Air-emissions registry rules will extend to a new category of environmental assessment projects

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

Amendments scheduled to take effect in early 2027 will expand the registration hold requirement in Ontario's air-emissions activity registry to cover a new class of environmental assessment projects (referred to as "Part II.4 projects"). Currently, operators who want to register an air-emitting activity must wait until certain approvals are in place if their activity is part of a Part II.1 or Part II.3 environmental assessment process. Under the upcoming change, the same waiting obligation will apply to Part II.4 projects: registration cannot proceed until all prescribed requirements for commencing that type of project have been met. The definitions section will also be updated to formally include "Part II.4 project" alongside the existing defined terms. Facilities planning to register air-emitting activities that may be caught by this new project category should confirm whether Part II.4 requirements apply before attempting to register.

Who this affects: facility operators registering air-emitting activities · environmental compliance and regulatory affairs teams · project proponents subject to Ontario environmental assessment processes