Air Quality News Bulletin – Winter 2011
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL NEWS
Important New Emissions Reporting Requirements Kick-in this Year
New emissions reporting requirements begin this year including:
- reporting under the Ontario Toxics Reduction Act (OReg 455/09),
- for facilities in Toronto reporting under the City s ChemTRAC system, and
- reporting under the Provinces Greenhouse Gas Reporting requirements.
Toxics Reduction Act (TRA) “ Manufacturing industry (as classified under NAICS code 31, 32 and 33) and mining ore processing facilities (NAICS code 212) will be required to report emissions of 47 priority substances by June 1st. Annualized emissions, based on 2010 calendar year were to be tracked by eligible industries; those emission data should now be compiled in preparation for the reporting date. Usage reduction plans will also be required, for each reportable substance, by the end of 2011 but the Province is considering delaying this requirement by one year.
City of Toronto (ChemTRAC) Reporting “ Under the City of Toronto s Municipal Code Chapter 423, industries in Toronto involved in food, beverage and tobacco manufacturing, printing and publishing, chemical manufacturing, wood industries, power generation and water and wastewater treatment are required to report annualized air emissions. Reporting of those sectors is required by June 30th based on 2010 emissions. Since the reporting thresholds are much lower than for NPRI or TRA, much smaller facilities will be included under this regulation.
Town of Oakville Emissions Reporting – Under s.4 of the Town s Health Protection Air Quality (HPAQ) by-law all facilities within the Town are required to report their average and maximal 24-hour and annual emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and precursor substances (NOx, SO2, NH3 and VOCs). Industrial, commercial, institutional and certain residential facilities that possess or require Provincial Certificates of Approval are required to report by May 1.
Greenhouse Gas Reporting “ Under O. Reg. 452 total greenhouse gases emitted during 2010 (reported as CO2 equivalents, or CO2e) must be reported to the Provincial government by June 1st if CO2e emissions exceeded 25,000 tonnes in 2010. So facilities must assess their emissions to see if reporting is required. The Federal government has a similar reporting requirement, which applies across Canada, but the threshold is 50,000 tonnes.
If you require assistance with the above reporting requirements please contact Roy Sabino (ext. 107) or Margaret Matusik (ext. 101).
Biomedical Waste Incinerators
The Province is considering revoking Guideline A-1: Combustion, Air Pollution Control and Monitoring Requirements for Biomedical Waste Incinerators, published in 2002, as it is outdated. Instead air emissions of new of modified waste incinerators will be governed under the Certificate of Approval O. Reg. 419/05.
Amendments to Provincial Greenhouse Gas reporting Regulation (OReg 452/09)
December 2010 the Province finalized amendments to the GHG reporting regulation. The amendments are: (i) removing limits on biomass burning allowances, (ii) allowing verification statements to ne reported in-house to the facility rather than the Province, (iii) adding a new GHG (nitrogen trifluoride) to the program, (iv) allowing the Province to request historical emissions data, and, (v) aligning emission estimation methods with those from the Western Climate Initiative jurisdictions and the US EPA.
Provincial Guidelines for Municipal Waste Incinerators
The Province has decided to update Guideline A-7: Air Pollution Control, Design and Operation Guidelines for Municipal Waste Thermal Treatment Facilities. The Guideline sets emission-based limits that incinerators must meet and provide guidance on how to verify those emission limits. For any new or modified incinerator Guidelines A-7 requirements are additional to Provincial CofA (Air & Noise) requirements.
CANADIAN FEDERAL NEWS
Note that the Federal government also regulates emissions of certain industries or substances such as the Chlor-Alkali Mercury Release Regulations (SOR/90-130), Chromium Electroplating, Chromium Anodizing and Reverse Etching Regulations (SOR/2009-162) and the Vinyl Chloride Release Regulations, 1992 (SOR/92-631).
AIRZONE NEWS
Our occupational health and safety department has continued to provide assistance with identifying worker exposures to airborne contaminants, including: isocyanates, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, silica and noise in occupational settings. Moreover, we have been characterizing and measuring chemicals in vapor intrusion studies, where contaminated ground or ground water are sources of indoor airborne contaminants.
Our permitting department continues to work on CofA s (air & noise) to ensure that companies meet regulatory requirements. Specifically for brick manufacturers, waste treatment facilities, oil industry pipe manufacturers, flour mills, coffee roasting operations, commercial/office buildings, chrome platers, propane cylinder manufacturers, aerospace industry, office furniture manufacturing and zinc galvanizing facilities.
Contact Franco DiGiovanni [ext. 102, fdi-giovanni{at}airzoneone.com] or Phil Fellin (ext. 105) to enquire about these topics, or to review your air quality issues in light of new regulations.
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