Management of toxic substances: wood preservation sector

The production of treated wood products consists in pressure treating wood products with wood preservatives (pesticides) to increase the useful life of products. Pesticides used by wood preservation facilities are governed by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada. 

Substance(s) Managed Under this Sector

• Inorganic arsenic compounds
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• Hexavalent chromium compounds
• Creosote-impregnated waste materials from creosote-contaminated sites
• Hexachlorobenzene
• Pentachlorobenzene (QCB)
• Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins
• Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans

Risk Management Tool(s)

Tool(s) developed to manage risks associated with releases:

• Recommendations for the Design and Operation of Wood Preservation Facilities, 2013:  Technical Recommendations Document
• Pollution Prevention Planning Notices for Wood Preservation Facilities (Notice Completed)
• National Pollutant Release Inventory
• Industrial treated wood users guidance document: guidance for the industrial treated wood user concepts to include in an environmental management system concerning the use of wood treated with CCA (chromated copper arsenate), ACA (ammoniacal copper arsenate), ACZA (ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate), creosote and pentachlorophenol
• Guidance for Wood Preservation Facilities Reporting to the NPRI

Related Links

• Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada
• Response to Comments on the Proposed Notice Requiring the Preparation and Implementation of Pollution Prevention Plans in Respect of Inorganic Arsenic Compounds, Hexavalent Chromium Compounds, Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins, Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans and/or Hexachlorobenzene used by Wood Preservation Facilities
• Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
• Fisheries Act
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Program
• Ozone-Depleting Substances Regulations
• Export and Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations
• Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012
• New Substances Notification Regulations
• Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012
• PCB Regulations
• Environmental Emergency Regulations
• Deposit Out of the Normal Course of Events Notification Regulations

Contact

Forest Products and Fisheries Act Division
Environment Canada
Place Vincent Massey
351 St. Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, QC K1A0H3
Fax: 819-420-7384
Email: FPFA-PFLP@ec.gc.ca

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