Air Regulations and Standards

• Regulation 419/05, Air Pollution – Local Air Quality
• Standards
• Site Specific Altered Standards
• Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling Reports
• Air Dispersion Models
• Forms
• Technical Bulletins
• Information and Resources
• Helpful Links

 

Regulation 419/05, Air Pollution – Local Air Quality

A large part of the ministry’s regulatory and enforcement activities focus on local air concerns affecting Ontario’s communities. For example, the MOE sets air standards for a large number of air toxics, and deals with individual industrial emitters on a facility-by-facility basis.  Clean, safe air is essential in protecting the health of people and communities in Ontario. As part of its commitment to clean up Ontario's air, the government updated its regulation to protect local air quality. 

The Ministry of the Environment introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework on November 30, 2005 to protect local communities from the impacts of air contaminants.  Ontario Regulation 419: Air Pollution – Local Air Quality is a key component of Ontario’s plan to reduce industrial emissions of harmful pollutants.  It places Ontario at the leading edge of jurisdictions addressing local air quality issues by combining protective air quality standards with the most up-to-date scientific methods and practical implementation tools.

Ontario Regulation 419/05 is the cornerstone of the ministry’s efforts to protect local air quality. As decisions on air standards are made, the regulation is amended to make the standards stronger by giving them the force of law. On November 30, 2005, Regulation 346 “General - Air Pollution” was revoked and replaced with O. Reg. 419/05. The regulation imposes air standard concentration limits for contaminants that are assessed using air dispersion models and/or ambient monitoring.

Regulation Resources   Ontario Regulation 419/05 Air Pollution - Local Air Quality   6569e Summary of Standards and Guidelines to support Ontario Regulation 419: Air Pollution – Local Air Quality (including Schedule 6 of O. Reg. 419 on Upper Risk Thresholds) – Sorted by Chemical Name (February 2008) Summary of Standards and Guidelines to support Ontario Regulation 419: Air Pollution – Local Air Quality (including Schedule 6 of O. Reg. 419 on Upper Risk Thresholds) – Sorted by CAS Number (February 2008) 6547e Jurisdictional Screening Level (JSL) List - A Screening Tool for Ontario Regulation 419: Air Pollution – Local Air Quality (February 2008)   Frequently Asked Questions     Submit a Technical Question

Guidance Documents 3614e03 Guideline A-10: Procedure for Preparing an Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling (ESDM) Report 5165e02 Guideline A-11: Air Dispersion Modelling Guideline for Ontario 5166e02 Guideline A-12: Guideline for the Implementation of Air Standards in Ontario

 

Standards

Ontario’s air quality standards are based on the best scientific information available and are set at a level that safeguards human health and the natural environment.  The Ministry of the Environment's Standards Plan (released in 1996 and revised 1999) describes the types of standards used by the ministry, provides an overview of the standards-setting process, and lists the priorities for developing new or revised standards. Setting air standards is a multi-step process that ensures the full range of scientific issues and perspectives are considered when setting new or revised standards.

• Setting Air Standards in Ontario
• Ontario’s Ambient Air Quality Criteria – Sorted by Chemical Name (February 2008)
• Ontario’s Ambient Air Quality Criteria – Sorted by CAS Number (February 2008)
• Summary of Standards and Guidelines to support Ontario Regulation 419: Air Pollution – Local Air Quality (including Schedule 6 of O. Reg. 419 on Upper Risk Thresholds) – Sorted by Chemical Name (February 2008)
• Summary of Standards and Guidelines to support Ontario Regulation 419: Air Pollution – Local Air Quality (including Schedule 6 of O. Reg. 419 on Upper Risk Thresholds) – Sorted by CAS Number (February 2008)

 

Site Specific Altered Standards

To give industry time to plan for and meet the newer updated standards, new or more stringent standards are generally phased in over time. Ontario Regulation 419/05 includes a risk-based process for alternative standards to address implementation issues related to new standards and/or new models. Implementation barriers include technical, economic or time-related issues.
The facility must demonstrate that it is doing the best that can be done to reduce concentrations with a goal of continual improvement towards meeting the standard over time.

Resources 5166e02 Guideline A-12: Guideline for the Implementation of Air Standards in Ontario   6034e Fact Sheet on Setting Alternative Standards 6322e Guide to Requesting an Alternative Air Standard The Development of a Background Paper and the Application of Cost Effectiveness Indicators for Use in Section 32 Requests Under Ontario Regulation 419: Air Pollution – Local Air Quality   User Guide: Application of Cost Effectiveness Methodology and Indicators for Use in Section 32 Requests under Ontario Regulation 419: Air Pollution – Local Air Quality Example forms Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Blank Form TRE Calculations for Thermal Oxidizers TRE Calculations for Venturi Scrubbers TRE Calculations for Fabric Filters TRE Calculations General

Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling Reports

Compliance with Ontario’s air standards is demonstrated through the preparation of a document called an Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling (ESDM) Report.  This report compiles all air emissions from a facility and assesses their impact on the environment against Ministry standards/guidelines using air dispersion models. The Procedure for Preparing an Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling (ESDM) Report provides more information on how to prepare this report.

Over the regulation phase-in period, specific industry sectors with more potential to impact the environment will be required to complete and update their ESDM annually.  These documents may be requested by Ministry staff when they perform inspections or audits of these facilities.  This same type of document is required when a facility makes an application for a certificate of approval to install, operate or modify any device that emits contaminants into the air.

• Guideline A-10: Procedure for Preparing an Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling (ESDM) Report

Air Dispersion Models

The Ministry has adopted the use of air dispersion models developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to replace the existing Reg 346 models.  These models more accurately assess the potential impact of emissions to the environment.  The Air Dispersion Modelling Guideline for Ontario has been prepared by the Ministry to provide more information on modelling.

As well as the modelling guidelines, the Ministry web site is a source of the Ministry‑prepared meteorological data, terrain data, a link to the latest version of the US EPA models and other useful information for model users.

Air Dispersion Modelling Resources Guidance Document 5165e02 Guideline A-11: Air Dispersion Modelling Guideline for Ontario Ontario Approved Dispersion Models - Air This information is also available via the Public Information Center (PIBS# 5174e01)   SCREEN3     ISCPRIME     AERMOD   Reg. 346 Models 5208e Appendix to Regulation 346 General – Air Pollution As referenced in Reg. 419/05   Models in Appendix to Regulation 346     Models in Appendix to Regulation 346 User’s Manual   Same Structure Contamination   ASHRAE Chapter 44 (Building Air Intake and Exhaust Design) of the ASHRAE Handbook — HVAC Applications, published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. (as amended and revised from time to time)   Other Dispersion Models (Ministry Approval Required For Use)   CALPUFF     CAL3QHCR     CALINE-4     SDM   Information Required for Running the Approved Models This information is also available via the Public Information Center 5174e01 Approved Dispersion Models – Air Ontario Regulation 419/05: Air Pollution – Local Air Quality (as amended) Version #2 May 14, 2007 (This information is available via the Public Information Center (PIBS# 5174e01)) 5081e01 Ontario Regional Meteorological Data 5106e Ontario Digital Elevation Model Data

 

Forms

Forms 5350e Request for Approval under s.13(1) of Regulation 419/05 for use of Site Specific Meteorological Data 5352e Request Under s.7(1) of Regulation 419/05 for Use of a Specified Dispersion Model 5354e Notification of Exceedence – Regulation 419/05 5355e Request under s.20(4) to have the Schedule 3 Standards Apply in Advance of the Date Required by Regulation 419/05 6539e Request for Approval under s. 32(21) of Regulation 419 or an Alternative Air Standard 6323e Request for Approval under paragraph 3 of s. 11(1) of Regulation 419 of a Plan for Combined Analysis of Modelled and Monitoring Results

Technical Bulletins

Technical Bulletins 6700e Methodology for Modeling Assessments of Contaminants with 10 Minute Average Standards and Guidelines under O. Reg. 419/05 (April 2008) 6701e Technical Methods For Opacity under O. Reg. 419 (April 2008) 5565e Determination of 1,6-Hexamethylene Diisocyanate (HDI) Emissions from Spray Booth Operations

Information and Resources

• Operations Manual for Air Quality Monitoring in Ontario
• Regulation 419/05, Air Pollution – Local Air Quality
• Certificates of Approval
• Proposed Revisions to Odour-based Ambient Air Quality Criteria and Development of an Odour Policy Framework (EBR# PA05E007)
• Amendments to O.Reg 419/05 under the Environmental Protection Act (EBR# 010-0000)
• Proposed Approach to the Implementation of Odour Based Standards and Guidelines (EBR# RA06E0006)

 

Helpful Links

• Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch, Certificate of Approvals Website
• Information on US EPA Emission Factors and Control Technology
• North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS)