Winter 2012 Air Quality News Bulletin
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL NEWS
Toxics Reduction Act “ Accounting and Reduction Planning
The Toxics Reduction Act was invoked by the MOE January 1, 2010 requiring industries to:
(i) report emissions on 47 priority NPRI substances used during 2010 by June 1, 2011; the 47 priority substances are termed Phase 1 substances. January 1 of this year, this requirement applies to the balance of the NPRI substances and acetone (Phase 2 substances), which will need to be reported by June 1, 2013,
(ii) provide a detailed accounting of the usage and loss of those substances, as they move through the manufacturing process, was required by June 1, 2011 for Phase 1 substances, and will be required by June 1, 2013 (based on 2012 annual data) for Phase 2 substances, and,
(iii) develop substance reduction plans, with a specific plan for each substance, to be completed by December 31 this year for users of the 47 priority substances and December 31, 2013 for the balance of the NPRI substance and acetone. Although implementation of these plans is voluntary, the plans will need to be reviewed by certified toxics reductions planners. The MOE will soon certify toxic reduction planners within Ontario and Airzone will have certified planners on staff.
Airzone can assist you with substance reporting, accounting and reductions planning. If you need more information please contact Roy Sabino (ext. 107) or Margaret Matusik (ext. 101).
NB Mr. Roy Sabino, C.E.T., will be providing a free breakfast seminar on March 7th on Federal and Provincial environmental emissions reporting requirements, including a description of requirements for Ontario industries for the Toxics Reduction Act. Please contact Ms Natalie DeSousa (ext. 100) for further details and registration.
Activity Registration “ Lessons learned so far and further developments
As of October 2011 eligible comfort heating systems, emergency generators and auto-body paint spray shops are to apply for environmental registration rather than for an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA; formerly CofA). This is a welcome change for most proponents installing new equipment as registration does not require air or noise emission assessments and registration is virtually immediate once on-line forms have been filled-out. This contrasts to the old CofA process, for those activities, that required air and noise emission assessments and where permit approval took months before installation could take place.
However, bear in-mind that currently existing heating systems, emergency generators and auto-body paint spray shops will need to be registered, over the next five years, regardless of whether they have or are included in a CofA. If you have equipment in these categories and require help registering please contact us (details below).
In addition, the MOE has recently announced provisional plans to allow registration of the following activities: Waste collection and transportation, Redi-Mix Concrete Manufacturing, Lithographic, Screening and Digital Printing, and Concrete Product Manufacturing.
Airzone can assess whether your activities qualify for registration and assist with the process contact Franco DiGiovanni at ext. 102 (fdi-giovanni[at]airzoneone.com) or Roy Sabino at ext. 107 (rsabino[at]airzoneone.com).
5-Year Phase-in of New Annual Air Standards
In 2011, the MOE introduced new or updated standards for eight contaminants, including annual standards for benzene, 1,3-butadiene, chromium VI, nickel, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP, as a surrogate for PAH) and uranium and 24-hour standards for chromium (0, II, & III), dioxins and furans, and manganese. Along with the annual standards for these substances assessment against annual assessment values, upper risk thresholds and daily assessment values will also be required. This will increase the level of effort required to assess impacts for these substances and therefore modelling requirements for permit applications. Compliance with these new standards must be demonstrated by July 1, 2016 even if your current emissions are permitted.
If you use or emit these substances and require assistance with determining whether current operations will remain in compliance with these new air standards contact Franco DiGiovanni at ext. 102 (fdi-giovanni[at]airzoneone.com) or Roy Sabino at ext. 107 (rsabino[at]airzoneone.com).
New draft Guide to Applying for an ECA
The MOE has recently issued a draft version of a Guide for applying for an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA). ECA s have replaced Certificates of Approval (CofA s) as part of the MOE s modernization of environmental approvals.
If you need assistance with an ECA application contact Franco DiGiovanni at ext. 102 (fdi-giovanni[at]airzoneone.com) or Roy Sabino at ext. 107 (rsabino[at]airzoneone.com).
CANADIAN FEDERAL NEWS
Emergency response plans
The Federal government added 41 additional toxic or flammable substances to those listed in its Environmental Emergency (EE) Regulations. It will largely affect metal mining, smelting and petrochemical facilities.
Under the revised EE regulations, companies that store more than a threshold amount of identified toxic or otherwise dangerous substances must develop environmental emergency plans. About 2,400 facilities across Canada currently need to undertake EE planning.
For example, styrene and ammonium nitrate were added to Schedule 1, Part 1, acetic acid, dichloromethane and sulphur hexafluoride were added to Part 2 and arsenic, DEHP, trichloroethylene, cadmium oxide, tetrachloroethylene and nickel sulphate were added to Part 3.
2011 NPRI requirements
NPRI requirements for 2011, reports due on June 1, 2012 were published with very few changes. Of note is that the mass and concentration threshold for selenium has changed to 100 kg at a concentration of 0.000005%.
AIRZONE NEWS
Our permitting group continues to work on ECA s (formerly CofA s) to ensure that companies meet regulatory requirements, specifically for waste management companies, tool manufacturers, railings manufacturers, chrome plating, food manufacturers, the aerospace industry, automotive and furniture manufacturers and large office property owners, among other clients. We are also assisting clients with registrations for emergency gen sets and comfort heating systems.
Airzone s laboratory has been upgraded by acquisition of several new instruments (GC/MSs & GC/FPDs). In addition to improving operational efficiency, the new instrumentation will improve detectability of several classes of airborne compounds that we regularly analyze. Reduced sulphur compound, VOC and PAH analyses, in particular, will benefit.
Airzone has been retained by a UNEP funded agency to assist with establishing an atmospheric deposition monitoring network across Equatorial Africa. The aim is to identify, quantify and (ultimately) manage atmospheric nutrient deposition to the African Great Lakes. Airzone has also been retained by for continuous airborne particle (TSP, PM2.5 & PM10) monitoring of dust at several major constructions projects in the GTA.
Dr. Nicole Shantz joined Airzone in the Fall of 2011 from Environment Canada. Dr. Shantz specializes in cloud aerosol physics and chemistry. Dr. Shantz has commenced air modeling for ECAs and working on continuous particulate monitoring project where data collection and interpretation from multiple sources is essential.
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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