Preface

The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) is at the centre of Environment Canada's efforts to track toxic substances. It is the only nation-wide, publicly accessible program of its type in Canada that provides information on pollutants released to the environment and transferred for disposal. Since its inception in 1992, the role of the NPRI has expanded to include the collection of information on NPRI substances being recycled and pollution-prevention activities. For the 2000 reporting year, there are 268 substances listed in the NPRI, 55 of which have been declared toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

The original 10-tonne manufacture, process or other use reporting threshold applies to 248 substances in the NPRI for the 2000 reporting year. The remaining 20 substances have alternate reporting thresholds. These substances are discussed in this Supplementary Guide - mercury (and its compounds), 17 individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (dioxins)/ polychlorinated dibenzofurans (furans), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB).

This Supplementary Guide is intended to assist owners and operators of facilities to determine whether they must report for any of the substances with alternate reporting thresholds, to understand the reporting criteria and to estimate on-site releases and off-site transfers of the relevant substances.

This Supplementary Guide is a companion document to the Guide for Reporting to the National Pollutant Release Inventory - 2000 which outlines the NPRI reporting criteria for all substances listed in the NPRI and assists facility owners and operators to determine if they are required to report to the NPRI for the 2000 reporting year. The Guide for Reporting also provides instructions on how to complete the electronic reporting form and submit the report to Environment Canada. Facilities used for wood preservation should also refer to the Guidance for Wood Preservation Facilities Reporting to the National Pollutant Release Inventory, which will be available in 2001.

Cette publication est aussi disponible en français sous le titre de « Guide supplémentaire de déclaration à l'Inventaire national des rejets de polluants - Autres Seuils - 2000 ». L'autre guide général mentionné est aussi disponible en français sous le titre de « Guide de déclaration à l'Inventaire national des rejets de polluants - 2000 ».