Highlights of the Proposed Amendments to the CEPA Chlorobiphenyl and Storage of PCB Material Regulations
Environment Canada has proposed amendments to the Chlorobiphenyl Regulations and Storage of PCB Materials Regulations that would require:
- Phase-out of most high-level (>500 ppm) PCBs in-service by the end of 2007 (Subsection 8 (1)),
- Phase-out most low-level (50-500 ppm) PCBs in-service by the end of 2014 (Subsection 8 (3)),
- Phase-out of all PCBs in storage by the end of 2009 and allow in-service PCBs to be transferred to storage for only one year or less (Storage Regs, Subsection 4 (1)),
- Phase-out of most high-level and low-level PCBs from sensitive locations within three years of the coming into force of the proposed regulations (Subsection 8 (4)),
- Decontamination of all out-of-service liquids containing PCBs to less than 2 ppm PCBs (Paragraph 5 (c)). (previously liquids and solids up to 50 ppm could be re-used, recycled or disposed in a landfill),
- Allowance for a liquid that contains at least 2 mg/kg of PCBs may only be reused for topping up a liquid in equipment that contains at least 2 mg/kg of PCBs if the mixing does not change the concentration of PCBs in the liquid the equipment (Subsection 10 (1)),
- Exemption from phase-out provisions for light ballasts, pole-top transformers, electrical and communication cables, pipelines, and specialized types of electrical equipment at electrical production or distribution facilities (Section 9),
- Labeling of all PCB equipment over 50 ppm PCBs, other than a light ballast in use (Section 12),
- Reporting to Environment Canada on all PCBs over 50 ppm, other than a light ballast in use (Sections 13 and 14).
In addition the amendments would make it an offense to release any PCB material (liquids with over 2 ppm PCB, substances (solids) with over 50 ppm PCB, or 10 grams of PCBs) to the environment. Currently the Regulations state that it is an offense to release more than 1 gram per day of PCBs to the environment.
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