W12A landfill expansion project
Learn about the environmental assessment process for a proposed increase to the disposal capacity and service area of the City of London’s W12A landfill.
Current status
On April 25, 2024, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, with Cabinet concurrence, approved the W12A Landfill Expansion environmental assessment.
Project summary
The City of London has been granted approval under the Environmental Assessment Act to add disposal capacity of approximately 13.8 million cubic metres. The new approved capacity is 26.3 million cubic metres.
The City of London also proposed to extend the landfill’s service area. The new regional service area now includes:
- City of London
- County of Huron
- County of Perth
- County of Elgin
- County of Lambton
- County of Middlesex
Learn more on the W12A landfill expansion project website.
Proponent
City of London
Location
City of London
Project type
Waste management
Reference number
18016
Contact
Devon Wills, Environmental Assessment Branch
Project history
Environmental assessment: approved
Date submitted: February 4, 2022
Expiry of public comment period for ministry review: July 28, 2023
Decision date: April 25, 2024
Terms of reference: approved
Date submitted: October 12, 2018
Expiry of public comment period: November 12, 2018
Decision date: July 30, 2019
Environmental assessment
The City of London submitted its final environmental assessment for the W12A landfill expansion project to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for review and decision under the Environmental Assessment Act in February 2022.
This assessment looked at how the landfill expansion could impact the environment and identified that the landfill expansion will occur vertically above the existing landfill as the preferred alternative. A seven-week Indigenous community, public, and agency comment period concluded on March 25, 2022.
On June 23, 2023, we published the ministry review of the environmental assessment for Indigenous community, public and agency comment. A five-week comment period concluded on July 28, 2023.
After considering the environmental assessment, comments received and the city’s proposed environmental protection measures, the minister, with Cabinet concurrence, approved the undertaking as described in the W12A Landfill Expansion environmental assessment on April 25, 2024.
The city may now proceed with implementing the project, subject to the conditions in the Notice of Approval and any other permits and approvals that may be required. Standard conditions of approval include compliance monitoring, public record documentation, a complaints protocol, and an EA approval expiration date.
Nonstandard conditions of approval include re-evaluation of landfill gas utilization and a peer reviewed report following approval, a habitat monitoring and compensation plan, Indigenous consultation plan preparation, and the establishment of a landfill operating committee with Indigenous community participation.
Read the Order in Council and notice of approval.
Terms of reference
Notice of approval
Environmental Assessment Act subsection 6(4) approval of terms of reference for the preparation of an environmental assessment.
Proponent: The City of London
Terms of reference: W12A landfill expansion environmental assessment
Environmental assessment file number: 18016
As provided for by subsection 6(4) of the Environmental Assessment Act, terms of reference, as submitted for approval to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on October 12, 2018 and revised with through the submission of an amended terms of reference dated February 7, 2019 is hereby approved.
Pursuant to subsection 6.1(1) of the Environmental Assessment Act, any environmental assessment for the above-noted undertaking, submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks pursuant to subsection 6.2(1) of the Environmental Assessment Act, must be prepared in accordance with the amended terms of reference as hereby approved.
Reasons
I am satisfied that an environmental assessment prepared in accordance with the amended terms of reference will be consistent with the purpose of the Environmental Assessment Act and the public interest for the following reasons:
- The terms of reference provides that the environmental assessment will include an identification and evaluation of a reasonable range of alternative methods and that these alternative methods will be assessed during the environmental assessment process.
- The terms of reference requires the proponent to implement a comprehensive consultation plan during the preparation of the environmental assessment. In addition, the Environmental Assessment Act requires consultation and documentation of the consultation during the preparation of the environmental assessment. As well, there will be additional opportunities for public and government agency consultation when the environmental assessment is submitted to the ministry.
- The terms of reference provides that the environmental assessment will be prepared using a comprehensive public, Indigenous community and government agency consultation process that is open and transparent and in particular will include consultation on the selection and evaluation of alternative methods during the environmental assessment.
- The terms of reference requires that the proponent meet the intent of the Environmental Assessment Act by providing for the identification of issues and concerns, and the preferred means of addressing them with due regard to adoption of environmental management, protection and mitigation measures.
- There are no outstanding issues that have not been incorporated into the terms of reference or that cannot be addressed during the preparation of the environmental assessment.
Dated the 30th day of July, 2019 at Toronto.
Original signed by:
Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
77 Wellesley Street West, 11th Floor, Ferguson Block
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 2T5