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Canada-Wide Standards in Ontario

Since 1998, Ontario has been participating with other jurisdictions across Canada in developing national standards titled “Canada-wide standards” (CWS). These standards are the outcome of a consensus-based process with multi-stakeholder consultation. Canada-wide standards will be implemented by the “best-placed” jurisdiction. For example standards that are “emissions” limits are typically being implemented by the provinces/territories whereas standards for products are primarily the responsibility of the federal government. Each standard includes a numeric limit/target, time-line for attaining the limit/target, and requirements for reporting to the public.

An important aspect of CWS is public accountability and transparency, and each jurisdiction is required to make public all implementation plans and progress reports. Currently jurisdictional plans are being provided across the country so that stakeholders can observe how these CWS are being implemented and observe the measurable benefits of CWS implementation.

Initial standards that address some of the major environmental issues in Canada have been developed for:

• ambient air,
• clean-up,
• emissions, and
• products.

To view more information on CWS in Ontario select one of the following links:

Benzene
Dioxins and furans
Mercury
Particulate Matter and Ozone
Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil

For information on the CWS in Ontario contact:

Katherine Wilson, P.Eng.
Source Control Engineer
Technology Standards Section
Standards Development Branch
40 St. Clair Ave. West, 7th Floor
Toronto, ON M4V 1M2

Phone: 416-212-4457
Fax: 416-327-9187

katherine.wilson@ontario.ca

Benzene

Benzene is one of many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in gasoline that is released at various stages of oil/gasoline processing as well as during natural gas production. Benzene was targeted by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) because it is a known human carcinogen. Link to the CWS for benzene.

Phase 1

The CWS for Benzene Phase 1 was signed June 2000. The objective of this CWS was a 30 per cent reduction in emissions from 1995 base year levels by 2000. The objective was achieved through the Canadian Environmental Protection Act gasoline regulation, Best Management Practices (BMP’s) for oil, gas and steel industries and a MOU with the Canadian Chemical Producers Association. The success of this standard is documented in the 2001 CCME National Summary Annual Progress Report [PDF] and in Ontario’s Phase 1 progress report.

Phase 2

Following the success of Phase 1, Benzene Phase 2 was endorsed by CCME in September 2001. The objective of this CWS was to achieve additional emissions reductions from 1995 levels of 6 kilotonnes (15%) by 2010. The implementation plan for this standard includes the continuation of successful Phase 1 activities. Other Ontario’s activities contributing to achievement of the national objective include the expanded Drive Clean program, the Clean Air Plan for Industry and the application of pollution prevention (P2) and Best Management Practices (BMP’s) to new and expanding industrial facilities.

Dioxins and furans

Dioxins and furans are toxic, persistent, bioaccumulative substances that primarily originate from human activities. These substances have been targeted for virtual elimination in many jurisdictions and in Ontario a number of activities are underway, including the CWS. Canada-wide standards for dioxins and furans emissions from incinerators and coastal pulp and paper boilers were endorsed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment in May 2001. The CWS for coastal pulp and paper boilers is not relevant for Ontario. CWS for emissions from sinter plants and electric arc furnaces were received by the Ministers in September, 2001 for review. Link to the CWS for dioxin and furan emissions.

Ontario is taking a multi-pollutant approach to incinerators and the implementation plan for this sector addresses both mercury and dioxins and furans emissions. Select from the list below to view:

• Ontario’s implementation plan for incinerators
• Ontario’s implementation plan for electric arc furnaces.
• Ontario’s implementation plan for iron sintering
• Ontario's implementation plan for municipal conical waste combustors

Mercury

Mercury, like dioxins and furans, is a toxic, persistent, bioaccumulative substance. CWS have been developed for incinerators, base metal smelters, fluorescent lamps and waste dental amalgam. Link to the mercury CWS.

Implementation plans are available for these CWS at the CCME website for other jurisdictions for:
· fluorescent lamps
· waste dental amalgam
· emissions from base metal smelters and incinerators

To view Ontario’s implementation plans choose one of the following:
· fluorescent lamps and waste dental amalgam
· emissions from incinerators and base metal smelters

Particulate Matter and Ozone

Particulate matter and ozone, or smog is a significant issue in several regions of the country. Ambient air quality Canada-wide standards have been developed and agreed to by jurisdictions. Jurisdictions are to post implementation plans by the end of 2003. Link to the CWS for particulate matter and ozone

Ontario’s Clean Air Action Plan is Ontario’s implementation plan for the Canada-wide Standards for particulate matter and ozone, which the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment agreed to achieve by 2010.

Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil

Petroleum hydrocarbons in soil are a significant factor in the cleanup of sites where gasoline stations or distribution tanks have been located. Science-based cleanup CWS were prepared and will be used as the basis for petroleum hydrocarbons limits in Ontario’s brownfields initiative, which is currently underway. Because these CWS are to address multiple local issues, implementation is at the discretion of the local jurisdiction. Link to view the CWS for petroleum hydrocarbons in soil.

Canada-wide Standard Implementation Plan for Incinerators and Base Metal Smelters

General accountability:

New facilities: Ontario's overall approach to new and expanded (incinerators, smelters) facilities is to incorporate the CWS for both mercury and dioxins and furans into Certificates of Approvals that are legal instruments. Any new municipal solid waste incineration facilities must also comply with Guidelines A-7 and A-8 that incorporate the CWS. Ontario has an updated guideline for new and existing hospital incinerators that includes the CWS.

Existing facilities: In Ontario, the initial thrust of implementation will be to negotiate compliance for the subject incinerators (dioxins and furans as well as mercury) by amending those Certificates of Approval, which are legal instruments. Existing hospital incinerators are being addressed through the regulation that requires them to close down by December 6, 2003. Currently, Ontario has three base metal smelters that are covered by the mercury CWS for base metal smelting. All three of these facilities currently meet the requirements of the standard.

Public role:

Development of the CWS involved extensive stakeholder consultation at a national level. Ontario had posted proposals to adopt the CWS on Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR), registry for public comment. The dioxins and furans proposal was posted October 12, 2000 and the final decision was posted August 13, 2001. The mercury proposal was posted December 1, 1999 and the final decision was posted October 12, 2000.

Access to information:

All applications for Certificates of Approval or amendments to existing Certificates must be posted to the (electronic) Registry for public comment. In some cases public notification is done through an Environmental Assessment and therefore posting to Environmental Registry is not required. In addition the public can access annual emissions information under Ontario's new Monitoring and Reporting Regulation (O. Reg. 127/01) for current and new facilities through the OnAir Web site.

Verifiable progress:

New and existing facilities require a Certificate of Approval, which may already or which will specify annual stack testing to demonstrate compliance, and annual reporting to the ministry. Ontario will provide reports in 2004 and 2007 to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment on the progress made by current facilities towards achieving the CWS.

Co-benefits:

The control of mercury and dioxins and furans from incinerators will also result in emission reductions of other pollutants. Ontario Guideline A-7 specifies that new municipal waste incinerators must comply with limits for a number of compounds besides dioxins and furans and mercury.

Milestones and deliverables:

Negotiations with owners/operators of hazardous waste incinerators were started in late 2002 to ensure legal mechanisms are in place by the end of 2003. Finalisation and implementation of the proposed regulation dealing with Ontario’s hospital incinerators is anticipated to result in them closing one year after the regulation comes into effect.

Canada-wide Standard Implementation Plan for Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs)

General accountability:

Ontario’s overall approach has focused on updating existing Ministry guidelines to incorporate the CWS. Ministry guidelines are used in the Certificate of Approval process, and specific performance metrics in the guidelines are incorporated into these approval documents that are legal instruments.

New facilities: The CWS for dioxins and furans will be incorporated into Certificates of Approval for all new electric arc furnaces.

Existing facilities: The CWS for dioxins and furans will be incorporated into Certificates of Approval through amendments to the approvals for existing or expanding EAFs. Currently, Ontario has six steel manufacturing EAFs that are covered by the dioxin/furan CWS for electric arc furnaces.

Public role:

Development of the CWS involved extensive stakeholder consultation at a national level. Ontario posted proposals to adopt the CWS on Ontario's Environmental Registry for public comment. The proposal was posted November 9, 2001 and the final decision was posted June 6, 2003.

Three National Stakeholder’s Meetings were held in Toronto (November 1999, March 2000 and March 2001) to seek feedback on the direction and early proposals for the standard. Feedback from stakeholders at these meetings was carefully taken into account in formulating the proposal accepted by the Ministers for review.

As part of the Canada-wide Standard process the Steel Environmental Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group (SEMAG) has been set up to undertake a review of the CWS for electric arc furnaces and to develop pollution prevention strategies for steel manufacturing electric arc furnaces. This group consists of representatives from affected facilities, jurisdictions hosting these facilities, labour organizations and several environmental and health non-government organizations operating at the national and local levels.

Access to information:

All environmentally significant applications for Certificates of Approval or amendments to existing Certificates must be posted to the Environmental Registry (electronic) for public comment. In some cases public notification is done through an Environmental Assessment and therefore posting to Environmental Registry is not required. In addition the public can access annual emissions information under Ontario's Monitoring and Reporting Regulation (O. Reg. 127/01) for current and new facilities through the OnAir Web site.

Verifiable progress:

New and existing facilities require a Certificate of Approval, which may already or which will specify annual stack testing requirements to demonstrate compliance, and annual reporting to the ministry. Jurisdictional reports are expected in 2004 and 2008 by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment on the progress made by current facilities towards achieving the CWS.

Co-benefits:

The control of dioxins and furans from electric arc furnaces will also result in emission reductions of other pollutants.

Milestones and deliverables:

Ontario amended Guideline A-8 to include the CWS for dioxin and furan limits for EAFs. This guideline will be used by the Ministry in the Certificate of Approval process.

Owners/operators of EAFs were made aware of the standards to ensure legal mechanisms are in place by the end of 2006.

Canada-wide Standard Implementation Plan for Iron Sintering

General accountability:

Ontario’s overall approach has focused on updating existing Ministry guidelines to incorporate the CWS. Ministry guidelines are used in the Certificate of Approval process, and specific performance metrics in the guidelines are incorporated into these approval documents that are legal instruments.

New facilities: Ontario's overall approach for new and expanded (iron sintering) facilities is to incorporate the CWS for dioxins and furans into Certificates of Approvals that are legal instruments.

Existing facilities: In Ontario the Certificate of Approval, which is a legal instrument, for the single iron sintering facility in Canada was amended in July, 2002. The Certificate of Approval includes the Phase 1 limit and plans for the implementation of Phases 2 and 3.

Public role:

Development of the CWS involved extensive stakeholder consultation at a national level. Ontario had posted proposals to adopt the CWS on Ontario's Environmental Registry for public comment. The proposal was posted November 9, 2001 and the final decision was posted June 6, 2003.

Three National Stakeholders Meetings were held in Toronto (November 1999, March 2000 and March 2001) to seek feedback on the direction and early proposals for the standard. Feedback from stakeholders at these meetings was carefully taken into account in formulating the proposal accepted by the Ministers for review.

As part of the CCME Development Committee, the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group for iron sintering standards (IS-MAG) has been set up to undertake a review of the CWS for iron sintering and to develop pollution prevention strategies for iron sintering plants. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment chairs the IS-MAG process. This group consists of representatives from the affected facility, labour organizations and several environmental and health non-government organizations operating at the national and local levels.

Access to information:

All environmentally significant applications for Certificates of Approval or amendments to existing Certificates must be posted to the Environmental Registry (electronic) for public comment. In some cases public notification is done through an Environmental Assessment and therefore posting to Environmental Registry is not required. In addition the public can access annual emissions information under Ontario's Monitoring and Reporting Regulation (O. Reg. 127/01) for current and new facilities through the OnAir Web site.

Verifiable progress:

New and existing facilities require a Certificate of Approval, which may already or which will specify annual stack testing requirements to demonstrate compliance, and annual reporting to the ministry. Jurisdictional reports are expected in 2004 and 2008 by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment on the progress made by the facility towards achieving the CWS.

Co-benefits:

The control of dioxins and furans from iron sintering facilities will also result in emission reductions of other pollutants.

Milestones and deliverables:

The Certificate of Approval for the iron sintering plant was amended in July 2003 to include the requirements of the Canada-wide Standard.

Ontario amended Guideline A-8 to include the dioxin and furan limits for iron sintering plants. This guideline will be used by the Ministry in the Certificate of Approval process.

Canada-wide Standard Implementation Plan for Fluorescent Lamps and Waste Dental Amalgam

General accountability:

Waste Mercury Amalgam: The federal government, through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian Dental Association, is primarily responsible for achieving the CWS. Ontario has been working with dental organizations to update a Best Management Practices (BMP) manual and develop a dental waste training course.

Fluorescent lamps: Achievement of this standard will primarily be the result of actions by the federal government through an agreement with lamp manufacturers to further reduce the mercury content of lamps.

Public role:

Under Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR), all substantive policy and instrument proposals must be posted to the (electronic) Registry for public comment. Substantial public input into the CWS has already been achieved, and further input may not be necessary where the only change is to achieve the CWS.

Access to information:

The federal government is responsible for collecting information on the progress of fluorescent lamp manufacturers towards reducing the mercury content of lamps and on the collection and proper disposal of waste dental amalgam. Ontario will post any progress reports supplied by the federal government to the MOE Web site.

Verifiable progress:

The federal government is responsible for tracking the progress of fluorescent lamp manufacturers and dentists toward attaining the Canada-wide standards.

Co-benefits:

The control of mercury from waste dental amalgam may reduce concentrations currently found in municipal sewage sludge. Control of mercury from fluorescent lamps will result in a reduction in the amount of mercury landfilled in Ontario.

Milestones and deliverables:

Any actions by Waste Diversion Ontario with respect to lamp recycling will be reported. Ontario is continuing to work with stakeholders to improve educational tools for dentists and dental workers with respect to waste management.

Canada-wide Standard Implementation Plan for Conical Municipal Waste Combustors (CWCs)

General accountability:

Ontario's overall approach has focused on updating existing Ministry guidelines to incorporate the CWS. Ministry guidelines are used in the Certificate of Approval process, and specific performance metrics in the guidelines are incorporated into these approval documents that are legal instruments.

New facilities: Ontario's overall approach with respect to new (conical municipal waste combustors) facilities is to have stringent requirements in place that prevent their establishment.

Existing facilities: Ontario does not have any conical municipal waste combustors. This CWS does not apply to conical wood-waste combustors.

Public role:

Development of the CWS involved stakeholder consultation at a jurisdictional level. On June 6, 2003 Ontario posted an Information Notice regarding the proposal to adopt the CWS on Ontario's Environmental Registry. The notice was updated on November 16th, 2004 to indicate Ontario's adoption of this CWS.

Access to information:

Ontario's guideline A-7 can be found on the Ministry's website.

Verifiable progress:

Ontario doesn't have any conical municipal waste combustors and already has stringent requirements in place (Guideline A-7) that prevent any from being established in the province. Ontario has recently amended Guideline A-7 to explicitly state that conical municipal waste combustors are not permitted.
This standard does not apply to conical wood-waste burners.

Jurisdictional reports are expected in 2005 and 2009 by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment on the progress towards achieving the Dioxins and Furans CWSs.

Co-benefits:

Ontario doesn't have any conical municipal waste combustors and therefore co-benefits are not expected in the province.

Milestones and deliverables:

Ontario amended Guideline A-7 to further clarify that conical municipal waste combustors do not meet the standards of this guideline and are not permitted. Ontario will reject Certificate of Approval applications for conical municipal waste combustors as described in the guideline.

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