Pollution prevention plans
On this page
- Context
- Published Canada Gazette notices requiring pollution prevention plans
- Effectiveness of pollution prevention planning notices
- Time extensions
- Waiver of the requirement to consider a factor
- Contact Us
Context
Part 4 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) gives the minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) the authority to require the preparation and implementation of pollution prevention plans (P2 plans) for CEPA-toxic substances (that have been added to Schedule 1 of CEPA). To invoke these requirements, the minister publishes notices in the Canada Gazette, Part I, requiring persons to prepare and implement P2 plans for a substance or group of substances. These notices are called pollution prevention planning notices or P2 notices. For more information on these notices and the circumstances under which they are implemented, see the following guidelines:
You can access the legal obligations for persons subject to P2 notices on the following web page:
One of the obligations is to submit declarations and reports summarizing the facility’s activities and the information contained in their P2 plan. You can view these submissions by using the following search tool:
Published Canada Gazette notices requiring pollution prevention plans
You can access the overview pages of notices that are proposed, in effect and no longer in effect at the following web page:
You can also access all previously published notices from the CEPA Registry web page:
Effectiveness of pollution prevention planning notices
Declarations and reports submitted by facilities are assessed to determine whether the notice has prevented or reduced the risks posed by the toxic substance. Notices are also evaluated for how they have performed as a risk management instrument. For a summary of the effectiveness of completed notices to date, consult the following web page:
Time extensions
Companies can request a time extension for preparing or implementing a P2 plan. You can access all granted time extensions from the CEPA registry web page:
Waiver of the requirement to consider a factor
All P2 planning notices specify “factors to consider”. Companies subject to a notice must take into account these factors when developing and implementing their pollution prevention plans. If taking into account a factor is unreasonable or impractical, companies can submit a request for the Minister to waive the requirement to consider that factor. The request must identify the factor that requires the waiver and a rationale. The requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
The Minister of Environment Climate Change Canada has granted three waivers since 2003.
P2 Notice: Inorganic chloramines and chlorinated wastewater effluents
Bridgewater Wastewater Treatment Plant (Town of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia)
Factor to consider: “Conducting process audits for chlorine by June 15, 2006, and implementing actions based on the audit findings by December 15, 2008, that minimize the use and release of chlorine or chlorine compounds.” (paragraph 4(2)(a) of the NoticeFootnote 1 ).
Rationale to waive the factor: The facility indicated that the audit was unreasonable since they were discontinuing chlorination and upgrading to a UV disinfection system.
Waiver granted: June 14, 2007
Hazen Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility (City of Saint John, New Brunswick)
Factor to consider: “Conducting process audits for chlorine by June 15, 2006, and implementing actions based on the audit findings by December 15, 2008, that minimize the use and release of chlorine or chlorine compounds…” (paragraph 4(2)(a) of the NoticeFootnote 1 ).
Rationale to waive the factor: The facility indicated that the audit was unreasonable since they were discontinuing chlorination and upgrading to a UV disinfection system.
Waiver granted: June 14, 2007
P2 Notice: Nonylphenol and its ethoxylates contained in products
Lalema Inc. (Ville de Montréal, Québec)
Factor to consider: “Persons subject to this Notice shall consider including accurate concentrations of NP and NPEs in products (if any) on each product’s label” (subsection 4(5) of the Notice).
Rationale to waive the factor: The facility indicated it was unreasonable to modify their labels since they were planning to eliminate NP and NPE from their products.
Waiver granted: July 20, 2005
Contact us
Regulatory Innovation and Management Systems
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 Saint-Joseph Blvd
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3
Email: planp2-p2plan@ec.gc.ca
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