The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) is continuing to modernize the regulatory system for environmental approvals with an objective to reduce administrative burden and lower the cost of doing business. Currently, Ontario businesses can apply for the Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) online and track the progress of their applications.
Starting in January 2018, the MOECC is implementing a one-year service standard for higher risk ECA applications received in 2018 and beyond. The MOECC will be able to put the review process on hold to give clients more time to provide additional information, if needed. Clients will be notified of the date and reason the review was put on hold, and what they need to submit to resume the review. The date of the one-year service standard will be adjusted accordingly. Clients and the public will also be able to view and track the progress of ECA applications online.
The MOECC is committed to working with applicants to make it easier to complete high quality ECA applications. This will allow the MOECC to review and approve applications in a timely manner.
More details, including guidance material, will be posted on Ontario.ca prior to January 1, 2018. OWMA will keep you updated on further developments and resource material availability.