jswizzle3737/ontario_laws_and_regs huggingface dataset:
Having received a request that an undertaking, namely: the activities of the design, construction and operation of the Western Beaches Storage Tunnel, be exempt from the requirements of section 5 of the Environmental Assessment Act; and
Having been advised by The Corporation of the City of Toronto (City of Toronto) that if the undertaking is subject to the application of the Act, the following injury, damage or interference with the persons and property indicated will occur: A. Due to the current state of the water quality along the City of Toronto’s Western Beaches, residents and visitors to the City of Toronto are unable to utilize the beach and area as was intended. The water quality is significantly impaired due to the continued discharge of untreated sewage combined with stormwater during heavy rains. This has resulted in beneficial uses such as swimming, sport fish consumption and aesthetics being restricted. This degradation of water quality will continue, resulting in the potential endangerment of human health, safety and well being, as well as significant damage to the existing natural environment of the near shore. B. The delay in improving the water quality of the Western Beaches will impact the ability of the Metropolitan Toronto Remedial Action Plan to achieve its goals and the ability of Ontario to meet the water quality targets of the Canada-Ontario Agreement.
The undersigned is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to order and orders that the undertaking is exempt from the application of the Act for the following reasons: A. The current state of the water quality along the Western Beaches is significantly impaired due to the continued discharge of untreated combined sewage overflows (CSOs — sanitary sewage and stormwater flowing in the same pipe) and stormwater directly into the lake. While the benefits of additional planning are important, they do not warrant the delay in improving the water quality of the Western Beaches. B. The City of Toronto has completed a substantial amount of planning, consultation and environmental assessment through: (i) the completion of a city-wide Sewer System Master Plan in 1992, (ii) the subsequent completion of a Schedule “C” Class Environmental Assessment for the Western Beaches Storage Tunnel in 1993, in keeping with the appropriate requirements of the Municipal Engineers Association Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Sewage and Water Projects, and (iii) the City’s participation in the Open Public Review of the Western Beaches Storage Tunnel project by the Environmental Assessment Advisory Committee in 1994.