Base metal smelters sector: environmental performance agreements overview
These environmental performance agreements are in effect from January 5, 2018, to December 31, 2025.
Objective
The objective of the agreements is to implement the base level industrial emissions requirements (BLIERs) developed for the base metals smelting and refining sector.
Signatories
The agreements have been negotiated between Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and 5 base metal smelting and refining companies, each with a specific agreement:
- Vale Canada Limited
- Glencore Canada Limited
- Teck Metals Limited
- Hudbay Minerals Inc.
- Canadian Electrolytic Zinc Limited on behalf of Noranda Income Limited Partnerships
Key requirements
The participating companies agree to:
- Achieve and maintain the BLIERs for emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter (PM).
- Continual improvement, where reasonably feasible, with respect to:
- further reducing emissions of SO2 and PM
- reducing emissions of metals and fugitive PM
- implementing the applicable recommendations in the environmental code of practice for base metals smelters and refineries
Deadlines
| Type of reports | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Annual report | June 30 (covering data collected each calendar year between 2017 and 2025) |
| Verification | Once (within 2 years of the date of the agreement) |
| ECCC public reporting | Annually (until end of agreement) |
Where to submit
All annual reports are to be submitted electronically to ec.epa-epe.ec@canada.ca.
Performance results
Annual reports for the 2018 calendar year were received from all 11 participating facilities before the reporting deadline. Each of the 8 facilities required to meet BLIERs target(s) before December 31, 2018, met the target(s) and those whose target(s) are after that date are on track to meet them.
In addition to the ‘key requirements’ listed in the section above, each signatory has agreed to, and successfully completed, the following for 2018:
- participate in a working group with representatives from ECCC, provincial governments, other companies in the base metal sector, and the Mining Association of Canada, with a particular focus on releases of key metals, fine particulate matter and fugitive particulate matter
- participate in bilateral discussions with ECCC to discuss reports and results and to identify possible methods to further reduce emissions
- report on progress towards implementing applicable recommendations in the code of practice
Tables 1 to 5 present the SO2 and PM BLIERs targets and results for each facility.
Facility |
Date to meet the BLIERs |
Target: sulphur capture rate or SO2 emission limit |
Meeting SO2 BLIER target |
Target: PM intensity (kg/t base metal) |
Meeting PM BLIER target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thompson* |
Jan. 1, 2016 to Dec 31, 2018 |
110,000 t/year** |
Yes |
n/a |
n/a |
Thompson* |
Jan 1, 2019 |
90% |
n/a* |
4 |
n/a* |
Copper Cliff |
Jan 1, 2019 |
90% |
To be evaluated in 2020 |
4 |
To be evaluated in 2020 |
Port Colborne |
Jan. 5, 2018 |
n/a |
n/a |
2 |
Yes |
Long Harbour |
Jan. 5, 2018 |
n/a |
n/a |
2 |
Yes |
* Smelter closed in July of 2018.
** Averaged over the 3 year period to meet the mass emission requirement.
Facility |
Date to meet the BLIERs |
Target: sulphur capture rate or SO2 emission limit |
Meeting SO2 BLIER target |
Target: PM intensity (kg/t base metal) |
Meeting PM BLIER target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations |
Jan 1, 2019 |
90% |
To be evaluated in 2020 |
4 |
To be evaluated in 2020 |
Horne Smelter |
Jan. 5, 2018 |
90% |
Yes |
2 |
Yes |
CCR Refinery |
Jan. 5, 2018 |
n/a |
n/a |
2 |
Yes |
Brunswick Smelter |
Jan. 5, 2018 |
90% |
Yes |
2 |
Yes |
Facility |
Date to meet the BLIERs |
Target: sulphur capture rate or SO2 emission limit |
Meeting SO2 BLIER target |
Target: PM intensity (kg/t base metal) |
Meeting PM BLIER target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teck |
Jan. 5, 2018 |
95% |
Yes |
2 |
Yes |
Facility |
Date to meet the BLIERs |
Target: sulphur capture rate or SO2 emission limit |
Meeting SO2 BLIER target |
Target: PM intensity (kg/t base metal) |
Meeting PM BLIER target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hudbay |
Jan. 5, 2018 |
n/a |
n/a |
2 |
Yes |
Facility |
Date to meet the BLIERs |
Target: sulphur capture rate or SO2 emission limit |
Meeting SO2 BLIER target |
Target: PM intensity (kg/t base metal) |
Meeting PM BLIER target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CEZinc |
Jan. 5, 2018 |
95% |
Yes |
2 |
Yes |
Verification
ECCC completed desktop reviews for all reports received and bilateral discussions continue to take place. Additionally, a one-time third party verification is a requirement of the performance agreements. To date, 7 facilities have submitted their third party verification reports.
Next steps
- Working group activities such as regular meetings and bilateral discussions will continue
- Annual and third party verification reports will be submitted by participating facilities and subsequently reviewed by ECCC
Background information
Federal, provincial and territorial environment ministers are taking action to better protect human health and the environment by endorsing and implementing the Air quality management system (AQMS). The AQMS includes Canadian ambient air quality standards for fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone, BLIERs and local air zone management by the provincial/territorial jurisdictions.
Summary of ECCC instruments used to implement BLIERs
ECCC led a federal, provincial and territorial consensus process with stakeholder involvement to complete the development of BLIERs. For the base metals smelting sector, BLIERs were developed for SO2 and PM.
Response to comments
The draft agreements were posted for public consultation on the Government of Canada's environmental performance agreements website for 60 days. Comments were received from industrial stakeholders. These comments were taken into consideration when finalizing the agreements.
In response to these comments, text was added to clarify when annual reports are due and which party is responsible for chairing a working group to work towards reducing emissions of metals and fugitive particulate matter. As well, a footnote was removed from the Annex I of each agreement to avoid confusion regarding the process for amending the agreements.
Related information
- Overview of the base metal smelters and refineries code of practice
- Pollution prevention planning notice for base metals smelters and refineries and zinc plants
Contact us
Mining and Processing Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3
Email: ec.mmp-tmm.ec@canada.ca
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