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PLATING AND ANODIZING: NATIONAL POLLUTANT RELEASE INVENTORY

THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT

RELEASE INVENTORY

Mandatory Reporting for Platers and Anodizers

By Peter J. Paine

he National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI), which was collecting and disseminating information about environmental
established in 1992 by Environment Canada and launched in releases and transfers of hazardous substances from industrial
T1993, is the national pollutant release and transfer and other operations.
register of Canada. This list of pollutants contains releases from a PRTRs were established in several countries after the
“facility” to the air, water, and land together with disposals at, or 1984 Bhopal Disaster in India where a release of MDI killed and
from, a facility. maimed many people who lived adjacent to the plant. In 1992,
Reported information is used in the creation of environmental the United Nations Conference on Environment and Develop-
management plans and to inform Canadians about their environment. ment in Rio de Janeiro (i.e. the Sustainable Development Confer-
Facilities which meet the reporting requirements are required to ence which gave rise to the idea of “sustainable development”)
report to the NPRI under the Canadian Environmental Protection affirmed the community and the workers’ right to know about toxic
Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). More than 300 substances are listed on the chemicals and other substances of concern.
NPRI and more than 8,000 facilities annually report information on Other countries with PRTRs are the U.S. (Toxics Release
their pollutant releases and transfers to Environment Canada. Inventory), Australia (National Pollutant Inventory), Mexico
The NPRI records information about: (Registro de Emissiones y Transferencia de Contaminantes) and
• Releases from facilities to air, water and land the EU (European Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry).
• Disposals at facilities and transfers to other locations for disposal A consequence of the 1984 Bhopal disaster and the 1992 UN
• Transfers to other locations for treatment or disposal and conference was the development in Canada of the Environmental
• Facilities’ activities, location and contacts Emergency Regulations. These regulations require companies to
prepare (and be prepared to implement) detailed plans on how to
All levels of government in Canada, companies and associations deal with an on-site “emergency” if they store and handle certain
use NPRI data to track national environmental performance. The substances/chemicals which are specified in the Regulations.
NPRI is also used to inform Canadians of the pollutants in their com-
munities, identify environmental priorities and track progress in NPRI Reporting Requirements Under Canadian Law
pollution prevention. Other uses include evaluating releases and Reporting to the NPRI is mandatory under the Canadian Environ-
transfers of any substances of concern, model air quality and imple- mental Protection Act, 1999. Reports are due every year by June 1.
ment policy initiatives. An overview of the NPRI is released annually. Owners and operators of facilities that meet the NPRI reporting
A Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) is a system for requirements published in the Canada Gazette have to report to the
38 CANADIAN FINISHING & COATINGS MANUFACTURING MARCH/APRIL 2021