1、Overview of Canadas National Pollutant Release InventoryA Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry (PRTR)CCICED Special Policy Study on MercuryMarch 30, 2011Page 2 March 23, 2022OutlineAbout the NPRIWhy the NPRI existsLegal foundationWhat is reported to the NPRIHow the NPRI has changed over timeHow t

2、he NPRI WorksNPRI Consultations - OverviewWhat are Facilities Required to Report?Results of 2009 NPRI DataOther PRTR systemsPage 3 March 23, 2022About the NPRIThe NPRI is Canadas legislated, publicly-accessible inventory of pollutant releases (to air, water and land), disposals and off-site recyclin

3、g.The NPRI includes:Mandatory reporting by facilities to Environment Canada (EC) on their pollutant releases and transfers; and mandatory publication by EC of the data received. Comprehensive air pollutant emission estimates compiled by EC national, provincial and sector estimates from all emission

4、sources in Canada for specific air pollutants including persistent organic pollutants (POPs).Page 4 March 23, 2022Why The NPRI ExistsThe NPRI is a major starting point for pollution information in Canada. It exists to:Support priority setting and monitoring of environmental performance measures Cont

5、ribute to the compilation of pollution patterns and trendsProvide environmental information in the public interestThe NPRI is used by the Government of Canada to track progress in pollution prevention, inform risk assessments of substances of concern, and measure the performance of risk management m

6、easures.Page 5 March 23, 2022Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1988 (CEPA 1988)(Former) Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1988:Section 16: general information gathering powers to assess substances or determine the manner in which to control a substance. The Minister can demand information

7、by publishing a notice in the Canada Gazette, Part 1Used for NPRI and many other programs.Section 48: The Minister shall establish a National Pollutant Release inventorySections 49 to 50: Mandatory publication of the NPRIPage 6 March 23, 2022Use of Ministerial notice versus RegulationNoticeLimited t

8、o collecting information that is reasonableSimple process to publish legal requirement to reportNo Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIAS) requiredEasily updated and amendedBroad powers to require almost any relevant type of information on any substance of environmental concernConsistency of reporting a p

9、roblemRegulationComplicated, time consuming process to publish regulationsRequires RIASIn Canada, limited to toxic substances.Can specify methods to be used to measure and reportA combination of both approaches can be usedIn other countries/jurisdictions, PRTR reporting can be tied to operating perm

10、its and licencesPage 7 March 23, 2022What is Reported to the NPRI? Page 8 March 23, 2022How was the NPRI Developed?The NPRI was put in place after the Government of Canadas commitment in 1990 to establish a pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) to inform the public on substances of concern.

11、 It was developed through a multi-stakeholder consultation process with representatives from industry, labour, environmental groups.an internal advisory group with representatives from the departmentA final stakeholder report was published in December 1992 and was accepted by the MinisterNPRI was to

12、 be mandatory and data made publicly available.Everyone who meets criteria for reporting must report unless exempted.1993 was the first reporting year.Page 9 March 23, 2022The NPRI has changed since its inceptionNPRI data has been reported annually by facilities, and data is published for the years

13、1993 2009. Since 1993, the first year of the NPRI:Over 150 substances have been added, including:Many substances that are considered to be toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) such as criteria air contaminants, the key contributors to smog, acid rain and poor air q

14、uality.Certain substances of concern and activities may have lower thresholds or different reporting criteria (e.g., lead, mercury, smog-causing pollutants, incineration activities, disposal to tailings and waste rock)Page 10 March 23, 2022Page 11 March 23, 2022How the NPRI Works: Annual NPRI report

15、ing cyclePage 12 March 23, 2022NPRI Consultations As a federally legislated program, the NPRI consults with Canadians and other stakeholders through a number of vehicles:CEPA National Advisory Committee (NAC) Provides for a representative of each of the federal Departments of Health and Environment,

16、 each of the provinces and territories as well as up to six representatives of Aboriginal governments NPRI Multi-Stakeholder Work Group Includes representatives from the regulated community (e.g. industry associations), Environmental, health or labour non-governmental organizations as well as Aborig

17、inal governments and organizations OtherAcademiaInternational organizations e.g. (Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)CitizensEtc.Page 13 March 23, 2022What are Facilities Required to Report?Data is reported to the NPRI annually on pollutan

18、t releases (air, water and land), disposals and recycling:from over 8400 facilities (2009 results);347 substances/substance groups were listed on the 2009 NPRI including many toxic substances, smog and acid rain pollutants, certain heavy metals and persistent organic pollutantson more than 120 secto

19、rsFacilities in Canada that meet specific requirements report to the NPRI: Generally: Equivalent of 10 or more employees; and10 tonne manufacture, process or otherwise use thresholdCertain substances of concern and activities may have lower thresholds or different reporting criteria (e.g., lead, mer

20、cury, smog-causing pollutants, incineration activities)Page 14 March 23, 20222009 NPRI Facility DataMore than 8400 facilities submitted substance reports347 substances/substance groups listedincluding many toxic substances (CEPA 1999)Based on data as of December, 2009Total Releases, Disposals and Recycling (Off-site) Reported t