Ministry of the Environment Certificates of Approval for an Anaerobic Digestion Facility

Post Construction

DIGGING INTO BIOGAS DETAILSWORKSHOP

April 5, 2008

2

Outline

• Certificate of Approval (CofA) • Aspects of CofA• Once Issued

3

Certificate of Approval

• Reflects the Ministry’s environmental requirements at the time of issued based on environmental protection acts, guidelines and procedures

• Each C of A is site specific• Places legal-binding

requirements on the owner/operator

4

Aspects of a Certificate of Approval• Description of processes and facilities reviewed/approved• Site/project specific performance criteria considered during the review

e.g., (maximum flow, treatment process capacity, etc.)• Terms & Conditions

– General provisions– Performance Requirements (temperatures, effluent criteria,

loadings, concentrations)– Operational and performance related monitoring and recording

requirements– Operation and Maintenance (e.g., protection of water source, use

of chemical additives, staffing and training, operational manual, complaints and notification,)

– Reporting procedures necessary to the Ministry and possibly the public

• Reasons for the set terms and conditions

5

Once Issued

• A legally enforceable document issued by the Director, under the legislation

• The owner/operator is responsible for complying with:– legally-binding requirements in the CofA– related Ministry’s Legislation (Acts and Regulation)

• The ministry will monitor compliance – Abatement (e.g. review submitted reports, inspections)– Enforcement (investigations and prosecution)