Any person or persons who wish to construct or operate:

1. a facility for the handling of dangerous goods or waste dangerous goods as defined in the Dangerous Goods Management Regulations; N.S. Environment Act;

2. a permanent facility for the handling of dangerous goods or waste dangerous goods generated in a residence;

3. a facility for the handling of soils containing a chemical or petroleum product which is located in a place other than where the soil originated or became contaminated;

4. a facility for the disposal of oily debris resulting from releases of a petroleum product;

5. a site with a chemical storage tank system the capacity of which exceeds 2000 litres of chemicals in liquid form or 2000 kilograms of chemicals in solid form, whichever is applicable;

6. a petroleum storage tank system consisting of one or more petroleum tanks and associated piping;

7. a facility for the storage or disposal of asbestos waste; or
   
   
8. a propane bulk facility regulated by the Office of the Fire Marshal, Labour and Workforce Development.

Note:  Approval is also needed to burn used oil (See Section 13, Used Oil Regulation).

Approval is not required for the construction, operation or reclamation of a facility for storing explosives regulated by the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources (Canada).

Nova Scotia Environment

Any Regional or District Office of Environment

OR

Head Office
Nova Scotia Environment

Phone:  (902) 424-3600
Fax:  (902) 424-0503
e-mail:  policy@gov.ns.ca

You can get an application form for this Approval from any Regional or District Office of the Department.  After it has been completed, it is submitted to the Department.

When the Department receives an application, staff review it to see if all the required information is on the form, and if the required supporting information has been provided.  If not, the application package is returned with an explanation as to what is missing.

Once an application has been accepted by the Department as complete, the application form and supporting documentation undergo a technical review and evaluation.   This is to decide if the activity being proposed meets the minimum standards, policies, guidelines, procedures and regulations that are administered by the Department.

If an applicant fails to meet these criteria, staff will tell them which specific criteria have not been met to the satisfaction of the Department.

If an applicant meets all the criteria, the Department will issue an Approval.  This Approval will list any terms and conditions which the applicant must satisfy.

Simple approvals: 2 weeks

Complex approvals: Up to a maximum of 60 days

This Approval is usually valid for 10 years from the date it is issued.  It can be renewed, and the renewal period is usually 10 years from the date it was due to expire.  It is the responsibility of the Approval holder to start the renewal process; no notice is sent by the Department.  The renewal process should be started at least 90 days before the Approval expires.

Free

None

None

The Environment Act, Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1994-95, Chapter 1, Activities Designation Regulations, Used Oil Regulations and Dangerous Goods Management Regulations