Environmental Regulations

It is important when applying nutrients to ensure you are following NS regulations. If you wish to know more about the regulations or have concerns, contact the Nova Scotia Environment office or the Environmental Farm Plan office.

Guidelines for Land Application and Storage of Municipal Biosolids in Nova Scotia (pdf)

Manure Management Guidelines (pdf)

The Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program promotes environmental stewardship and due diligence. The EFP has developed guidelines for separation distances for the application of soil amendments to minimize environmental risk. If you have any questions about these separation distances and proper storage please contact the EFP program.

Separation Distances

Wells

Adequate separation distances should be maintained between productive agricultural land and all wells. These areas are the edge of a productive agricultural field to the nearest well (i.e. unused, abandoned and neighbours’ wells). This will minimize the environmental risks associated with the application of manure and fertilizers through surface water runoff and/or groundwater leaching. It is important to maintain the following minimum separation distances from wells for the:

application of manure

30 m (100 ft) on clay and/or loam soils

60 m (200 ft) on sandy and/or gravelly soils

application of fertilizers

10 m (33 ft)

Ensure that fertilizer is loaded into the spreader at least 30 m (100 ft) from all wells and watercourses.

Watercourses

Adequate separation distances should be maintained between productive agricultural land and brooks, rivers and lakes. These areas are the edge of a productive agricultural field to the nearest watercourse. This will minimize the environmental risks associated with the application of manure and fertilizers through surface water runoff. A minimum of 5 m (15 ft) buffer should be established beside watercourses, where no application of manure, compost, fertilizer etc. is applied.