Friday, March 21, 2025
When soil is disturbed at construction and industrial sites it is more prone to erosion, and rain and storms can carry sediment into nearby water. While developers and construction sites are required to have a plan to stop this from happening, there can be challenges.
With this in mind, key industry stakeholders in Nova Scotia were consulted and their input helped inform the new guidelines new planning guide released on January 31 will help protect the environment in Nova Scotia and prevent erosion at construction sites.
“Nova Scotians want more homes faster, growth and a strong economy, but not at the expense of keeping our lakes, rivers and streams pristine and protected,” said Timothy Halman, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister of Service Efficiency. “We know citizens care about the water quality of their lakes, rivers and streams. We also heard from developers who want user-friendly tools to help them comply with environmental protection requirements.”
The new Guide to Developing Erosion and Sediment Control Plans will provide regulatory clarity on preventing erosion and sedimentation at work sites, making it easier to comply with Nova Scotia’s rules for erosion and sedimentation.
“The Nova Scotia Road Builders Association is very pleased to see this document finalized,” said Grant Feltmate, executive director of the Nova Scotia Road Builders Association. “This will provide clarity for the industry as to what is required, which greatly facilitates our planning as we move forward.”
The provincial government is continuously reviewing its regulations and approaches to make requirements clearer, and easier to understand, with a minimum amount of red tape.
This was announced during Red Tape Awareness Week, organized annually by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, highlights the work of people and governments to reduce red tape for businesses across the country.
The Department does about 1,500 proactive inspections each year on average, to make sure companies are compliant with the terms and conditions of their approvals
To read the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Handbook for Construction Sites, visit: https://novascotia.ca/nse/surface.water/docs/erosionsedimentcontrolhandbook.construction.pdf
To read the Erosion and Sediment Control Information Sheet, visit: https://www.novascotia.ca/nse/surface.water/docs/erosion-sediment-control-info-sheet-en.pdf
Featured image credit: Getty Images
