9. Government operations and federal and Aboriginal land

Part 9 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) provides the authority to regulate departments, boards, and agencies of the Government of Canada, federal works and undertakings, federal land, Aboriginal land, persons on that land and other persons insofar as their activities involve that land, and Crown corporations. These entities are commonly referred to as the “federal house.” It also requires the Minister to establish objectives, guidelines, and codes of practice for the purpose of carrying out the Minister’s duties and functions under this Part related to the quality of the environment.

Since 1995, the Federal Committee on Environmental Management Systems has provided an interdepartmental forum for discussing and coordinating crosscutting issues related to environmental management systems. The committee promotes sustainable development within the federal government by providing ongoing advice as it relates to setting priorities and strategic directions for greening government. In 2002-03, the activities of the committee and its subcommittees were reviewed by the newly created Environmental Management System Task Group under the Sustainable Development in Government Operations initiative. The committee officially ceased its activities, but most of its subcommittees are being taken over by the Task Group.

www.ec.gc.ca/emsinfo/

Key results in 2002-03 included:

• Proposed Federal Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Storage Tank Systems Regulations -- In 2002-03, Environment Canada initiated consultations on the proposed Federal Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Storage Tank Systems Regulations. The regulations will provide a more comprehensive framework to effectively prevent pollution from these storage tank systems. In February and March 2003, 17 information or consultation sessions with stakeholders were conducted in nine cities. Five of these sessions targeted Aboriginal peoples living in Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
  
• Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003 -- Proposed regulations were published in December 7, 2002. The regulations achieve an orderly transition from chlorofluorocarbons and halons to alternative substances and technologies. It is estimated that the regulations will reduce the release of 1146 tonnes of chlorofluorocarbons and halons into the atmosphere between 2003 and 2014.
  
• Federal Mobile PCB Treatment and Destruction Regulations -- A stakeholder consultation was held in 2002-03 on the proposed modifications to these regulations. These amendments will incorporate more stringent control limits on emissions of treatment and destruction processes of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) on federal land or land under contract with federal institutions.