NPRI 1999 Due June 1, 2000 73 New Substances Added Complex Changes to NPRI 2000

[For your convenience, Willms & Shier has added an NPRI Reference section to our Web Site. It includes links to NPRI online searching, links to 1999 NPRI information and a user-friendly version of the NPRI 2000 Notice including the extended, 4-part substance list. Click here or press the NPRI button at http://www.willmsshier.com] Under the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) Canadian companies and municipalities must report annually on their releases and transfers of listed chemical substances. The NPRI is authorized under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Companies and municipalities that manufacture, process or otherwise use any of the listed substances (246 for 1999 and 268 in 2000), must register and report. See the applicable NPRI notice for reporting thresholds (10 tonnes per year for most substances), exemptions and other criteria. Municipal reporting obligations usually arise from their use of chemicals such as chlorine and ammonia for water or sewage treatment, or in recreational facilities such as swimming pools and arenas. Click here for a list of the 268 chemical substances in the 2000 NPRI. NOTE THAT JUNE 1, 2000 IS THE REPORTING DEADLINE FOR THE 1999 NPRI. Click here to link to information about the 1999 NPRI, including Environment Canada's detailed information on the 73 new substances reportable in 1999.

Environment Canada published the Notice for the 2000 NPRI in the December 25, 1999 Canada Gazette, Part 1. Twenty-three new substances have been added, one (acetone) has been removed. There are now 268 reportable substances, in four groups. Several substances have significantly lower reporting thresholds, including mercury, dioxins and furans. All dioxin, furan and hexachlorobenzene releases on-site and transfers must be reported for specified industrial activities including base metal smelting, magnesium production, steel manufacture and casting using electric arc furnaces, pulp and paper manufacturing, portland cement manufacturing, organic solvent and monomer production, fossil fuel power generation, iron manufacturing (sintering), secondary aluminum and lead smelting and wood preservation (pentachlorophenol). Mercury and its compounds must be reported where manufactured or otherwise used in quantities exceeding 5 kg. A new group substances related to wood preserving, must be reported where releases and transfers meet or exceed 50 kg. Employee thresholds no longer apply to some activities including incineration and wood preservation.

The reporting date for the 2000 calendar year is June 1, 2001.

The list of 268 reportable substances is divided into four groups (parts).

Part 1:	All companies exceeding the employee threshold or engaging incineration or wood preservation must report on each Part 1substance that is manufactured or otherwise used in an amount exceeding 10 tonnes in the calendar year. By-products are reportable even if at a concentration of less than 1% by weight.
Part 2:	This group currently consists of mercury and its compounds. Reporting requirements for mercury have changed for the 2000 NPRI. Reporting will be required where mercury or its compounds are manufactured, processed or otherwise used in a quantity of 5 kg. or more.
Part 3:	This new group of substances is related to wood preserving. A new quantity threshold trigger applies to this group. Reporting is required where 50 kg. or more of a Part 3 substance is released or transferred from a wood preserving process using creosote, or as a result of incidental manufacturing of the substance.
Part 4:	This group consists of dioxins, furans and hexachlorobenze. Doxins and furans are to be reported in units of "toxicity equivalents" as defined in the Notice and supplementary guidance documentation. There is no quantity threshold. Qualifying facilities need only report releases on site and transfers as a result of incidental manufacture from the triggering activities listed below:

	(i)	base metals smelting using chlorinated plastics or other chlorinated substances in their feeds;
	(ii)	biomedical or hospital incineration of 100 tonnes or more of waste per year;
	(iii)	non-hazardous solid waste incineration of 100 tonnes or more of waste per year, including small combustion units, teepee burners and beehive burners;
	(iv)	hazardous waste incineration;
	(v)	sewage sludge incineration;
	(vi)	manufacturing of portland cement;
	(vii)	production of chlorinated organic solvents or chlorinated monomers;
	(viii)	generation of electric power using fossil fuel;
	(ix)	manufacturing of iron using a sintering process;
	(x)	operation of electric arc furnaces in steel foundries;
	(xi)	operation of electric arc furnaces in steel manufacturing;
	(xii)	combustion of hog fuel originating from logs that were transported or stored in salt water in the pulp and paper sector;
	(xiii)	combustion of fuel in kraft liquor boilers used in the pulp and paper sector;
	(xiv)	smelting of secondary aluminum;
	(xv)	smelting of secondary lead; or
	(xvi)	production of magnesium.

If your facility was used in 2000 for wood preservation using pentachlorophenol you must report on Part 4 substances for that activity. Contact us if you need legal advice on your NPRI obligations. If you are required to report, click here to find out about registering with Environment Canada and where to obtain the NPRI guidance manual and electronic reporting software.