History of reporting requirements: National Pollutant Release Inventory
Since the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) launched in 1993, the substance list and reporting requirements have continuously evolved. These changes happened to improve the data available to Canadians and other data users and followed the NPRI consultation process. The table below provides an overview of these changes.
Visit the Consultations page to view current and previous change proposals and find information on why these changes were made.
Impact of changes
Changes to the NPRI program can affect data trends and you should take this into consideration when using and analyzing NPRI data.
NPRI historical changes table
To narrow your results, type in a specific year, substance name, chemical abstract registry number (CAS RN) or change category. The searchable change categories are as follows:
- Addition to the substance list
- Deletion from the substance list
- Modification to a listed substance
- Adjustment to a reporting threshold
- Change to reporting requirements
- No change
| Year | Change category | Description of the change |
| 2019 | No change | N/A |
| 2018 | Addition to the substance list | Two substances were added to the Part 1B list with a mass threshold of 1,000 kg and concentration threshold of 1%:
Six substances or groups of substances were added to the Part 5 (Speciated VOCs) list:
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| 2018 | Deletion from the substance list | Ten substances were removed from the Part 1A list:
Sixteen volatile organic compound species or isomer groups were deleted from the Part 5 list:
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| 2018 | Modification to a listed substance | The CAS RN for vanadium (and its compounds, except when in an alloy) was removed. Multiple CAS RNs can apply to this substance. Benzo[a]phenanthrene is listed by its more common name, chrysene. The listing of n-butyl acetate was changed to butyl acetate (all isomers) and includes three isomers: n-butyl acetate (CAS RN 123-86-4), isobutyl acetate (CAS RN 110-19-0), and sec-butyl acetate (CAS RN 105-46-4). |
| 2018 | Adjustment to a reporting threshold | Anthracene was moved from Part 1 A to Part 2. The 10 tonne mass reporting threshold was reduced to 50 kg for total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, including anthracene, and 5 kg for reporting anthracene itself. Facilities that are subject to the Chromium Electroplating, Chromium Anodizing and Reverse Etching Regulations must report releases, disposals and transfers for recycling of hexavalent chromium (and its compounds), regardless of the number of employees and regardless of the 50 kg mass threshold and 0.1% concentration threshold. |
| 2018 | Change to reporting requirements | Facilities classified under the NAICS Canada code 211110 (Oil and gas extraction, except oil sands) excluding compressor stations, with less than 20 000 employee hours, must report for all criteria air contaminants (CAC) and benzene from all sources if the reporting threshold for at least one CAC is met. Light and medium crude oil batteries of an oil throughput equal to or greater than 1900 m3 per year must report volatile organic compounds and benzene emissions from storage tanks, regardless of whether air release thresholds are met. Facilities that report implementing a pollution prevention plan must report the name of the Pollution Prevention Planning Notice for which the plan was prepared. If the P2 plan was prepared or implemented for another government jurisdiction or program, the name of the jurisdiction, program, or requirement must be reported. Facilities that report not implementing new pollution prevention activities during the year must report any existing barriers to implementing a plan. Facilities must report mercury and criteria air contaminant releases to air for each electricity generation unit that meet the following two criteria:
Facilities that meet the threshold requirements for unit-level reporting must also provide details about the unit, including:
Facilities must report the following additional information on shutdown periods:
Facilities must report the geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude) of a stack in decimal degrees to at least five decimal places. Provincial identification numbers of each stack must also be provided, where applicable. When total releases of a Part 1A substance are less than one tonne, a facility may choose to report the release as a total without specifying the environmental media (air, water, or land). Facilities are encouraged to report the break down by media, if the information is available. |
| 2017 | No change | N/A |
| 2016 | Change to reporting requirements | The requirement to report the concentration of substances released to surface waters was added. When a direct discharge to surface waters is reported, the average annual concentration (ppm) of the NPRI substance in the effluent must also be reported. Additional clarification for release estimates made using the method detection limit (MDL) also need to be provided, effective for 2016 reporting. This includes the MDL used in the estimation, where applicable. |
| 2016 | Adjustment to a reporting threshold | Cobalt (and its compounds) was moved from Part 1, Group A to Part 1, Group B. The reporting thresholds for cobalt (and its compounds) were lowered to 50 kilograms with a 0.1% concentration threshold for quantities that are manufactured, processed or otherwise used from the original 10-tonne and 1% concentration thresholds. |
| 2016 | Deletion from the substance list | Twenty-one substances have been removed from the Part 1, Group A list:
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| 2015 | No change | N/A |
| 2014 | Addition to the substance list | Two substances were added to the substance list:
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| 2014 | Deletion from the substance list | Five substances were deleted from the substance list:
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| 2014 | Adjustment to a reporting threshold | Eight substances or substance groups have been moved from Part 1A to Part 1B. The mass threshold for these substances was reduced from 10 tonnes, and, in some cases, the concentration threshold was reduced from 1%. The substances are as follows:
Quinoline (CASRN 91-22-5) was moved from Part 1A to Part 2 (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). The 10 tonne mass threshold was reduced to 50 kilograms for total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, including quinoline, and 5 kilograms for reporting quinoline itself. |
| 2014 | Change to a reporting requirement | The requirement to report releases to land and water, disposals, and transfers for recycling for total reduced sulphur was removed. Only releases of total reduced sulphur to air are required to be reported. It was made explicit in the notice that underground releases are required to be reported. A requirement was added that the nature of the “other release” to land must be specified. |
| 2013 | No change | N/A |
| 2012 | No change | N/A |
| 2011 | Adjustment to a reporting threshold | The reporting thresholds for selenium (and its compounds) were modified to 100 kilograms with a 0.000005% (0.05 ppm) concentration threshold for quantities that are manufactured, processed or otherwise used, from the original 10 tonne and 1% concentration thresholds. |
| 2010 | Modification to an existing substance | The listing for p,p'-isopropylidenediphenol (CAS RN 80-05-7) was changed to bisphenol A (CAS RN 80-05-7). Only the substance name was changed; the reporting requirements for this substance were not changed. |
| 2010 | Deletion from the substance list | Sulphur hexafluoride (CAS no. 2551-62-4) was deleted from the substance list. |
| 2010 | Change to reporting requirements | Provincial identification numbers for facilities in the upstream oil and gas sector are required to be reported. Information related to updates of the pollution prevention plan, and whether the plan addresses energy or water conservation, is required to be reported. The requirement to report the Canadian and United States Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes was removed. The requirement to report on anticipated quantities of releases, disposals and recycling for each of the three subsequent years was removed. |
| 2009 | Change to reporting requirements | Reporting requirements for substances contained in waste rock and tailings disposed of or transferred off-site for disposal were added. These requirements are also applicable to the 2006-2008 reporting years. |
| 2008 | Change to a reporting requirement | "Titanium dioxide pigment production using the chloride process" was added to the list of activities for reporting of dioxins/furans and hexachlorobenzene. |
| 2007 | Addition to the substance list | Total reduced sulphur (TRS), expressed as hydrogen sulphide was added to Part 1A Nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were added to Part 2
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| 2007 | Modification to an existing substance | Dioxins and Furans as a group of substances was replaced by 17 Speciated Dioxins and Furans, as follows:
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| 2007 | Change to a reporting requirement | Pits and quarries, where annual production is 500 000 tonnes or more, are required to report to the NPRI - regardless of the number of hours worked by employees - provided that they meet the "manufacture, process or other use or release thresholds". Emissions of total particulate matter, PM10 and PM2.5 from road dust are required to be included in threshold calculations for facilities where on-site annual vehicle travel on unpaved roads is over 10 000 kilometres. There is the requirement to report on each of the 17 Dioxins and Furans separately, in grams. Previously, 17 dioxin and furan congeners were required to be reported as a group, in grams of toxic equivalents (TEQ). For polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), if the 50 kg threshold is met for the total of the listed PAHs, there is the requirement to report only for individual PAHs incidentally manufactured and released, disposed of or transferred off-site for recycling in amounts greater than or equal to 5 kg. All other quantities are to be reported as Total Unspeciated PAHs. |
| 2006 | Addition to the substance list | Three additional polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were added to Part 2
Fifteen speciated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were added to Part 5
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| 2006 | Change to a reporting requirement | The exemption was removed for reporting Part 1 to 3 substances from extraction and primary crushing in mines (except for pits and quarries). Reporting of NPRI substances is required from portable facilities, which means portable polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) destruction equipment, portable asphalt plants, and portable concrete batching plants. The definition of "other use" was expanded to include "release" of an NPRI substance. "Other use" means, in respect of a substance listed in Schedule 1 of the Canada Gazette notice, any use, disposal or release of that substance which is not included in the definitions of "manufacture" or "process". There is a mandatory reporting of latitude and longitude coordinates if the facility is portable or if it is reporting for the first time. There are new requirements for facilities to provide updates about changes to contact information and ownership. If facilities are already required by federal or provincial legislation or by a municipal by-law to measure or monitor releases, disposals and/or transfers for recycling of any listed substances, they are also required to report this data to the NPRI. |
| 2005 | No Change | N/A |
| 2004 | No Change | N/A |
| 2003 | Addition to the substance list | Carbonyl sulphide (CAS No. 463-58-1) and Phosphorous (total) were added to Part 1A Sixty selected Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) substances with additional reporting criteria were added under Part 5, with a 1 tonne release to air reporting threshold
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| 2003 | Modification to an existing substance | Thirteen individually listed nonylphenols and ethoxylates were replaced by "Nonylphenol and its ethoxylates". This grouping includes additional nonylphenols, ethoxylates and derivatives not listed in 2002. The following substances were replaced by the grouping:
4-tert-octylphenol was replaced by "Octylphenol and its ethoxylates" as a group. This grouping includes additional octylphenols and ethoxylates not listed in 2002. |
| 2003 | Reporting requirements | The exemption for emissions from activities related to the operation of oil and gas wells was removed. The exemption for oil and gas exploration and well drilling was not affected. Mandatory reporting by facilities of their Business Number was added. Business Numbers (nine-digit registration number) can be found on all forms that are issued to a business by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. The definition of a facility was expanded to include "offshore installations", as well as pipeline installations and contiguous facilities. |
| 2002 | Addition to the substance list | Seven Criteria Air Contaminants (CACs) were added to Part 4 of the substance list
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| 2002 | Modification to an existing substance | The listing for Chromium (and its compounds) was updated with separate entries for:
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| 2002 | Adjustment to a reporting threshold | The reporting thresholds for the following substances were modified from the original 10-tonne and 1% concentration thresholds. The following substances are now listed on Part 1B:
The 20 000-hour employee threshold is no longer applicable to the following:
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| 2002 | Change to reporting requirements | The following were exempted:
More detailed reporting on pollution prevention activities was added (e.g. the specific type of equipment or process modifications carried out). Facilities that reported in the previous year must advise Environment Canada if they do not meet the NPRI reporting criteria for the current year. The following definitions were changed:
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| 2001 | Addition to the substance list | The following substance was added to Part 1A of the substance list:
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| 2001 | Modification to an existing substance | The following substances were modified:
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| 2001 | Deletion from the substance list | The following substance was deleted from the substance list:
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| 2001 | Change to reporting requirements | The following groupings were used to summarize information collected through the NPRI beginning with the 2001 reporting year:
The requirement for persons reporting to the NPRI to retain copies of all information upon which their report was based, at the facility or parent company (in Canada), for three years was added. |
| 2000 | Addition to the substance list | The following substances were added to Part 1A of the substance list:
The following was added to Part 1B of the substance list:
The following was added to Part 3 of the substance list:
Seventeen Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were added to Part 2 of the substance list:
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| 2000 | Adjustment to a reporting threshold | The reporting thresholds were modified for many substances from the original 10-tonne and 1% by weight concentration thresholds:
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| 2000 | Change to reporting requirements | The 20 000-hour employee threshold was removed for facilities used for wood preservation and certain types of incineration. Facilities in 10 different categories were made exempt from reporting, including those involved exclusively in research or testing, mining (but not processing of mined materials), and drilling and operating oil and gas wells. |
| 1999 | Addition to the substance list | 73 substances were added to the substance list:
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| 1999 | Modification to an existing substance | There was the amalgamation of the individual isomers of xylene (m-, o- and p-xylene) to Xylene (mixed isomers). |
| 1999 | Deletion from the substance list | Acetone (CAS RN 67-64-1) was deleted from the substance list. |
| 1999 | Change to reporting requirements | Reporting of the Dun and Bradstreet Number was added to allow easier identification of corporate structures and the relation of facilities to their parent companies. |
| 1998 | Change to reporting requirements | Reporting of the quantities of substances transferred off-site for recycling, the nature of the recycling activity, and the name and address of the receiving facility was made mandatory. Facilities must indicate estimation methods for disposals or recycling. The NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) was adopted as the standard for identifying industrial sectors to enable better comparisons of NPRI data with United States and Mexican data. There was also the continued collection from reporting facilities of Canadian and U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes. |
| 1997 | Change to reporting requirements | Reporting of qualitative pollution prevention (P2) activities was made mandatory. There is also mandatory reporting of the reasons for transferring substances off-site, off-site disposal activities and, optionally, off-site recycling activities. Reporters were asked to voluntarily provide a production ratio or activity index to help explain the trends in historical environmental releases and waste transfers. |
| 1996 | Modification to a listed substance | Modification of "Nitrate ion in solution at a pH of 6.5 or greater" to "Nitrate ion in solution at a pH of 6.0 or greater." |
| 1995 | Addition to the substance list | Nitrate ion in solution with a pH of 6.5 or more was added to Part 1A of the substance list |
| 1995 | Modification to a listed substance | The listings for 22 substances were modified as follows: The qualifier "and its salts" was added to the listings for 20 substances in order to collect more comprehensive information, as follows:
The entry for asbestos was clarified to include only the friable form. The individual entries for ammonia, ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulphate in solution were replaced with a single entry for ammonia (total). The qualifiers for zinc was changed from "fume or dust" to "and its compounds” (CAS RN 7440-66-6). |
| 1995 | Change to reporting requirements | The by-product definition was added. The weight of the by-product must be used in the calculation of the 10-tonne reporting threshold, regardless of the concentration. There is a requirement to report all discharges to sanitary sewers as a transfer to a municipal sewage treatment plant, regardless of the level of treatment. (Previously discharges with only primary treatment were considered releases to water bodies). The rounding of releases of less than 0.5 tonnes to 0 (zero) was no longer permitted; a release of 0 (zero) was allowed only where there are absolutely no releases. |
| 1994 | Addition to the substance list; | i-Butyl alcohol (CAS No. 78-83-1) was added to Part 1A. |
| 1994 | Deletion from the substance list | Chloromethyl methyl ether (CAS No. 107-30-2) was deleted from Part 1 |
| 1994 | Change to a reporting requirement | A permanent NPRI identification number (ID) was assigned to each facility that reported in 1993. Facilities must report one facility public contact and a company coordinator. The reporting of one Canadian and one American Standard Classification Code (SIC) per facility was added. Biological and chemical treatment were added to "disposal method". |
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