Stream 4 substances in the Petroleum Sector Stream Approach

Stream 4 substances for the Petroleum Sector Stream Approach were identified during the initial triage as substances that may be present in products available to the consumer. Refer to the Petroleum Sector Stream Approach Substances List.

• Risk management actions
  • Reduction in the Release of Volatile Organic Compounds Regulations (Petroleum Sector)
  • Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2019
• Adding substances to Schedule 1
• Summary of Stream 4 substances and publications
• Timelines
• Final screening assessments and proposed risk management approaches
  • Asphalt and oxidized asphalt
  • Distillate aromatic extracts
  • Liquefied petroleum gases (Stream 4 petroleum and refinery gases)
  • Natural gas condensates
  • Petrolatum and waxes
  • Stream 4 heavy fuel oils

Risk management actions

Reduction in the Release of Volatile Organic Compounds Regulations (Petroleum Sector)

In November 2020, the Reduction in the Release of Volatile Organic Compounds Regulations (Petroleum Sector) were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 154, No. 23 - November 11, 2020.

The regulations require the implementation of comprehensive leak detection and repair programs at petroleum refineries, upgraders and certain petrochemical facilities. The operators of these facilities are also required to ensure that certain equipment components are designed and operated in a manner that prevents leaks, and to monitor the level of certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at facility perimeters. The regulations will reduce releases of VOCs, including petroleum and refinery gases (PRGs).

In May 2017, the proposed Regulations Respecting Reduction in the Release of Volatile Organic Compounds (Petroleum Sector) were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 151, No. 21 - May 27, 2017 for a 60-day public comment period.

Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2019

In March 2019, the Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2019 were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 153, No. 5 – March 6, 2019.

The regulations repeal and replace the former regulations. One key change was the addition of 33 substances to Schedule 1 of the regulations, including 3 natural gas condensates in Stream 4. Under certain regulated circumstances, the regulations require reporting on these substances, environmental emergency planning for higher-risk facilities, and reporting of spills or releases involving these substances that are environmental emergencies.

The addition of 3 natural gas condensates to these regulations contributes to meeting the environmental objective of minimizing environmental exposure to the greatest extent practicable, as outlined in the proposed risk management approach that was published in December 2016.

In October 2016, the proposed Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2016 were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 150, No. 41 – October 8, 2016 for a 60-day public comment period. Comments and information received during the comment period were considered in the development of the final regulations. Comments and the Government's responses are provided in the summary of public comments received on the proposed Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2016.

Adding substances to Schedule 1

Substances in this stream have been added to Schedule 1.

• Final order adding 2 liquefied petroleum gases (Stream 4 petroleum and refinery gases): Canada Gazette, Part II, Vol. 152, No. 8 – April 18, 2018
• Final order adding natural gas condensates: Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 152, No. 4 - February 21, 2018

Summary of Stream 4 substances and publications

Final screening assessments and proposed risk management approaches

Asphalt and oxidized asphalt

In August 2017, the final screening assessment for 2 substances was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 151, No. 34 - August 26, 2017.

The final screening assessment concluded that these 2 substances do not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA 1999, therefore the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health proposed to take no further action on these substances at this time under the Act. No proposed risk management approach was prepared.

In June 2016, the draft screening assessment for these substances was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 150, No. 23 - June 4, 2016 for a 60-day public comment period.

Distillate aromatic extracts

In August 2017, the final screening assessment for 3 substances was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 151, No. 34 - August 26, 2017.

The final screening assessment concluded that these 3 substances do not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA 1999, therefore the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health proposed to take no further action on these substances at this time under the Act. No proposed risk management approach was prepared.

In June 2016, the draft screening assessment for these substances was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 150, No. 23 - June 4, 2016 for a 60-day public comment period.

Liquefied petroleum gases (Stream 4 petroleum and refinery gases)

In February 2017, the final screening assessment for 2 substances was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 151, No. 8 - February 25, 2017.

The final screening assessment concluded that these 2 substances meet 1 or more of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA 1999. Therefore, the Government added these substances to Schedule 1 of the Act. A proposed risk management approach was also released on this date for a 60-day public comment period.

In October 2014, the draft screening assessment for these substances was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 148, No. 41 - October 11, 2014 . A risk management scope was also released in conjunction with this publication. There was a 60-day public comment period associated with these publications.

Natural gas condensates

In December 2016, the final screening assessment for natural gas condensates was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 150, No. 53 - December 31, 2016.

The final screening assessment concluded that these substances meet 1 or more criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA 1999. Therefore, the Government added these substances to Schedule 1 of the Act. A proposed risk management approach was also released on this date for a 60-day public comment period.

In October 2014, the draft screening assessment for natural gas condensates was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 148, No. 41 - October 11, 2014 . A risk management scope was also released in conjunction with this publication. There was a 60-day public comment period associated with these publications.

Petrolatum and waxes

In June 2016, the final screening assessment for 3 substances was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 150, No. 24 - June 11, 2016.

The final screening assessment concluded that these 3 substances do not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA 1999, therefore the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health proposed to take no further action on these substances at this time under the Act. No proposed risk management approach was prepared.

In March 2015, the draft screening assessment for these substances was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 149, No. 10 - March 7, 2015 for a 60-day public comment period.

Stream 4 heavy fuel oils

In April 2016, the final screening assessment for 7 substances was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 150, No. 18 - April 30, 2016.

The final screening assessment concluded that these 7 substances do not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA 1999, therefore the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health proposed to take no further action on these substances at this time under the Act. No proposed risk management approach was prepared.

In September 2014, the draft screening assessment for these substances was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 148, No. 36 - September 6, 2014 for a 60-day public comment period.