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National Pollutant Release Inventory 101

Overview

In the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) 101 course, you will be introduced to basics of the NPRI.

In this course you will learn:

  • what the NPRI is and its role (Module 1)
  • how the NPRI data is collected and managed (Module 2)
  • the activities in the NPRI’s annual reporting cycle (Module 3)

You may complete Modules 1 to 3 in any order you like.

Module 1

In this module

The National Pollutant Release Inventory

Launched in 1993, the NPRI is an online public registry that tracks quantities of pollutants released to the air, water and land from industrial, commercial and institutional facilities that meet certain established criteria. It also tracks how pollutants are disposed of and/or transferred from these facilities. All levels of government, companies, organizations, researchers and citizens can use the data.

All NPRI data is free and available to the public on our explore data page.

How information collected by the NPRI is used

  • help Canadians understand pollutant releases in their communities
  • encourage actions to reduce pollution
  • inform decision making to protect the environment
  • help track progress on reducing pollutant releases to the air, water and land
  • help identify pollution prevention priorities
  • support the assessment and management of risks from chemicals (e.g., under the Chemicals Management Plan)
  • complement monitoring data from other programs (e.g., water and air quality monitoring)
  • improve public understanding and support research on pollutants
  • help annual international reporting obligations

An overview of the NPRI

  • the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) collects data from facilities that meet the reporting requirements each year; this information helps to inform decisions on protecting the environment.
  • the NPRI collects and monitors data on over 300 pollutants from over 7,000 facilities across Canada.
  • reporting facilities can include factories that manufacture a variety of goods, mines, oil and gas operations, power plants and sewage treatment plants. Even if some facilities do not meet the established criteria, they can still submit voluntary reports.
  • the NPRI provides tools and guidance to assist facilities with reporting.
  • Each year, the reported data is compiled into several datasets that are made available to the public.
  • sections 46 to 53 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) are the primary legislative foundation of the NPRI.

Review

Which of the following statements is the most accurate in relation to the NPRI?

  1. The NPRI is a public registry that tracks quantities of pollutants released to the air, water and land from commercial and institutional facilities that meet certain established criteria.
  2. The NPRI is a public registry that tracks how pollutants are disposed of and/or transferred from commercial and institutional facilities that meet certain established criteria.
  3. The NPRI is a public registry that tracks quantities of pollutants released to the air, water and land. It also tracks how pollutants are disposed of and/or transferred from industrial, commercial and institutional facilities that meet certain established criteria.
Answer

3. The NPRI is a public registry that tracks quantities of pollutants released to the air, water and land. It also tracks how pollutants are disposed of and/or transferred from industrial, commercial and institutional facilities that meet certain established criteria.

Which one of the following statements is part of the mandate of the NPRI?

  1. To improve public understanding and support research on pollutants.
  2. To raise significant funding into research on pollutants released to air, land and water.
  3. To exclusively inform Government of Canada employees of pollutant releases in different communities.
Answer

1. To improve public understanding and support research on pollutants.

Data collected by the NPRI are free and available online for the public to use. The intent is to inform and collect data and not to raise funding for research.

Module 2

In this module

NPRI data collection

NPRI data is helpful to many users, ranging from public and international organizations to all Canadians and students. The data is used to identify and monitor sources of pollution from facilities across Canada who meet reporting requirements. In this module, we will take a look at how the NPRI data is managed and how the information is used.

The NPRI requires facilities to report information which includes:

  • on-site releases and disposals
  • off-site transfers, including their destinations
  • information such as a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code which identifies the sector that the facility belongs to
  • concentrations of pollutants in water releases and in mine tailings
  • whether the reported substance is manufactured, processed or otherwise used on-site.
  • contact information
  • information on pollution prevention plans and activities

The NPRI does not collect certain information on pollutant releases:

  • Not all Canadian facilities are required to report to the NPRI; some do not meet the reporting thresholds, do not carry out the target activities or do not use any of the over 300 substances listed on the inventory. Therefore, the NPRI does not provide a comprehensive picture of all sources of pollution in Canada.
  • Data on open source emissions, e.g., transboundary emissions and transportation and agriculture sector emissions. On the other hand, the Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory produces reports that include open source emissions.
  • Data on greenhouse gases (GHG). The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program requires the reporting of GHGs and other relevant information from facilities across Canada who meet the requirements.
  • Data on black carbon. The Black Carbon Emissions Inventory produces an annual report on black carbon, which is a short-lived, small aerosol (or airborne particle) linked to both climate warming and adverse health effects.

Link to reporting thresholds

Releases, disposals and transfers

Quantities of substances reported to the NPRI are broken down into off-site transfers, on-site releases and on-site and off-site disposals.

Infographic explaining the four main categories of releases, disposals and transfers that the NPRI tracks.
Long description

Infographic explaining the four main categories of releases, disposals and transfers that the NPRI tracks.

On-site releases include:

  1. air
    • stack or point releases
    • sotrage tank and related handling releases
    • fugitive releases
    • spills or other accidental releases
    • unpaved road dust
    • other non-point releases   
  2. surface waters
    • direct discharges
    • spills
    • leaks
  3. land
    • spills
    • leaks
    • other releases to land that are not disposals

On-site disposals include:

  1. landfill
  2. land application
  3. underground injection
  4. tailings and waste rock

Off-site transfers for treatment and disposal include:

  1. treatment prior to final disposal
    • physical treatment
    • chemical treatment
    • biological treatment
    • inicineration or thermal treatment, where energy is not recovered
    • treatment in a municipal wastewater treatment plant
  2. off-site disposals
    • landfill
    • land application
    • underground injection
    • storage off-site prior to final disposal
    • tailings
    • waste rock

Off-site transfers for recycling include:

  1. energy recovery
  2. solvents recovery
  3. organic substances (i.e., not solvents) recovery
  4. metals and metal compounds recovery
  5. inorganic materiasl (i.e., not metals) recovery
  6. acids or bases recovery
  7. catalysts recovery
  8. pollution abatement residues recovery
  9. refining or reuse of used oil
  10. other recovery, reuse or recycling activities

Reported substances

Substances listed on the NPRI are organized into five main parts according to specific reporting criteria.

Part 1A

These are “core substances” that must be reported if they are manufactured, processed or otherwise used, referred to as MPO for short, in amounts exceeding the reporting thresholds (greater than or equal to 10 tonnes at > 1% concentration). This group makes up the majority of pollutants listed on the NPRI and those have been on the list since its creation. Examples of part 1A substances include total reduced sulphur, ammonia, benzene, and nickel.

Part 1B

These are substances with alternate reporting thresholds that must be reported when they are MPO at lower reporting concentrations or in smaller quantities. These pollutants may have significant environmental or human health impacts, even in small amounts. Examples of part 1B substances include arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.

Part 2

These are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with a higher threshold for grouped PAHs and a smaller threshold for individual PAHs. Examples of part 2 substances include acenaphthene, chrysene, and pyrene.

Part 3

These substances are dioxins, furans and hexachlorobenzene produced by specific activities, mainly as by-products of industrial and combustion processes. An example of activities that trigger reporting of these substances is incineration and metal smelting.

Part 4

These are criteria air contaminants (CACs). These substances are produced primarily by processes such as combustion, incineration and other industrial processes and contribute to air pollution issues such as acid rain and smog. Examples of part 4 substances include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, total particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, and total volatile organic compounds

Part 5

These are individual or speciated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that must be reported when releases to air exceed the reporting criteria. These substances are subject to additional reporting requirements, since they are important for air quality modelling. Examples of part 5 substances include ethanol, formaldehyde, and propane.

For a complete list of substances included in the NPRI, and their reporting thresholds, please refer to the Substance list by threshold.

NPRI reporters

Reporting to the NPRI is mandatory under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). Reports are due as indicated in the Canada Gazette. Owners and operators of facilities that meet the NPRI reporting requirements published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, must report to the NPRI.

In general, facilities are required to report to the NPRI if:

  • the total number of hours worked at the facility exceeded the 20,000-hour threshold (approximately 10 full-time employees)
  • they are engaged in certain activities (for example: wood preservation, incineration or burning fuels in stationary combustion equipment)
  • they manufacture, process, use or release NPRI substances in quantities above the reporting thresholds

Guidelines for reporting to the NPRI

Facilities need to verify every year if they are required to report to the NPRI, as changes are made to the reporting criteria over time. The types of changes may relate to:

  • additions or deletions of substances, and changes in their thresholds
  • new activities that require reporting
  • removal of exemptions
  • new information to report about sources of emissions or contextual information, etc.

Requirements for reporting to the NPRI are published in the Canada Gazette and are explained through the Guide to Reporting to the NPRI and other guidance documents which are available online.

The guidelines for reporting to the NPRI help facilities determine if they are required to submit a report. The following process highlights the steps that facilities must follow:

flow chart explaining guidelines for reporting to the NPRI.
Long description

Scheme explaining guidelines for reporting to the NPRI.

The first step is to determine whether the owner/operator is required to submit an NPRI report.

  • If yes, the owner/operator needs to
    1. estimate releases, disposals and transfers for recycling
    2. create, certify and submit a NPRI Inventory report using the online reporting system by June 1
    3. keep a copy of all information and calculations for three years.
  • If no, it is necessary to determine if an NPRI report was submitted for the previous year.
  • If an NPRI report was submitted the previous year, the owner/operator needs to
    1. create, certify and submit a “Does Not Meet Criteria” report using the online reporting system by June 1
    2. keep a copy of all information and calculations for three years
  • If an NPRI report was not submitted the previous year no reporting is required, but the owner/operator still needs to keep a copy of all information and calculations for three years.  

Reporting using the NPRI online system

Facilities that meet the NPRI’s reporting requirements must complete a comprehensive report on their pollutant releases, disposals and transfers using the online reporting system which is part of Environment and Climate Change Canada's Single Window (SW).

Environment and Climate Change Canada's SW online reporting system serves as the “front door” to many reporting programs. It integrates reporting to the NPRI and other departmental programs, such as the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. The report submitted via the NPRI module in the SW system details all requested information about releases of substances to water, air and land, off-site and on-site disposals, and transfers for recycling.

NPRI reporting strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) strives to improve and manage the collection of data through regular reviews, overseeing requests to review reporting requirements, and evaluating proposals for change. The NPRI has a consultation process to improve the collected data and to evaluate proposals for change.

The key components of the consultation process are:

  • a well-established multi-stakeholder group that provides comments and input
  • clear expectations of the mandate
  • published criteria for evaluating changes to the NPRI

While the consultation process provides advice on changes, all final decisions remain with the Government of Canada.

Regular data reviews

ECCC staff regularly review the substance list, reporting requirements and information submitted to ensure that they meet data users’ needs. NPRI reporting requirements are published in the Canada Gazette where it is possible to keep track of changes and to notify facilities in advance. Facilities are also involved in the consultation process when there are new propositions for change.

Request to review reporting

Requests to review the reporting requirements are considered through a consultative process that includes stakeholders from various industrial sectors or their representative organizations, as well as environmental and indigenous organizations. However, the decision on whether or not to make any changes to the reporting requirements is ECCC’s responsibility. Anyone can submit a request to review NPRI reporting requirements.

Evaluation of proposals for change

Once a formal proposal is received, consultation takes place through the NPRI Multi-Stakeholder Working Group, as well as with other identified stakeholders and the public.

To request the addition or deletion of a substance, the following may be asked and evaluated:

  • Is the substance manufactured, processed or otherwise used by Canadian facilities?
  • Is the substance of health and/or environmental concern?
  • Do facilities contribute significantly to releases of the substance?
  • Does its inclusion support one or more of the objectives of the NPRI?
  • Is the substance reported elsewhere in Canada?
  • Is the substance already included in the NPRI in another form?

To modify reporting thresholds, the following are required:

  • science-based justifications
  • consideration of the capacity of facilities to provide the required information
  • evidence of the significance of releases from reporting facilities

Review

True or false? Off-site transfers of substances (e.g. substances in sludge transferred from municipal wastewater treatment plants) are not part of data that facilities must report to the NPRI.

Answer

False.

Off-site transfers, such as substances sent for treatment at municipal wastewater plants, are part of the data that facilities must report to the NPRI.

How many parts are there on the NPRI list of substances?

Answer

There are 5 parts on the NPRI list of substances.

How are NPRI reporting requirements decided?

  1. they remain constant based on requirements under CEPA 1999
  2. they are regularly reviewed by ECCC, taking into account various criteria, input from stakeholders, and proposals from the public
  3. they are decided by industry based on their ability to measure releases to the environment
  4. they are reviewed only when a request for review is submitted or there is a change in the regulations

 

Answer

2. They are regularly reviewed by ECCC, taking into account various criteria, input from stakeholders and proposals from the public.

The NPRI looks to continously improve the quality of its data by:

  1. having regular reviews, overseeing requests to review reporting requirements, and approving or denying the requests within six months
  2. having regular reviews, overseeing requests to review reporting requirements, and evaluating the proposals for change
  3. having regular reviews, and only evaluating a maximum of five proposals for changes a year
Answer

2. Having regular reviews, overseeing request(s) to review reporting requirements, and evaluating the proposals for change.
There is no time limit for a proposed change to be rejected.  

Module 3

In this module

The NPRI annual reporting cycle

The various steps in the NPRI reporting cycle contribute to ensuring there is up to date and quality data. They also ensure that facilities have all the tools necessary to accurately report their pollutant releases. The main milestones in the cycle typically take place between June and December, but the timeline may be adjusted due to exceptional circumstances.

NPRI annual reporting cycle
1: Consultation and development of reporting requirements

Consultations with stakeholders and the examination of proposals for changes to the reporting requirements are conducted throughout the year.

Results: NPRI requirements are published in the Canada Gazette, taking into account input from stakeholders and departmental needs.

2: Compliance promotion, guidance and support
  • Leading up to the reporting deadline, the NPRI undertakes compliance promotion activities and provides guidance and support to facilities. This ensures that facilities have all the tools necessary to accurately report, as well as to increase awareness and understanding of the NPRI legal requirements.
  • Every year, the NPRI sends reminder emails to facilities at the launch of the reporting system and near the reporting deadline.
  • The NPRI may target certain sectors or activities, based on identified priorities, to promote compliance with the reporting requirements. This includes increasing reporting from potentially non-reporting facilities, and improving the completeness and accuracy of submitted reports.
  • Enforcement actions are sometimes necessary, however they are not carried out by the NPRI team, but rather by ECCC’s Enforcement Branch.
  • The NPRI toolbox contains additional information for facilities to use in calculating their emissions.

Results: Companies are aware of the requirements, and use guides and tools to determine whether and what they must report to the NPRI.  

3: Data collection and quality control
  • Facilities that meet the reporting requirements must submit their NPRI report. Reports are due as indicated in the Canada Gazette, unless otherwise specified. Preliminary data (also known as unreviewed data) is published on the NPRI website in July. This allows facilities to self-check and compare their pollutant releases with those of other facilities in their industrial sector to ensure they have reported correctly.
  • During summer (from June to September approximately), the NPRI team conducts quality control checks on the data, which include: reviewing the reported quantities, comparing the data against quantities reported in previous years, and checking geographical coordinates.
  • Quality control checks are performed by ECCC employees (NPRI and other sector experts) and industry associations as soon as data is submitted by facilities. Facilities are regularly encouraged to verify their own data.
  • The NPRI then sends quality control emails to facilities that have suspected errors in their reported information, requesting that they review their data.
  • Some common errors include using incorrect reporting units, decimal errors, omitting a substance or the source of a release, using incorrect reference data or assumptions for calculations and forgetting the negative sign in the facility’s geographical coordinates.

Results: NPRI data is collected through the online reporting system (SW/ NPRI module), and quality controlled.  

4: Data interpretation and dissemination

In the fall (from October to December approximately), the NPRI team prepares reports which document the data for the previous calendar year as well as trends over time. Around December, after completing the quality control process, the different data products are updated, and the annual reports are published on the website alongside the reviewed data.

Results: NPRI data is published in various formats, along with a summary report and other information to help interpret data.  

Review

Which option below best describes the order of the NPRI annual reporting cycle?

  1. Compliance promotion and guidance and support, data collection and quality control, consultation and development of reporting requirements, data interpretation an dissemination.
  2. Data collection and quality control, compliance promotion, guidance and support, consultation and development of reporting requirements, data interpretation and dissemination.
  3. Consultation and development of reporting requirements, compliance promotion, guidance and support, data collection and quality control, data interpretation and dissemination.
Answer

3. Consultation and development of reporting requirements, compliance promotion, guidance and support, data collection and quality control, data interpretation and dissemination.

NPRI 101 knowledge check

It’s time to test your knowledge on the basics of the NPRI. In order to pass the NPRI 101 course, we consider that you will need to succeed at least 70% of the questions on the knowledge check.

Question 1

Which of the following statements is true?

  1. The NPRI’s mission is to help Canadians solve environmental problems in their communities by having a registry made available to those who live in areas with high rates of pollution in the air, land and water.
  2. The NPRI is a public registry, available to all Canadians, where part of the mandate is to help Canadians understand pollutant releases to the air, water and land in their communities. The NPRI collects data annually from specific facilities; this provides useful information to help inform decision-making related to environmental protection.
  3. The NPRI is a public registry that tracks quantities of pollutant released into the air, water and land from targeted facilities. The registry is used exclusively by researchers and all levels of governments to identify and outline their pollution prevention priorities.
Answer

2. The NPRI is a public registry, available to all Canadians, where part of the mandate is to help Canadians understand pollutant releases to the air, water and land in their communities. The NPRI collects data annually from specific facilities; this provides useful information to help inform decision-making related to environmental protection.

Question 2

Nadia volunteers for a non-profit environmental group. She would like to update the group’s website with common air pollutants released from facilities in her community. Would the NPRI data be able to provide this information to her?

Answer

Yes.

The NPRI online registry would be able to provide this information to her.

Question 3

Does the NPRI track all pollutant releases in Canada?

Answer

No.

Some facilities do not meet the reporting thresholds, and some substances or activities are not part of the NPRI. For example, GHGs are tracked by the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, and open source emissions are tracked by the Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory.

 

Question 4

Facilities can report substance quantities in different categories: off-site transfers for treatment and disposal, off-site transfers for recycling, on-site releases or on-site disposals.

A facility in Ontario sends its waste containing organic substances to local farms, which use the organic substances for soil enrichment. Which of the following would this be considered?

  1. off-site transfers for disposals
  2. off-site transfers for recycling
  3. on-site releases
  4. on-site disposals

 

Answer

1. Off-site transfers for disposals.

Question 5

A facility has had a leak of ethylene glycol into the river which is located next to its building. This substance is one of the 300+ substances listed on the NPRI.

What category of release, disposal or transfer would this be considered?

  1. off-site transfer for treatment and disposals
  2. off-site transfers for recycling
  3. on-site releases
  4. on-site disposals
Answer

3. On-site releases.

Question 6

On what part of the NPRI substances list is ammonia found?

  1. Part 1A Core substances
  2. Part 1B Alternate threshold substances
  3. Part 2 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Answer

1. Part 1A Core substances.

Question 7

A chemical pulp and paper facility has 200 full-time employees, and uses methanol in a quantity above the required NPRI threshold. Would they be required to report to the NPRI?

Answer

2. The NPRI is a public registry, available to all Canadians, where part of the mandate is to help Canadians understand pollutant releases to the air, water and land in their communities. The NPRI collects data annually from specific facilities; this provides useful information to help inform decision-making related to environmental protection.

Question 7

A chemical pulp and paper facility has 200 full-time employees, and uses methanol in a quantity above the required NPRI threshold. Would they be required to report to the NPRI?

Answer

Yes.

The facility has more than 10 full-time employees, which is the minimum number to report to the NPRI. Additionally, the facility also meets the reporting threshold for methanol, which is a substance tracked by the NPRI.

 

Question 8

A facility, which submitted a report to the NPRI last year, has determined that they do not meet the criteria for reporting their releases, disposals and transfers to the NPRI this year as their substances are all below the reporting thresholds. Is the following statement true or false?

The facility must notify the NPRI of their change in reporting status. To do so, they can create, certify and submit a “Does Not Meet Criteria” report using the online reporting system by June 1st.

 

Answer

True.

The facility must notify the NPRI of their change in reporting status. To do so, they can create, certify and submit a Does Not Meet Criteria report using the online reporting system by June 1st.

Question 9

Which of the following are examples of types of releases to water, air and land reported to the NPRI?

  1. smoke stack releases
  2. fugitive releases (e.g. fans, chip piles, loading dust)
  3. open source emissions (e.g. from transportation, construction, agriculture)
  4. accidental spills and leaks
  5. options 1, 2, and 4
  6. options 2 and 3
Answer

5. Smokestacks releases, fugitive releases, and accidental spills and leaks

Where are the NPRI's reporting requirements officially published?

  1. The Canada Gazette
  2. NPRI newsletter
  3. NPRI reporting guide
Answer

1. The Canada Gazette.

Question 11

An environmental researcher at a Canadian university has submitted a request to review the NPRI’s reporting requirements, as she believes that a specific substance should be included as part of the list of substances.

How would the NPRI handle her request?

  1. Her request will be considered through a consultative process with stakeholders from various industrial sectors or their representative organizations, as well as environmental and indigenous organizations. The final decision on whether to make the change to the reporting requirements, however, is ECCC’s responsibility.
  2. Her request will be considered through a consultative process with stakeholders from various industrial sectors or their representative organizations, as well as environmental and indigenous organizations. The final decision on whether to make the change to the reporting requirements is based on final voting between the above stakeholders.
  3. Her request will be considered through a consultative process with stakeholders only from specific industrial sectors environmental and organizations. The final decision on whether to make the change to the reporting requirements, however, is ECCC’s responsibility.
Answer

1. Her request will be considered through a consultative process with stakeholders from various industrial sectors or their representative organizations, as well as environmental and indigenous organizations. The final decision on whether to make the change to the reporting requirements, however, is ECCC’s responsibility.

Question 12

What is the first step in the NPRI reporting cycle?

  1. Compliance promotion, guidance and support
  2. Consultation and development of reporting requirements
  3. Data collection and quality control
Answer

2. Consultation and development of reporting requirements.

Next steps

You have completed the NPRI 101 course!

The NPRI data are an important tool for many Canadians and contribute to better understanding and protecting the environment.

Let’s move to the next course: NPRI 201

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