The proposed Renewable Fuels Regulations (proposed Regulations) are a key element of the Government’s Renewable Fuels Strategy. The objective of the proposed Regulations is to reduce GHG emissions by mandating an average 5% renewable fuel content based on the gasoline volume, thereby contributing towards the protection of Canadians and the environment from the impacts of climate change. The proposed Regulations are estimated to result in an incremental reduction of GHG emissions of about 1 MT CO2e per year over and above the reductions attributable to existing provincial requirements already in place. The proposed Regulations fulfill the commitments under the Renewable Fuels Strategy of reducing GHG emissions from liquid petroleum fuels and create a demand for renewable fuels in Canada.
The key provisions in the proposed Regulations include: a trading system and administrative, compliance and enforcement provisions such as record keeping and reporting . The administrative requirements are fairly broad and apply to: gasoline and renewable fuel producers; importers; blenders and sellers of fuels for export. There are provisions for optional participation in the trading system. The proposed Regulations, accompanying Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement and a Question and Answer document are available on Environment Canada’s CEPA Environmental Registry at:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/regulations/detailReg.cfm?intReg=186 (Regulations and accompanying Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement)
http://www.ec.gc.ca/ceparegistry/documents/participation/renewable_fuels/faq/default.cfm (Question and Answers)
Any person may, within 60 days after the date of publication of the proposed Regulations, submit comments or a notice of objection requesting that a board of review be established under section 333 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and stating the reasons for the objection. Parties are invited to provide their views in writing on the proposed Regulations by June 9, 2010. Written comments may be submitted by email to fuels-carburants@ec.gc.ca, or by sent by mail to:
Comments on the proposed Renewable Fuels Regulations
c/o Leif Stephanson
Chief, Fuels Section
Oil, Gas and Alternative Energy Division
Environment Canada
351 St. Joseph Boulevard, 9th floor
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3
Fax: 819-953-8903
As indicated above comments to improve the proposed regulation must be submitted on June 9th .
