Release guidelines will recommend limits for the release of substances into the environment. These guidelines, like codes of practice, will be based on what is acceptable environmental practice, founded on available and practicable technology. Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act , the Governor in Council is required to publish, in the Canada Gazette, either notice of the availability of codes and guidelines developed under the Act, or the texts themselves. Promotion of Environmental Audits Environmental audits are internal evaluations by companies and government agencies, to verify their compliance with legal requirements as well as their own internal policies and standards. They are conducted by companies, government agencies and others on a voluntary basis, and are carried out by either outside consultants or employees of the company or facility from outside the work unit being audited.
Audits can identify compliance problems, weaknesses in management systems, or areas of risk.
The findings are documented in a written report. Environment Canada recognizes the power and effectiveness of environmental audits as a management tool for companies and government agencies, and intends to promote their use by industry and others. To encourage the practice of environmental auditing, inspections and investigations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act will be conducted in a manner which will not inhibit the practice or quality of auditing. Inspectors will not request environmental audit reports during routine inspections to verify compliance with the Act. In particular reference to the latter criterion, environmental audit reports must not be used to shelter monitoring, compliance or other information that would otherwise be accessible to inspectors under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act .