| #Q001 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Plan Prescriptive Language Requirement | wastewater, other | The plan must therefore include prescriptive language that clearly demonstrates the steps the authorization holder will take to operate in accordance with the plan. | When preparing plans in response to regulatory requirements. | high |
| #Q002 | administrative | reporting | guideline | Principle 1: Mandatory Wording Usage | wastewater, other | Use mandatory wording instead of discretionary : The choice of wording in a plan will determine the strength of the management commitment. The use of words such as 'may' and 'should' leave too much room for potentially conflicting interpretation. Instead, mandatory wording such as 'will', 'must' and 'shall' indicates that the action is a requirement and must be implemented as specified. | When drafting language for plans under the Environmental Management Act. | high |
| #Q003 | administrative | reporting | guideline | Principle 2: Specific Action Triggers | wastewater, other | Be specific about when actions are to be implemented : Clarify the threshold that will trigger an action. Rather than using ambiguous wording such as 'to the maximum extent possible', 'wherever practicable' or 'as necessary', which indicates that the approach is encouraged, but not actually required, prescribe the situations or circumstances that would require the implementation of an action | | high |
| #Q004 | administrative | reporting | guideline | Principle 3: Avoidance of Ambiguous Phrases | wastewater, other | Clearly define potentially ambiguous or unclear phrases/statements that could result in misinterpretation . Jargon words or technical terms should be avoided or clearly defined in a glossary. | | high |
| #Q005 | administrative | reporting | guideline | Principle 4: Avoidance of Subjective Terms | wastewater, other | Avoid using terms that are inherently subjective, such as 'significant', 'numerous', or 'frequently'. Try to be specific when discussing variables such as quantities, concentrations, or distances | | high |
| #Q006 | administrative | reporting | guideline | Principle 5: Use of Visual Aids for Action Items | wastewater, other | Use tables, figures, charts and diagrams to clarify the action items within the plan. | | high |
| #Q007 | administrative | reporting | guideline | Principle 6: Use of Maps and Diagrams for Site Specifics | wastewater, other | Use well annotated maps and diagrams to clearly identify areas of the site that apply to the specifics of the plan . | | high |
| #Q008 | administrative | reporting | guideline | Principle 7: Consistent Symbols and Measurement Units | wastewater, other | Use symbols and measurement units in a consistent manner throughout the plan document . Where applicable, ensure measurement units correspond to the units in the authorization or legislation. | | high |
| #Q009 | administrative | reporting | guideline | Principle 8: Abbreviation Definitions | wastewater, other | Ensure all abbreviations are clearly defined in the plan , either at the start of the plan or wherever the abbreviation is first included in the plan. | | high |
| #Q010 | administrative | reporting | guideline | Principle 9: Consistent Terminology | wastewater, other | Ensure consistent use of terminology . Using interchangeable wording can cause confusion | | high |
| #Q011 | prohibition | reporting | mandatory | Principle 10: Prohibition of Advice and Recommendations | wastewater, other | The Qualified Professional preparing the plan must not use the plan to provide advice, options or recommendations to the authorization holder . Instead, plan documents should be used to document actual actions to be conducted. | | high |
| #Q012 | administrative | reporting | guideline | Principle 11: Incorporation of Guidance Documents | wastewater, other | Ensure the advice and guidance included in any applicable ENV guidance documents regarding plan contents (if available) is incorporated into the final plan wherever possible . | | high |
| #Q013 | administrative | reporting | guideline | SMART Principle: Specific Actions | wastewater, other | Actions must be written to be specific, well- defined, and clear to anyone who may become involved with the activity. It is important to consider how the action will be implemented, including who, what, when, where and how. The plan should identify who specifically must complete a task | | high |
| #Q014 | administrative | reporting | guideline | SMART Principle: Measurable Actions | wastewater, other | Actions stipulated in the plan need to be measurable and quantifiable. This means the progress and final outcome of the condition or contingency plan must be trackable. | | high |
| #Q015 | administrative | reporting | guideline | SMART Principle: Achievable Actions | wastewater, other | The requirements of a plan must be achievable or attainable. The methods for achieving the outcomes plan must also be agreed-upon by the relevant parties. | | high |
| #Q016 | administrative | reporting | guideline | SMART Principle: Reasonable and Relevant Plans | wastewater, other | Plans must be formulated to be objectively practical and consistently written. Do not rely on other documents, outside of the primary document, without qualifying. Refer instead to the specific section or incorporate the relevant part into the primary document itself. | | high |
| #Q017 | administrative | reporting | guideline | SMART Principle: Time-bound Conditions | wastewater, other | It is important to specify timeframes that are anchored to an identifiable date or time. Include conditions that specify notification to be provided to the relevant parties for commencement and completion of the activity. | | high |
| #Q018 | operational | operational | mandatory | Mandatory Plan Implementation | wastewater, other | it is necessary to implement the plan, exactly as it is written, to ensure these requirements are satisfied. | Applies to plans prepared in response to regulatory requirements (e.g. a permit clause). | high |
| #Q019 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Plan Revision Requirement | wastewater, other | In the event a plan is submitted without adhering to these principles, the plan may be considered unacceptable, and submission of an amended plan may be required. | When a submitted plan fails to adhere to the principles outlined in the guidance. | high |