PCBs
Federal Requirements
In the 1980s, the Pottersburg PCB Storage Site was created to ensure the PCBs removed from Pottersburg Creek and surrounding properties were safely stored until they could be destroyed. The Storage Site was never intended to be the final solution to the PCB wastes, but was constructed to house the PCBs safely over the long term. Since the initial clean up, technology has evolved to allow for the safe and proper destruction of PCBs.
Adding to the push to have these wastes completely destroyed is a recent proposed federal regulation to eliminate all equipment containing PCBs and to stop the long-term storage of PCBs. The Federal Government has asserted its intention to proceed with the regulation and have stated the purpose of the proposed PCB Regulations is to improve environmental protection and protect Canadians from the risks posed by the use, storage and releases of PCBs and to accelerate their elimination.
Part two of the proposed regulations include an end-of-storage deadline of December 31, 2009. This creates a potential legal requirement to decommission all high level (greater than 50 mg/kg) PCB storage sites, including Pottersburg, by the end of 2009.
Given the proposed federal regulation and the provincial intention to deal with the waste safely and properly, the time is right to destroy the PCBs, and lead the way in environmental protection.
