Use and storage of PCBs in specific locations
Objectives of the PCB Regulations
The PCB Regulations SOR/2008-273 came into force on September 5, 2008. The most recent amendments to the regulations came into force on January 1, 2015. The purpose of the regulations is to protect the health of Canadians and the environment by preventing the release of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to the environment, and by accelerating the phasing out of these substances.
There are additional prohibitions on use and storage of PCBs that apply to specifically to certain locations. These prescribed locations include:
- child care facility
- hospital
- senior citizens' care facility
- preschool
- primary or secondary school
- drinking water treatment plant
- food or feed processing plant
- or on the property on which the plant or facility is located and within 100 metres of it (see the example on the next page).
What additional prohibitions apply to these locations?
| - | Prohibition | Exception |
|---|---|---|
| Use | Equipment that contains PCBs at a concentration 50 mg/kg or more cannot be used at a prescribed location. | Light ballasts, pole-top electrical transformers and their pole-top auxiliary equipment |
| Storage | PCBs or products containing PCBs cannot be stored at a prescribed location. | Light ballasts |
More information about reporting, record keeping and labelling is available in the fact sheets PCB Reporting and Record Keeping and PCB Labelling.
Example of prescribed locations:
Example of prescribed locations
A hospital is located on one property and a neighbouring property does not contain a prescribed facility.
Building B is 30 meters away from the hospital and on the same property
Building D is 120 meters away from the hospital and on the same property
Building C is 75 meters away from the hospital and on the neighbouring property
- Prescribed location: at the plant or facility.
- Prescribed location: less than 100 m away from the plant or facility and on the same property
- Not a prescribed location: less than 100 m away from the plant or facility and on a neighbouring property
- Not a prescribed location: More than 100 m away from the plant or facility and on the same property.
For more information on the requirements of the PCB Regulations see the fact sheet PCBs Regulation: An Overview. For information on storage of PCBs at other locations see the fact sheet PCB Storage.
For more information
For more information on the PCB Regulations and complying with the requirements, contact your regional office or the PCB Program.
The guidance contained in this document should be used for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal guidance, since it does not reflect all the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 or the PCB Regulations. Thus should there be any discrepancy between this document and the Act or the regulations, the Act and the regulations will prevail.
For the purpose of interpreting and applying the regulations, users must consult the regulations on Justice Canada's website.
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