Environmental compliance
The environmental compliance program ensures that Airport operations have a minimal impact on the environment.
The Ottawa Airport is federally-regulated and required to abide by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
"An Act respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development."
The Airport Authority has multiple environmental management programs to address ground, water and air pollution.
In addition to federal regulations, the Authority must also follow provincial and municipal environmental guidelines. This chart indicates which government oversees which programs.
| Federal | Provincial | Municipal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm water monitoring program | X | ||
| Glycol mitigation plan | X | X | |
| Salt Management Plan | |||
| Hazardous waste management | X | ||
| Spill response procedures | X | X | X |
| Storage tank management (petroleum oil and lubricants) | X |
About the programs
Storm water monitoring
The Authority monitors all stormwater property outlets for glycol and other parameters resulting from de-icing activities and other airport operations.
| Parameter | Limit | Oversight |
|---|---|---|
| Total glycols | 100 mg/L | Environment and Climate Change Canada |
| Nitrates/Nitrites | nuisance (algae, etc.) | Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks |
| pH (acid/caustic) | 6.0 – 9.0 | City of Ottawa |
| E. Coli bacteria | 100 counts/100 mL | Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks |
| Biochemical oxygen demand | 25 mg/L | Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks |
| Suspended solids | 25 mg/L | City of Ottawa |
| Copper | 0.04 mg/L | City of Ottawa |
| Lead | 0.12 mg/L | City of Ottawa |
| Zinc | 0.04 mg/L | City of Ottawa |
| Phosphorus (total) | 0.4 mg/L | City of Ottawa |
| Jet/Diesel fuels | No hydrocarbon sheen | City of Ottawa |
Glycol mitigation
For safety reasons, aircraft require de-icing during the winter months. As such, the Airport Authority actively participates in the YOW de-icing consortium. The glycol mitigation plan ensures that de-icing fluids are managed in an environmentally responsible manner.
Salt Management
The salt management plan ensures that groundside salt application is performed to minimise the environmental impact of road salt. Road salt is never applied airside.
Hazardous waste management
The Authority minimizes and recycles its hazardous waste and continuously looks for alternatives that are more environmentally-friendly.
Spill response
Accidental spills are typically occur due to human error or equipment malfunction, mainly during aircraft servicing. The Authority and operators work to minimize the impact when spills occur. Most spills occur on hard surfaces, and the responsible parties clean them immediately before any environmental impacts are incurred.
Storage tank management (petroleum oil and lubricants)
The use of fuel storage tanks is regulated by the federal government; the Authority and YOW operators follow their regulations. The use of underground storage tanks at the Airport is strongly discouraged.