Response Form

Wood Residue Burner and Incinerator Regulation

This response form follows discussion issues outlined in the Wood Residue Burner and Incinerator Regulation policy intentions paper for consultation (intentions paper) prepared by the Ministry of Environment. The ministry is intending to finalize the regulation by March 2010.

Comments regarding the proposed intentions of the ministry are being solicited and will be carefully considered in preparing regulatory amendments. The ministry welcomes all suggestions with respect to potential changes discussed in the intentions paper, or other aspects of the regulation of wood residue burners.

Comments to the ministry should be made on or before November 13, 2009.

The intentions paper and response form, with questions based on intentions of the ministry for the proposed regulatory changes, have been posted on the ministry’s website. The website can be accessed by clicking on the address below, or from the Ministry of Environment homepage, by following the Environmental Protection Division link. See: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/main/ip-list.htm.

Those interested are invited to submit comments on the ministry’s intentions — using the instructions and questions provided on this response form. Individuals or organizations may also make written submissions to the ministry without following the format set out in the response form — as desired.

A summary report of comments and submissions received, including both printed and web-based responses, will be compiled and summarized without specific attribution by an independent contractor and posted on the ministry website. Comments received will be treated with confidentiality by ministry staff and contractors, however, comments that you provide and information that identifies you as the source of those comments may be publicly available if a Freedom of Information (FOI) request is made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Following review of comments and submissions, the ministry will complete legal drafting of the proposed regulatory changes for legislative review and implementation.

If you have any questions or comments, check the website address above, or contact Cindy Bertram of C. Rankin & Associates, who has been contracted to manage consultation comments, at:

Email: cindybertram@shaw.ca
Mail: PO Box 28159, Victoria, B.C. V9B 6K8
Fax: (250) 598-9948

Completed response forms or submissions may be returned by any of the means listed above (email, fax or mail), or by directly submitting the web-based response form on the ministry website.

Thank you for your time and comments!

Discussion Areas and Questions - Wood Residue Burner and Incinerator Regulation

The Ministry of Environment intends to revise the Wood Residue Burner and Incinerator Regulation (WRBIR) and repeal the associated Rebate of Waste Management Fees Regulation.

The Wood Residue Burner and Incinerator Regulation, under the Environmental Management Act (EMA), established the phase-out dates and operating conditions for specified burners and sets emission limits and fees for the discharge of associated particulate matter for all burner facilities in the province. The Rebate of Waste Management Fees Regulation allows the ministry to direct revenue from waste management fees received under terms of the WRBIR towards targeted development or commercialization of value added uses for wood residues.

The following discussion areas and questions are based on a policy intentions paper for consultation available from the Ministry of Environment website: http://wwwd.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/main/ip-list.htm.

1. Establish a Shutdown Date for all Remaining Wood Residue Burners in the Province.

1.1 Do you have any comments regarding the ministry's intention to amend the regulation to ensure the shutdown of remaining wood residue burners in the province by December 31, 2016?

2. Remove any Reference to Wood Residue Burner Facilities that have been Phased out under the Regulation.

2.1 Do you have any comments regarding the ministry's intention to remove phase-out schedules and any other references to wood residue burners that are no longer operational from the regulation?

3. Remove any Reference to Wood Residue Incinerators from the Regulation.

3.1 Do you have any comments regarding the ministry's intention to remove any reference to wood residue incinerators from the regulation?

3.2 Do you have any comments or suggestions regarding effective regulation of wood-fired energy systems (e.g., appropriate permit or code of practice provisions)?

4. Repeal the Regulation.

4.1 Do you have any comments regarding the ministry's intention to repeal the Wood Residue Burner and Incinerator Regulation after all existing beehive, silo or modified silo burner facilities have shut down (i.e., subsequent to December 31, 2016)?

5. Repeal the Rebate of Waste Management Fees Regulation.

5.1 Do you have any comments regarding the ministry's intention to repeal the Rebate of Waste Management Fees Regulation concurrently with the proposed amendments to the WRBIR?

6. Other Comments

6.1 Do you have any other comments or suggestions for the ministry regarding the regulation of wood residue burners and incinerators or wood-fired energy systems?

Thank you for your time and comments!

Please remember to return this response form to the ministry on or before November 13, 2009.

If you wish, you may also provide contact information. This information will be compiled separate from responses and used to inform respondents of posting of the summary of comments and subsequent ministry actions to develop and implement the regulation.

(Optional) Contact Information

If you wish to have your name placed on the ministry listserve to receive further information concerning regulatory changes related to wood residue burners and incinerators or wood-fired energy systems, please provide your contact information — including an e-mail address — below. Note that all submissions will be treated with confidentiality by ministry staff and contractors, however information that identifies you as the source of those comments may be publicly available if a Freedom of Information request is made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Contact Name:
Business or Organization Name
(if appropriate):
E-Mail:
Mailing Address:
Telephone:
Fax:

Background and Area of Interest

Please mark an "x" in the appropriate boxes if your primary interest in the ministry's intentions relates to your:

Work in the private sector:

Please describe (e.g., sawmill or bioenergy plant operator, consulting engineer):

Work for a government regulatory agency:

Please describe (e.g., federal, provincial, municipal):

Work for a public sector organization:

Please describe (e.g., health authority, education institution, Crown corporation):

First Nation:

Please describe:

Involvement or work for an environmental or community interest group:

Please describe:

Other interest:

Please describe:

Thank you once more for your time and interest in these regulatory changes.

If you have any further questions, please contact cindybertram@shaw.ca.