Iron, steel and ilmenite sector: pollution prevention planning notice
New reporting deadline
Due to the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline for submitting the fourth interim progress report for the 2021 calendar year is extended to September 1, 2022.
The notice requires iron, steel and ilmenite facilities to prepare and implement a pollution prevention plan in respect of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOX), and volatile organic compounds (VOC). The notice includes targets for SO2 and NOx. Also, facilities have to consider implementing best practices to reduce fugitive VOC emissions where appropriate and practicable.
This notice is in effect from May 6, 2017, to June 1, 2028, and applies to any owner or operator of:
- a facility listed in Table 1 of the notice
- an iron, steel or ilmenite smelting facility that started operations between May 6, 2017, and December 31, 2027
For more details, refer to the iron, steel and ilmenite sector notice.
Deliverables and deadlines
Facilities listed in Table 1 of the notice must prepare and implement a pollution prevention plan, and submit declaration and progress reports by the following deadlines.
Note: due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline for submitting the fourth interim progress report for the 2021 calendar year is extended to September 1, 2022.
| Deliverable | Type of report | Reporting year(s) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare a pollution prevention plan by May 2, 2018 | Schedule 1: declaration that a pollution prevention plan has been prepared and is being implemented | January 1 to December 31, 2017 | June 1, 2018 |
| Interim progress report | Schedule 4: interim progress report #1 | January 1 to December 31, 2018 | June 1, 2019 |
| Interim progress report | Schedule 4: interim progress report #2 | January 1 to December 31, 2019 | August 1, 2020 |
| Interim progress report | Schedule 4: interim progress report #3 | January 1 to December 31, 2020 | September 1, 2021 |
| Interim progress report | Schedule 4: interim progress report #4 | January 1 to December 31, 2021 | September 1, 2022 |
| Interim progress report | Schedule 4: interim progress report #5 | January 1 to December 31, 2022 | June 1, 2023 |
| Interim progress report | Schedule 4: interim progress report #6 | January 1 to December 31, 2023 | June 1, 2024 |
| Interim progress report | Schedule 4: interim progress report #7 | January 1 to December 31, 2024 | June 1, 2025 |
| Interim progress report | Schedule 4: interim progress report #8 | January 1 to December 31, 2025 | June 1, 2026 |
| Interim progress report | Schedule 4: interim progress report #9 | January 1 to December 31, 2026 | June 1, 2027 |
| Implement a pollution prevention plan by May 2, 2028 | Schedule 5: declaration that a pollution prevention plan has been implemented | January 1 to December 31, 2027 | June 1, 2028 |
Facilities that become subject to the notice after May 6, 2017 must:
- prepare a pollution prevention plan no later than 6 months after the start of your operations, and submit a report (schedule 1) within 30 days following the end of the 6-month period
- submit annual interim progress reports (schedule 4) on June 1 of the year after the start of your operations and every subsequent year on June 1 until the year 2027
- implement a pollution prevention plan no later than May 2, 2028, and submit a report (schedule 5) by June 1, 2028
Reporting
You must complete and submit reports by the deadlines detailed above.
Performance results
One facility out of 14 facilities subject to the notice is officially closed. All 13 facilities subject to the notice submitted their declaration of preparation (schedule 1) and their first, second and third interim progress report (schedule 4) for the year of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively. The fourth interim progress reports (schedule 4) with data from 2021 are expected by September 1, 2022.
The third interim progress report (IPR 3) submission was due by September 1, 2021. Nine facilities submitted on or prior to the due date and four facilities submitted late due to pandemic impacts.
The BLIERS NOx target for the integrated mills and mini mills facilities is to reduce NOx emissions by May 2, 2020. According to the 2020 report, ten facilities met their NOx target, which include 3 out of 4 integrated mills and 7 out of 8 mini mills. After verification with the 2 facilities that did not meet the target, it is expected they will meet the target next year.
The BLIERS target for the ilmenite smelting facility is to reduce SO2 emissions to 2.66 kg per tonne of titanium slag produced, by May 2, 2019. According to the 2019 and 2020 report, the facility met this target. They emitted 2.34 kg and 2.35 kg of SO2, respectively.
All other targets are to be met in 2025 or beyond. These will be assessed at a future date, as appropriate. Refer to table 2 of the iron, steel and ilmenite sector notice for more details on the BLIER air emission targets for NOx and SO2.
| Facilty type | Number of facilities | BLIERS targets | Deadline to meet the target | Number of facilities that met the target in 2020 | Number of facilities that did not meet the target in 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated mills | 4 | NOx: calculated | May 2, 2020 | 3 | 1 |
| Integrated mills | 4 | SO2: 1.5 kg/ton coke produced | January 1, 2026 | NAFootnote 1 | NA |
| Integrated mills | 4 | VOCs: Implementation of best practices | January 1, 2025 | NAFootnote 2 | NA |
| Mini mills | 8 | NOx : 60 g/GJ | May 2, 2020 | 7 | 1 |
| Mini mills | 8 | VOCs: Implementation of best practices | January 25, 2025 | NAFootnote 2 | NA |
| Ilmenite smelting | 1 | SO2 : 2.66 kg/ton of titanium slag produced | May 2, 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 13 | - | - | NOx – 10 SO2 – 1 |
NOx – 2 SO2 – 0 |
To access facility detailed schedule 1 and schedule 4 reports, refer to the P2 Planning Reports.
Related information
- Erratum
- Pollution prevention planning notices and your legal obligations
- Create and implement your pollution prevention plan
- Canada-wide Air Quality Management System
- Iron, steel and ilmenite sector: code of practice overview
- Integrated steel mills: code of practice overview
- Non-Integrated steel mills: code of practice overview
Past consultations
- Proposed notice requiring the preparation and implementation of pollution prevention plans for the iron, steel and ilmenite sector
- Response to comments on the proposed notice
Contact us
Technical inquiries regarding the content of this notice:
Mining and Processing Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3
Email: mmp-tmm@ec.gc.ca
Inquiries regarding reporting and pollution prevention practices:
Regulatory Innovation and Management Systems
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3
Email: planp2-p2plan@ec.gc.ca
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