1 Pollutant Release & Transfer Registers The Canadian Government Experience National Workshop on PRTRs Santiago, Chilé - May 29, 2002

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Pollutant Release & Transfer Pollutant Release & Transfer RegistersRegisters

The Canadian Government The Canadian Government Experience Experience

National Workshop on National Workshop on PRTRsPRTRs

Santiago, Chilé - May 29, 2002Santiago, Chilé - May 29, 2002

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Topics to be CoveredTopics to be Covered

national pollutant release inventorynational pollutant release inventory

• OverviewOverview

• Legal FrameworkLegal Framework

• Reporting to the NPRIReporting to the NPRI

• Consultation and Ongoing Consultation and Ongoing ImprovementImprovement

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The NPRIThe NPRI


The National Pollutant Release Inventory National Pollutant Release Inventory

(NPRI) (NPRI) is Canada’s Pollutant Release and

Transfer Register.

The NPRI is an annual, national, publicly-

accessible database of pollutants released on

site to the environment, or transferred off site

for disposal or recycling, by private and

publicly-owned facilities.

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Purpose of the NPRIPurpose of the NPRI


The NPRI was established to :The NPRI was established to :

• Identify priorities for actionIdentify priorities for action• Encourage voluntary action to reduce Encourage voluntary action to reduce

releases and transfersreleases and transfers• Allow tracking of progress in reducing Allow tracking of progress in reducing

releases and transfersreleases and transfers• Improve public understanding of Improve public understanding of

pollutant sourcespollutant sources• Support targeted regulatory initiativesSupport targeted regulatory initiatives

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Development of the NPRIDevelopment of the NPRI


• Reporting requirements were established in Reporting requirements were established in 1992 by a multistakeholder advisory 1992 by a multistakeholder advisory committee, with representatives from industry, committee, with representatives from industry, environmental organizations and governments.environmental organizations and governments.

• Original NPRI list of substances was derived Original NPRI list of substances was derived through stakeholder consultation. Substances through stakeholder consultation. Substances not used in Canada or addressed under other not used in Canada or addressed under other Canadian legislation were excluded.Canadian legislation were excluded.

• 178 substances were listed for 1993 - which 178 substances were listed for 1993 - which was the first reporting year.was the first reporting year.

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Legal Framework for the NPRILegal Framework for the NPRI


Enabling legislationEnabling legislation

• The Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 (CEPA 1999) is Canada’s primary environmental legislation. CEPA 1999 Section 46 requires those subject to NPRI notice to report information that they possess or that they may reasonably be expected to have access to.

• CEPA 1999 also gives authority for the Minister to establish a national inventory using the information collected above and publish it in any manner the Minister considers appropriate.

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Enforcement and ComplianceEnforcement and Compliance


• Reporting to the NPRI is mandatory

• NPRI undertakes compliance promotion activities to help understanding of reporting requirements and improve quality of reported data

• Failure to file a report by the June 1 deadline is a violation of CEPA and may be subject to enforcement action. A warning letter is sent for the first violation and repeat violators are subject to further action

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Assistance to ReportersAssistance to Reporters


• NPRI provides assistance to reporting facilities NPRI provides assistance to reporting facilities and potential reporters through:and potential reporters through:

• annual guidance documents on reporting annual guidance documents on reporting requirements and techniques;requirements and techniques;

• workshops and support by Regional NPRI staff;workshops and support by Regional NPRI staff;

• guidance incorporated in reporting software; andguidance incorporated in reporting software; and

• brochures to facilities expected to meet new brochures to facilities expected to meet new reporting requirements.reporting requirements.

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Consultation - A Key to SuccessConsultation - A Key to Success


The consultative process used to The consultative process used to develop the NPRI and for annual develop the NPRI and for annual

changes are a key to NPRI’s success changes are a key to NPRI’s success by promoting cooperation and by promoting cooperation and

securing buy-in from stakeholders.securing buy-in from stakeholders.

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Consultation - A Key to SuccessConsultation - A Key to Success


• Some key components of the NPRI consultative Some key components of the NPRI consultative process include:process include:• involvement of stakeholders from industry, involvement of stakeholders from industry,

environmental organizations and governments;environmental organizations and governments;

• consensus is sought where possible, positions are consensus is sought where possible, positions are noted where consensus cannot be reached;noted where consensus cannot be reached;

• draft proposals including the rationale behind draft proposals including the rationale behind changes are developed by Environment Canada to changes are developed by Environment Canada to initiate consultations;initiate consultations;

• the Minister of the Environment has final decision but the Minister of the Environment has final decision but takes into consideration, and provides a response to, takes into consideration, and provides a response to, stakeholder recommendations;stakeholder recommendations;

• clear rules and timelines provided at outset; andclear rules and timelines provided at outset; and

• the NPRI Work Group develops a report to take to the NPRI Work Group develops a report to take to wider (public) consultations.wider (public) consultations.

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NPRI ProductsNPRI Products


• A National Overview Report and Regional Fact A National Overview Report and Regional Fact Sheets are published annually.Sheets are published annually.

• On-line Data Search capabilities, reports and On-line Data Search capabilities, reports and data are available on an NPRI CD-Rom and at data are available on an NPRI CD-Rom and at the NPRI website (the NPRI website (www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/npriwww.ec.gc.ca/pdb/npri).).

• User Groups include governments and policy User Groups include governments and policy developers, industry, environmental developers, industry, environmental organizations, the media, and community and organizations, the media, and community and educational groups.educational groups.

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In SummaryIn Summary


• Canada’s PRTR, the NPRI, is a very Canada’s PRTR, the NPRI, is a very important tool for the Canadian important tool for the Canadian governmentgovernment

• The legislative framework for NPRI The legislative framework for NPRI enables it to be effective by making enables it to be effective by making reporting mandatoryreporting mandatory

• Consultation during development, Consultation during development, implementation and ongoing implementation and ongoing modification of a PRTR is vital to success modification of a PRTR is vital to success

Documents

1 Pollutant Release & Transfer Registers The Canadian Government Experience National Workshop on PRTRs Santiago, Chilé - May 29, 2002