OTTAWA, Ontario, April 28, 2006 -- Significant steps
are being taken today by the Government of Canada towards reducing releases
of several toxic substances from some of the largest sources of industrial
pollution in Canada. This is a concrete and tangible step toward the government
delivering on its commitment to tackling air pollution and cleaning up
the air that Canadians breathe.
The publication tomorrow of a Notice in the Canada Gazette will require
base metal smelters to prepare and implement comprehensive Pollution Prevention
Plans and to publicly report on their conformance with an Environmental
Code of Practice for Base Metals Smelters and Refineries. The publication
follows extensive consultations with provinces, industry and other stakeholders.
“The health and prosperity of Canadians are strongly dependent on
the quality of our air. Air pollution is still a serious threat to our
health, our environment and our economy,” said Minister Ambrose.
“This approach to reducing sulphur dioxide and metal pollutants
from base metal smelters across the country will bring environmental and
health benefits to citizens, while respecting the economic and social
well being of smelter communities.”
Base metal smelters, which include producers of copper, lead, nickel
and zinc, melt and separate valuable metals from less desirable metals
and impurities. These smelters release large amounts of pollutants such
as sulphur dioxide and particulate matter containing various metals such
as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel.
The requirements under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act
(CEPA) provide industry with clear direction on current and future environmental
standards, and ensures that smelters will prepare plans to address these
objectives. The Government of Canada will monitor and make public, progress
on these Pollution Prevention Plans to ensure that steps are being taken
by industry to attain significant reductions in emissions and to continually
improve environmental performance to achieve world class standards.
Sulphur Dioxide contributes to acid rain and smog and resulting adverse
effects on lakes, soils, forests and plants, and on human respiratory
systems. Certain metal compounds are linked to health problems such as
neurological disorders and cancers, and can also pose risks to other organisms.
Pollutants in air can travel long distances and affect the quality of
the environment in many regions.
For the Pollution Prevention Plans, base metal smelters are required
to develop and implement Community Air Quality Protection Programs and
Smelter Emission Reduction Programs. As smelters implement the Plans and
address emission reduction targets, it is expected that the sector will
reduce annual sulphur dioxide emissions by over 600,000 tonnes (about
70%) and will reduce annual particulate matter emissions containing metals
by over 3,000 tonnes (about 50%) by 2015 from 1998 levels.
These pollution prevention planning requirements will support the development
of conventional regulations by 2015 for all base metal smelters and refineries.
Work with the smelter provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario,
Quebec and New Brunswick, allows all facilities in the sector the time
necessary to make appropriate technological changes and improvements in
environmental practices and performance.
For further information, please contact:
Ryan Sparrow
Associate Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441
Media Relations
Environment Canada
1-888-908-8008
