Environmental Emergency (E2) Plans

Environmental emergency (E2) plans are required by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for all industries that have large volumes of regulated hazardous substances stored at their facilities. E2 plans detail potential incidents, and how your company will prepare for, respond to, and recover from an incident.

ERAC can develop your E2 plan, produce public notification brochures and facilitate annual tabletop training sessions for your facility employees. ERAC can also partner with organizations that have the internal resources to execute some of the plan requirements and will reduce the cost of the plan accordingly.

Your E2 plan includes modelling using Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres (ALOHA), a computer program designed to model chemical releases for emergency planners. Our in-house geospatial information specialists produce maps that identify critical infrastructure, high occupancy and vulnerable population locations, as well as hydrology and environmental receptors.

The E2 Regulations apply to any person who owns or has the charge, management or control of a listed substance that:

is at or above the quantity set out in column 3 of Schedule 1 of the E2 Regulations at any time during a calendar year; or
is at a quantity greater than zero and is stored in a container that has a maximum capacity equal to or exceeding the threshold quantity for that substance (see subsection 3(1) of the E2 Regulations).

In addition to planning and training, ERAC responds to emergencies involving stationary tanks on behalf of its Plan Participant members and supports the training and assessment of emergency response teams.

ERAC provides end-to-end support for E2 Plans, including:

Development of new E2 Plans
Thorough review and updating of existing E2 Plans to meet current regulatory requirements
Regulatory audits and gap analyses
Preparation of required documentation and public notification materials
Facilitation of annual simulation (tabletop) and full-scale exercises

Hazard Assessment and Modelling

All ERAC E2 Plans include consequence assessment and scenario analysis using ALOHA and CERES (Chemical Emergency Response E‑Service). These tools support credible emergency scenarios and help identify hazard zones, affected receptors, and protective action considerations. Our in‑house geospatial specialists produce clear, site‑specific mapping that ensures E2 Plans are not only compliant, but operationally meaningful.

Areas of E2 Planning Experience

ERAC has extensive experience preparing Environmental Emergency (E2) Plans and facilitating exercises for facilities handling Schedule 1 substances, including:

Class 2.1 Flammable Gases, such as Hydrogen and Propane
Class 2.3 Flammable Gases, such as Anhydrous Ammonia
Class 3 Flammable Liquids, such as Gasoline and Diesel

Our experience spans a range of facility sizes and operational contexts, ensuring E2 Plans and exercises are practical, site‑specific, and aligned with regulatory expectations.

Exercises and Training

The E2 Regulations require Environmental Emergency Plans to be exercised regularly, including annual simulation (tabletop) exercises and at least one full‑scale, action‑based exercise every five years.

ERAC plans, facilitates, evaluates, and documents:
- Annual tabletop, drill, or functional exercises
- Mandatory five‑year full‑scale E2 simulation exercises, including deployment of personnel, resources, and equipment
- Pre‑ and post‑exercise documentation to support regulatory record‑keeping and continuous improvement

Contact ERAC today to learn how our E2 services can support your facility’s regulatory obligations and emergency readiness.