3C – Dealing with Environmental Emergencies and Spills
May 11 – Course agenda
Course Description
Environmental emergencies can result in a nightmare scenario for the unwary manager who must now consider risks associated with climate change in addition to dealing with more common spills, leaks and discharges that can prompt unwanted ministry investigations; fines and penalties; and damage community relations.
Attend this course to be sure of your responsibilities; implement measures to increase resiliency; avoid liability; and encourage proactive best practices.
Course Chair
Janet Bobechko, Partner, Certified Specialist in Environmental Law, WeirFoulds LLP
Guest Speakers
(Click names to view bio and contact information)
- Valerie Bowering, Manager, Spills Action Centre (SAC), Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
- Bernie Derible, Deputy Minister and Commissioner of Emergency Management Ontario
- Lori Festarini, Licensed Professional Geoscientist in Ontario
- Dr. Janya Kelly, Senior Climate Change Specialist, WSP
- Rob Read, Environmental Emergency Prevention Officer, Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Carl Spensieri, Vice President, Environment, Berkley Canada
Course begins 9 AM
Natural disasters risk assessment: Modelling climate change-related risks and emergencies for industries and municipalities
- Understanding climate change and climate projections
- Identifying common climate risks for municipalities and industrial facilities
- Evaluating climate risk evaluation and who should be involved
- Incorporating climate risk into existing risk management practices
Speaker: Dr. Janya Kelly, Senior Climate Advisor – Climate Risk and Resilience, WSP
Reporting to the Spills Action Centre (SAC) and other agencies
- What the SAC does and where it fits in with other organizations
Speaker: Valerie Bowering, Manager, Spills Action Centre (SAC), Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Complying with federal Environmental Emergencies (E2) Regulations
- Environmental Emergency (E2) Regulations and their intent
- Requirements and reporting under the current E2 Regulations
- E2 Regulations, timing, additional substances, key changes, and reporting system
Speaker: Rob Read, Environmental Emergency Prevention Officer, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Reporting spills, leaks and discharges: Compliance with regulatory requirements and cautionary tales
Brief overview of environmental emergency and spills related provisions under Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and Fisheries Act.
- Spills, leaks and discharges (odours; gas; water; noise and air (dust); smoke; explosion and fuel spill; chemical spill; acid mist; oil)
- What must be reported, when and to whom
- Inspections and investigations
- Cases resulting from spills and failure to report
- Trends in enforcement
Speaker: Janet Bobechko, Partner, WeirFoulds LLP
A safe, practiced and prepared Ontario
Ontario’s first-ever Provincial Emergency Management Strategy and Action Plan sets a foundation for a proactive approach to emergency management in Ontario. This foundation will enable a safe, practiced and prepared Ontario based on a one-window approach for all Ontarians – through Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) – to proactively coordinate emergencies in collaboration with municipalities, First Nations and community partners.
The Provincial Emergency Management Strategy and Action Plan builds on lessons learned from past emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which was the single largest provincial emergency in decades.
Key session takeaways include:
- What are the principles of the new plan, and how will they be measured
- What a one window to emergency management will look like under the new plan
- How the focus on analytics, proactive planning and real-time monitoring will be key factors in the plan
- The role of training, education, and practice in ensuring all emergency services are prepared
Speaker: Bernie Derible, Deputy Minister and Commissioner of Emergency Management Ontario
Panel discussion – Environmental insurance solutions: Environmental emergencies, spills, leaks and discharges
- Overview of cover available via commercial general liability and environmental liability insurance policies
- Spill response capabilities
- Emergency or crisis management cover
- Risk control (emergency event modelling)
- New environmental emergencies stemming from climate change
- Case studies and lessons learned
Panelists:
- Lori Festarini, Licensed Professional Geoscientist in Ontario
- Carl Spensieri, Vice President, Environment, Berkley Canada
Moderator: Janet Bobechko, Partner, WeirFoulds LLP
Wrap up and question and answer period
Course ends 4:30 PM
EVENT SCHEDULE
8 AM: Registration opens
9 AM: Courses begin
12 PM: Lunch
4:30 PM: Courses finish