Reporting Deadlines During COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic has made a huge impact on the regulated community. A lot of facilities have decided to shut down for a short period in response to measures introduced by public health officials to help prevent the spread of the virus, while others are operating on a reduced staff mode. Despite the pandemic, facilities are still required to meet reporting deadlines for programs and requirements subject to their facilities. Annual Written Summaries (AWS), Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling (ESDM) report and Acoustic Assessment Report (AAR) updates are some of the deadlines that remains unchanged under conditions of the approved Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA). Some programs, such as the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) and the City of Toronto ChemTRAC program have extended their reporting deadlines in 2020 to recognize the challenges facilities were encountering.

What Happens If My Facility Cannot Meet Reporting Deadlines Due to COVID?

The consequences will depend on the programs you are required to report to and the enforcement officer following up on your situation. In most cases, the enforcement officer may provide you with an extension, but in other more severe cases that may involve public safety, warnings or fines may be issued for non-compliance or for repeat-offenders. If your facility gets audited every year, submitting reports beyond the reporting deadlines will also prompt the auditor to request for proper procedures and mitigation measures to be established to avoid another future delay.

How Can SONAIR Help?

SONAIR has been supporting businesses throughout the pandemic and ensuring our clients meet the reporting requirements ahead of schedule in case of an unforeseen circumstance. Our team of professionals will help you keep track of all your reporting requirements and deadlines, and submit any necessary reports to avoid any consequences that may arise and to put your mind at ease. Send us an email or give us a call today and we will ensure all your environmental reporting obligations will be taken care of.