At its Dec. 12 general meeting, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) updated its fill application process to remedy any gaps not addressed in 2011 regulations.
The GRCA has seen an increase in fill projects over the last five years, largely due to pressure from the Greater Toronto Area looking for locations to dump excess fill, said Dave Schultz, GRCA communications manager.
“[Municipalities have] been looking to us to take some action in the areas that we regulate and we’ve also been working with them as they work through their policies either developing new policies or revising their existing policies,” he explained.
Schultz indicated it’s becoming increasingly important for the GRCA and local municipalities to work together toward best practices regarding fill regulations.
This was the first update listed for the 2011 Procedural Guideline for Permit Applications: Large Volume Fill Material, which applies to fill projects of 100 truckloads or more.
The GRCA enforces permits for any regulated land within its territory; this includes land near a wetland, a floodplain, a shoreline or any other part of the watershed.
All other areas are the responsibility of the municipality, if it has site alteration bylaws, explained Schultz.
The GRCA has no authority over the routes trucks use, hours of operation, access to the property, etc. – but those are all details over which the municipality does have authority, he said.
By working together and consulting before the project is underway the GRCA and local municipalities will be better able to address all aspects of a fill project, Schultz opined.
“We’ll look at the stuff we’re responsible for, they’ll look at the stuff they’re responsible for and you kind of pull it all together into one package,” he said.
The next update was a request for a soil test from the source site. Schultz said this is something the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) requires but is often left until after the soil has been transferred, making it complicated to rectify if the test results aren’t favourable.
“We’re looking for some sort of soil test before the stuff gets placed so that at least we know where it’s coming from and that it meets the guidelines, the provincial rules,” he said.
Further updates in the report include reference to the 2014 MOECC Best Management Practice for excess soil and incorporation of the use and terminology of qualified professionals.
The regulation updates were meant to streamline the fill application process but an individual seeking a permit, regardless of size, should consult with both the GRCA and municipality before proceeding with their plans, Schultz said.
