Provincial News
The First Six Months of Reg. 419: Lessons Learned
Negligible Sources: The Procedure document for preparing Emission Summary and Dispersion Modelling (ESDM) Reports, the central document in a Certificate of Approval (CofA) application, indicates that certain sources may be deemed negligible and thus not included in the impact assessment. ? However, the Streamlined Review Unit of the Certificate of Approval Review Section will require impact assessments for some of these sources; the specifics of the negligible? sources listed requiring assessment are still under discussion. ? The Streamlined Review Unit is typically used for applications of a simpler nature.
Ministry-supplied Meteorological Data Sets: ? Certain Ministry-supplied datasets, for use with the newer US EPA models (AERMOD and ISCPRIME), display calm? conditions during certain hours. ? Calms? are defined as wind speeds too low for the meteorological sensor to register (generally 4-5 km/hr). ? During extended calm periods there is still a need to simulate wind direction variation, but how this variation should be estimated is still under discussion.
New Air Quality Standards Proposed
The Ministry of the Environment is proposing new or updated standards for 15 substances including, n-butanol, cadmium and its compounds, chlorine dioxide, chloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethane, ethylene oxide, isobutanol, lead, methyl chloride, phosphoric acid, propylene, sulfuric acid, toluene and total reduced sulfur compounds and trimethylbenzenes; to be phased-in over 5 years if proposed standards are lower than current ones.
Suggested Actions: If your facility emits the substances, review if the changes affect your compliance status. ? You may comment on the proposal on the EBR is open until Sept. 25.
Air Dispersion Modelling
The Ministry is proposing to allow use of the U.S. EPA dispersion models with Schedule 1 or 2 standards; standards that are normally used for the older Reg 346. ? However, use of these models requires appropriate scaling factors to account for the different averaging periods.
Proposed Exemptions for Standby Generators
The Ministry proposes alternative performance limits (apart from Reg. 419) for impact assessments for generators used for emergency power only, and during monthly testing of no greater than 1 hour duration. ? This exemption will not extend to generators close to sensitive receptors (e.g., schools, hospitals, daycares, etc.) where Reg. 419 will still apply, nor to generators used for purposes other than emergency power.
Proposed Odour-based Standards and Guidelines
The Ministry is proposing new 0.5-hour odour-based standards and guidelines in Schedules 1 or 2 of Reg. 419. ? These proposals may affect compliance status for n-butanol, isobutanol and toluene. ? The odour-based standards are stricter than the health-based standards but will only apply at locations frequented by humans. ? Allowance will be given, in modelled impact analyses, to a single (hour s) exceedance per month for compliance purposes.
Proposed Action: We recommend a review of the effect of the changes on your company s odour compliance status. ? You may respond to this proposal until Sept. 25th, 2006.
Federal News
Environment Canada Announces Reduction of Pollution Limits from Base Metal Smelters
The Government of Canada will require base metal smelters to prepare and implement comprehensive Pollution Prevention Plans and to publicly report on their conformance with an Environmental Code of Practice for Base Metals Smelters and Refineries. ? These plans are directed to reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter containing various metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel. ? For Pollution Prevention Plans, base metal smelters are required to develop and implement Community Air Quality Protection and Smelter Emission Reduction Programs.
Final National Implementation Plan under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Canada’s National Implementation Plan under the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has been approved by the Minister of the Environment. ? POPs include substances such as PCBs, dioxins and furans. ? The Implementation Plan includes continued monitoring and continuing to identify POPs by reviewing the 23000, or so, chemicals in the Domestic Substances List. ? It also includes measures to reduce total releases of POPs as by-products (for example, from combustion processes).
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