Octave 10 – Are You Prepared to Transition Your Facility from ECA to EASR?

Posted by Anthony Roppa / Jun 19, 2026

Are You Prepared to Transition Your Facility from Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) to Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR)?

Ontario’s environmental approvals are changing and the clock is ticking. The province is moving eligible operations to the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR), a self-registration model meant to streamline compliance, and existing Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECAs) expire January 31, 2027. In this post, we break down what’s actually changing, what it means for your documentation, and why “self-registration” doesn’t mean less responsibility. We also look at why this transition is the right moment to dust off noise assessments that may not reflect current standards before the deadline forces your hand.

Discover the latest Projects & Innovations of Aercoustics!

Hydro One is Ontario’s largest electricity transmission and distribution service provider with 1.5 million customers across the province. Ontario’s shift from Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) to the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR) is changing how organizations demonstrate environmental compliance. Aercoustics is helping Hydro One make this transition with confidence. Aercoustics has worked on their environmental noise projects across Ontario for over ten years. That support has covered acoustic assessments, complaint investigations, mitigation strategies, and verification in rural, suburban, and urban locations. We have helped identify their noise requirements early and navigate regulatory processes without surprises. The Hydro One program is one example of how Aercoustics manages environmental noise compliance at scale. It is also an example of what this kind of long-term partnership makes possible when regulatory requirements change.

Experts in Action

Derek Flake, P.Eng., VP of Environmental Acoustics, A&WMA Chair of Membership Committee and Director on the Board for the Ontario Section, recently spoke at two Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) events: the Data Center Insights and Innovation conference and Air and Noise Compliance and Permissions: Ontario’s Evolving Landscape, which Aercoustics also sponsored. The sessions dug into permitting, community expectations, and mitigating noise and data center operations in the age of AI. Thanks to everyone who attended.

Kiyoshi Kuroiwa, P.Eng., CCCA, CSC Toronto Chapter Director, spoke at the CSC Vancouver Chapter’s February luncheon on acoustical challenges in mass timber construction. Drawing on 25 years of experience, he covered the acoustic implications of exposed wood structure, how evolving fire code requirements affect design decisions, and practical detailing strategies for meeting acoustic targets. The session included case studies from projects like the Wood Innovation Design Centre and Centennial College A Block, with a focus on translating lessons learned into better architectural decision-making.

Culture

Canstruction

Team Aercoustics wrapped up another year of CANstruction. Together, the team raised $8,693 and donated 5,176 cans to the Daily Bread Food Bank and walked away with the Best Use of Labels award. This year’s build, “Apple of My Eye,” used donated cans to form the image of an apple, a nod to nourishment and what a community can pull off when people show up for each other. This win also completes our collection of all six CANstruction awards over 10+ years of competing.

Bike for Brain Health

The Aercoustics team joined Bike for Brain Health, a fundraising cycling event supporting Baycrest Foundation. All donations go toward research into Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and brain health, as well as programs and education for older adults. Thanks to the organizers for a well-run event. This was a great way to get outside, move together, and support research that matters.

EcoJam 2026

Aercoustics’ band, The Diffusers, performed at EcoJam 2026, the tenth edition of Smith + Andersen’s sold-out Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry fundraiser at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. The Diffusers performed alongside 14 other bands from across the industry, and the night raised $75,000 for Forests Canada. A great event for a great cause.

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