of the permit or the accepted environmental protection plan; and
(b) if the obligations imposed by this Act, the regulations or the code or the
terms or conditions of the permit or the accepted environmental protection plan
have not been met, an explanation for the differences between the results and
those obligations, terms and conditions.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.68.
(b) an order enjoining any person from proceeding contrary to this Act, the
regulations, the code, an accepted environmental protection plan, an order
issued pursuant to this Act or the regulations, or the terms and conditions of
a permit.
(2) On an application pursuant to this section, the judge of the Court of Queen’s
Bench may make the order requested or any other order that the judge considers
appropriate on any terms and conditions that the judge considers appropriate.
(3) The minister may apply for an order pursuant to subsection (1) regardless
of whether an order pursuant to this Act or the regulations has been issued with
respect to the matter.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.70.
(b) promptly return the books, records, papers or documents from which the
copies were made to:
(i) the place from which they were removed; or
(ii) any other place that may be agreed to by the environment officer
and the person who produced them.
2018, c 9, s.10.
Obtaining information
78.1 For the purpose of obtaining any information that is required to determine
compliance with this Act, the regulations, the code, an accepted environmental
protection plan, an order made pursuant to this Act or an Act or regulation mentioned
in section 74 or that is otherwise required for the performance of the duties or the
exercise of the powers of the environment officer, the officer may direct any person
to provide the officer with any information in any form and manner and within any
time that the officer may specify.
2018, c 9, s.10.
Investigations
78.2(1) If a justice or a provincial court judge is satisfied by information on oath
or affirmation that there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offence against
this Act, the regulations, the code or an Act or regulation mentioned in section 74
has occurred and that evidence of that offence is likely to be found, the justice or
the provincial court judge may issue a warrant to do all or any of the following:
(a) enter and search any place or premises named in the warrant;
(b) stop and search any vehicle described in the warrant;
(c) seize and remove from any place, premises or vehicle searched anything
that may be evidence of an offence against this Act, the regulations, the code
or an Act or regulation mentioned in section 74;
(d) carry out any other activities mentioned in subsection (2).
(2) With a warrant issued pursuant to subsection (1), an environment officer may:
(a) enter at any time and search any place or premises named in the warrant;
(b) stop and search any vehicle named in the warrant;
(c) open and examine the contents within any trunk, box, bag, parcel, closet,
cupboard or other receptacle that the environment officer finds in the place,
premises or vehicle;
(d) require the production of and examine any records or property that the
environment officer believes, on reasonable grounds, may contain information
related to an offence against this Act, the regulations, the code or an Act or
regulation mentioned in section 74;
(e) remove, for the purpose of making copies, any records examined pursuant
to this section;
(f) require the use of any machinery, equipment, appliance or thing located
at the place or premises to be demonstrated;
56
(g) conduct any tests, take any samples and make any examinations that the
environment officer considers necessary or advisable; and
(h) seize and remove from any place, premises or vehicle searched anything
that may be evidence of an offence against this Act, the regulations, the code
or an Act or regulation mentioned in section 74.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), an environment officer may exercise all or any of
the powers mentioned in subsection (2) without a warrant issued pursuant to
subsection (1) if:
(a) the conditions for obtaining a warrant exist; and
(b) the environment officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the delay
necessary to obtain a warrant would result:
(i) in danger to human life or safety; or
(ii) in the loss, removal or destruction of evidence.
(4) An environment officer shall not enter a private dwelling without a warrant
issued pursuant to this section unless the occupant of the dwelling consents to the
entry.
2018, c 9, s.10.
(6) If the person from whom an item or thing was seized, removed or detained
pursuant to this section is convicted of an offence pursuant to this Act, that person
shall reimburse the minister for the environment officer’s reasonable costs of
seizing, removing and detaining the item or thing before it is released pursuant to
this section.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.79; 2018, c 9, s.11.
(3) If a vehicle is being used to transport anything to which this Act, the regulations,
the code or an Act or regulation mentioned in section 74 applies and the thing has
been seized by the environment officer pursuant to subsection (1), any person in
charge of or operating the vehicle shall convey the seized thing to which this Act,
the regulations, the code or an Act or regulation mentioned in section 74 applies to
any place that the environment officer may direct.
(4) If anything to which this Act, the regulations, the code or an Act or regulation
mentioned in section 74 applies is liable to seizure by an environment officer and has
been mixed with other similar products so as to render it impractical or difficult to
distinguish or separate the thing from the other products or materials with which
it is mixed, all of those products or materials so mixed may be seized.
(5) If an environment officer has custody of anything to which this Act, the
regulations, the code or an Act or regulation mentioned in section 74 applies
that is seized pursuant to subsection (1) and that is perishable or susceptible to
deterioration, the minister, the ministry or the environment officer may dispose of
it, in whole or in part, in any manner approved by the minister, and any proceeds
realized from the disposition are to be dealt with in the manner set out in the
regulations.
2018, c 9, s.13.
Forfeiture
80.2 If a person is convicted of a contravention of this Act, the regulations, the
code or an Act or regulation mentioned in section 74, the convicting court may order
that any item or thing or vehicle seized in connection with the offence is forfeited
to the Crown and is to be disposed of in a manner approved by the minister.
2018, c 9, s.13.
Entry on land
81 An environment officer and any person or persons lawfully accompanying the
environment officer for the purposes of carrying out the environment officer’s duties
may enter on or pass over any land, whether enclosed or not, without a warrant.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.81.
DIVISION 2
Public Information
Public information
83(1) Subject to subsections (3) to (11), all applications, information, data, test
results, reports, returns and records and responses to a direction of the minister
submitted to the minister pursuant to this Act, the regulations, the code or an
accepted environmental protection plan are deemed to be public information.
(2) The minister may disclose to the public any application, information, data, test
result, report, return or record or response to a direction of the minister mentioned in
subsection (1) at any time and in any manner that the minister considers appropriate.
(3) Subject to the regulations, a person who submits an application or any
information, data, test result, report, return or record or responds to a direction of
the minister pursuant to this Act may request in writing that all or any part of the
application, information, data, test result, report, return, record or response be kept
confidential for a period of up to 5 years after the date of submission.
(4) Before the expiry of the period mentioned in subsection (3) or, if a request by
that person has been approved pursuant to this subsection, before the expiry of
the most recent period, the person may request in writing that the application,
information, data, test result, report, return, record or response be kept confidential
for a further period of up to 5 years.
(5) A request made pursuant to this section is to be dealt with in the prescribed
manner.
(6) On receipt of a written request pursuant to subsection (3) or (4), the minister
may approve the request if the minister is satisfied that the application, information,
data, test result, report, return, record or response:
(a) contains matters that:
(i) are of a commercial, financial, scientific or technical nature; and
(ii) would reveal proprietary business, competitive or trade secret
information about that person’s business; or
(b) meets any prescribed criteria.
(7) If the minister does not approve the written request pursuant to subsection (3)
or (4), the minister shall:
(a) notify the person who made the request of the minister’s decision along
with reasons for the decision; and
(b) wait for a period of 30 days after sending the notice mentioned in clause (a)
before disclosing the application, information, data, test result, report, return,
record or response with respect to which the request was made to the public.
(8) A person who makes a request pursuant to subsection (3) or (4) may
appeal the minister’s decision made pursuant to subsection (7) on a question
of law to a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench within 30 days after the
date of service of the decision.
60
PART X
Offences, Enforcement and Administrative Penalties
DIVISION 1
Offences
Offences
84(1) No person shall:
(a) make a false statement or provide false information to the minister, an
environment officer, the ministry or any person acting on behalf of the minister;
(b) omit to state a fact that is required to be stated or that is necessary to
make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances in which it
was made to the minister, an environment officer, the ministry or any person
acting on behalf of the minister;
(c) fail to comply with an order of the minister issued pursuant to this Act
or the regulations; or
(d) fail to comply with any provision of this Act, the regulations or the code.
61
(2) Subject to subsection (3), every person who contravenes a provision of this Act,
the regulations or the code, for which no penalty is otherwise provided, is guilty of
an offence and liable on summary conviction to:
(a) a fine not exceeding $1,000,000 for each day or part of a day during which
the offence continues;
(b) imprisonment not exceeding three years; or
(c) both that fine and imprisonment.
(3) If a person is convicted of an offence pursuant to this Act, the regulations or
the code and the court is satisfied that as a result of the commission of the offence
monetary benefits accrued to the offender, the court may order the offender to pay,
in addition to a fine pursuant to subsection (2), a fine in an amount equal to the
court’s estimation of the amount of those monetary benefits.
(4) Every director, officer or agent of a corporation who directed, authorized,
assented to, acquiesced in or participated in an act or omission of the corporation
that would constitute an offence by the corporation is guilty of that offence and is
liable on summary conviction to the penalties provided for that offence whether or
not the corporation has been prosecuted or convicted.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.84.
DIVISION 2
Enforcement
Vicarious liability
86 In any prosecution of a person for a contravention of this Act the regulations
or the code, it is sufficient proof of the offence to establish, in the absence of any
evidence that the offence was committed without the person’s knowledge, that it
was committed by an employee, helper or agent of the person, whether or not the
employee, helper or agent:
(a) is identified; or
(b) has been prosecuted or convicted for the offence.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.86.
Limitation on prosecutions
87 No prosecution for a contravention of this Act, the regulations or the code is to be
commenced more than three years after the facts on which the alleged contravention
is based first came to the knowledge of the minister.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.87.
DIVISION 3
Administrative Penalty
Administrative penalty
88(1) The minister may assess a penalty in the prescribed amount against a
prescribed person, or prescribed class of persons, for prescribed contraventions of
this Act, the regulations, the code or an accepted environmental protection plan.
(2) Before assessing a penalty, the minister shall provide notice to the person:
(a) setting out the facts and circumstances that, in the minister’s opinion,
render the person liable to a penalty;
(b) specifying the amount of the penalty that the minister considers
appropriate in the circumstances; and
(c) informing the person of the person’s right to make representations to the
minister.
(3) No penalty is to be assessed by the minister more than three years after the act
or omission that renders the person liable to a penalty first came to the knowledge
of the minister.
(4) A person to whom notice is sent pursuant to subsection (2) may make
representations to the minister respecting whether or not a penalty should be
assessed and the amount of any penalty.
(5) Representations pursuant to subsection (4) must be made within 30 days after
the person received the notice pursuant to subsection (2).
63
DIVISION 4
Orphaned Environmentally Impacted Sites Fund
PART XI
General
Immunity
91 No action or other proceeding lies or shall be commenced against the minister,
the ministry, the minister’s designate, any environment officer, any person lawfully
accompanying an environment officer, a project manager, the Crown in right of
Saskatchewan or officers and employees of the Crown in right of Saskatchewan for
any loss or damage suffered by a person by reason of anything in good faith done,
caused, permitted or authorized to be done, attempted to be done or omitted to be
done by any one or more of them, pursuant to or in the exercise or supposed exercise of
any power conferred by this Act or the regulations or in the carrying out or supposed
carrying out of any function or duty imposed by this Act or the regulations.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.91.
Emergency exemption
94(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the regulations or the code,
if, in the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, there is an emergency, the
Lieutenant Governor in Council may exempt any person or class of persons from
the application of all or any provision of this Act, the regulations or the code in the
circumstances set out in the exemption.
(2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may impose any terms and conditions that
the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers appropriate or in the public interest
on an exemption.
(3) No person to whom an exemption has been granted pursuant to this section
shall fail to comply with any terms and conditions imposed on the exemption.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.94.
66
Crown bound
96 The Crown is bound by this Act.
2010, c.E-10.22, s.96.
PART XII
Regulations
Regulations
98(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations:
(a) defining, enlarging or restricting the meaning of any word or expression
used in this Act but not defined in this Act;
(b) for the purposes of clause 2(1)(p), prescribing a substance as a hazardous
substance;
(c) for the purposes of clause 2(1)(q), prescribing a waste as a hazardous waste;
(d) for the purposes of clause 2(1)(bb), prescribing a class of persons;
(e) for the purposes of clause 2(1)(gg), prescribing requirements;
(f) for the purposes of clause 2(1)(ll), prescribing other materials as waste;
(g) for the purposes of clause 2(1)(mm), prescribing goods as waste dangerous
goods and, for that purpose, prescribing different goods as waste dangerous
goods for different provisions of this Act or the regulations;
(h) for the purposes of subsection 2(2), prescribing criteria or conditions;
(i) designating works or classes of works as waterworks for the purposes of
all or any provision of this Act and the regulations and for that purpose may
designate different waterworks or classes of waterworks for different provisions
of this Act or the regulations;
(j) for the purposes of clause 3(2)(j), prescribing criteria for laboratory or
analytical procedures, including authorizing the minister to approve any
analytical protocols and procedures that the minister considers necessary to
ensure that water is properly tested;
(k) for the purposes of section 9, prescribing requirements respecting the
reporting of discharges and discoveries of substances;
(l) for the purposes of section 11, prescribing requirements respecting reports;
(m) for the purposes of clause 12(2)(f), prescribing the circumstances in which
the owner of a substance is a person responsible;
(n) prescribing persons or classes of persons as persons who are responsible
for a waterworks or a sewage works;
(o) for the purposes of section 13, prescribing requirements respecting the
conduct of site assessments;
(p) for the purposes of section 14, prescribing requirements respecting
corrective action plans;
(q) for the purposes of section 22:
(i) prescribing documents or classes of documents that are to be in the
registry;
(ii) prescribing requirements for notices respecting sites in order to
register the notice in the registry;
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(cc) controlling, restricting or prohibiting any actions of any person for the
purpose of abating noise or controlling noise levels;
(dd) regulating, restricting and prohibiting the discharge, drainage, diversion,
handling, collection, containment, disposal, storage, treatment, transmission
or transportation of any substance, including any substance dealt with without
processing, arising from or relating to any activity of all or any part of the
mining industry or the development of, or exploration for, any mineral resource;
(ee) regulating the construction, operation, maintenance, alteration or
extension of facilities for the discharge, drainage, diversion, handling, collection,
containment, disposal, storage, treatment, transmission or transportation of
any substance arising from or relating to any activity of all or any part of the
mining industry or the development of, or exploration for, any mineral resource;
(ff) respecting the issuance of permits pursuant to this Act or the regulations
and the terms and conditions attached to those permits and authorizing the
minister to determine those terms and conditions;
(gg) respecting the quality for substances, including any substance dealt with
without processing, arising from any activity of all or any part of the mining
industry or the development of, or exploration for, any mineral resource;
(hh) respecting the closure or abandonment and the decommissioning and
reclamation of any mining site or any part of a mining site and any land,
watercourse, facility or infrastructure used in connection with, or disturbed by
the construction, extension, alteration or operation of, a mining site, including
requiring decommissioning and reclamation plans to be prepared, approved
by the minister, reviewed and changed when necessary;
(ii) respecting measures to prevent or control the discharge of substances;
(jj) regulating and controlling the transportation of hazardous wastes and
other wastes;
(kk) regulating and controlling the storage, processing, destruction or other
disposal of hazardous wastes and other wastes;
(ll) requiring and regulating the reuse and recycling of hazardous wastes
and other wastes;
(mm) regulating and controlling the construction, operation and abandonment
of facilities that store, process, destroy or otherwise dispose of hazardous wastes
and other wastes, including facilities that were constructed or operated before
the coming into force of this Act;
(nn) requiring persons who handle hazardous wastes to keep records and
prescribing the nature of those records;
(oo) requiring persons who handle hazardous wastes to make reports and
prescribing the nature of those reports;
(pp) regulating and controlling hazardous wastes in any manner, in addition to
those described in clauses (mm) to (oo), that the Lieutenant Governor in Council
considers necessary to protect human health or safety or the environment;
70
(qq) regulating and controlling and requiring municipal approval for the
storage of hazardous substances, including:
(i) requiring persons who store hazardous substances to keep records
and prescribing the nature of those records;
(ii) governing inspection by the minister, an environment officer, a person
designated by the minister or a person designated by a municipality of
premises where hazardous substances are stored;
(iii) prescribing containers and associated equipment used to store
hazardous substances and respecting the labelling of the containers and
equipment;
(iv) prohibiting the use of containers or any category of containers to
store hazardous substances;
(v) prohibiting the use of any method to store hazardous substances;
(vi) prescribing or restricting access to premises where hazardous
substances are stored;
(vii) controlling works designed to contain hazardous substances that are
discharged in premises or discharged from premises where they are stored;
(viii) requiring persons responsible for the storage of hazardous
substances to develop contingency plans to respond to problems related
to the storage of hazardous substances;
(rr) regulating, controlling and requiring a permit for the construction,
operation, abandonment and decommissioning of facilities that store, process
or handle hazardous substances, including facilities that were constructed
and operated before the coming into force of any regulations made pursuant
to this clause;
(ss) regulating, controlling and requiring a permit for the manner and
locations in which hazardous substances are stored;
(tt) prescribing standards or adopting standards, as amended from time to
time or otherwise, for the design, construction, alteration, extension, operation,
installation, maintenance, abandonment and decommissioning of storage
facilities for hazardous substances;
(uu) prescribing the frequency of testing for leaks, and methods used to test
for leaks, in storage tanks, containers, pipes and equipment that are used for
hazardous substances;
(vv) respecting the training and qualifications of persons installing, servicing,
testing and decommissioning storage tanks, containers and facilities used for
hazardous substances;
(ww) respecting the establishment of a certification board for persons who
install, service, test and decommission storage tanks used for hazardous
substances;
(xx) respecting the powers and duties of a certification board established
pursuant to clause (ww) and the procedures to be followed by that board in
carrying out its powers and duties;
71
(eee) respecting storm water and storm water works, including prohibiting any
matter or action related to storm water works and protecting the environment
as it is affected by storm water and requiring the holding of a permit to do any
matter or undertake any action related to storm water works and protecting
the environment as it is affected by storm water;
(fff) for the purposes of section 83:
(i) prescribing the manner in which a request may be made and dealt
with; and
(ii) prescribing the criteria that must be considered when deciding
whether or not to keep information confidential pursuant to a request,
including authorizing the minister to determine additional criteria to be
considered in making that decision;
(iii) Repealed. 2018, c 9, s.15.
(ggg) for the purposes of section 90:
(i) defining orphaned environmentally impacted sites; and
(ii) prescribing conditions that are to be met respecting orphaned
environmentally impacted sites in order to use moneys in the Impacted
Sites Fund to reclaim those sites;
(hhh) for the purposes of subsection 93(1), prescribing other means of service;
(iii) for the purposes of section 103:
(i) prescribing approvals, orders or permits, or classes of approvals,
orders or permits; and
(ii) prescribing a period during which permits continued in force
pursuant to that section remain in force;
(jjj) adopting a code to be known as the Saskatchewan Environmental Code;
(kkk) prescribing any other matter or thing that is required or authorized
by this Act to be prescribed in the regulations;
(lll) respecting any other matter or thing that the Lieutenant Governor in
Council considers necessary to carry out the intent of this Act.
(2) The code may contain all or any of the following provisions:
(a) provisions respecting any matter, activity or thing that is governed by
this Act or that may be prescribed;
(b) provisions determining any criteria, terms, conditions or requirements
that must be met in order to carry out any activity governed by this Act and
set out in the code;
(c) provisions adopting a standard, including a standard developed or
established by the minister, as amended from time to time or otherwise;
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PART XIII
Repeal, Transitional, Consequential and Coming into Force
Schedule
TABLE 1
[Section 24]
Activities for which a permit is required
Item Activity
1. Operation of a waterworks
2. Construction or alteration of all or part of a water treatment works
3. Construction, alteration or extension of all or part of a water distribution
works, other than construction, alteration or extension of all or part of a
water distribution works that is governed by a chapter of the code
4. Operation of a sewage works
5. Construction or alteration of all or part of a sewage treatment works
6. Construction, alteration or extension of all or part of a sewage collection
works, other than construction, alteration or extension of all or part of a
sewage collection works that is governed by a chapter of the code
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