International Collaboration on PRTRs: Canadian experiences TRI National Meeting February 12-13, 2008 Jody Rosenberger Environment Canada

Page 2 – TRI National Meeting, February 12-13, 2008 Overview Canada’s National Pollutant Release Inventory Canadian International PRTR Activities OECD Work on PRTRs: –Global Portal to PRTR Information –Providing access to Release Estimation Techniques

Page 3 – TRI National Meeting, February 12-13, 2008 The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) The NPRI is Canada’s equivalent to the TRI It was established in 1992, under authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act Reporting requirements are published annually in the Canada Gazette NPRI data is reported on-line, with a June 1 st reporting deadline Data is made publicly available in various formats (fact sheets and reports, query site, downloadable databases and Google Earth map layers)

Page 4 – TRI National Meeting, February 12-13, 2008 The NPRI has grown significantly since its inception, to provide more comprehensive information on pollution in Canada

Page 5 – TRI National Meeting, February 12-13, 2008 The NPRI and TRI have both similarities and differences Both have annual, mandatory reporting from industrial and commercial sources Both have similar thresholds: –Generally 10 employee and 10-tonne MPU; with –lower thresholds for priority substances and sectors NPRI has included reporting on criteria air contaminants (SOx, NOx, VOCs, PM, CO) since 2002 –to better support compilation of the Air Emissions Inventories NPRI includes some additional sectors, including upstream oil & gas, pipelines NPRI and TRI define on-site land disposal/release differently NPRI does not include pesticides, nor reporting on tailings

Page 6 – TRI National Meeting, February 12-13, 2008 NPRI Data for 2006 was released in November 2007 Total releases reported to the NPRI have increased due to increased numbers of facilities and substances – this highlights expanded tracking of pollutant releases Long-term reporting facilities have reported an overall 8% decrease in total releases. Pollutant releases from some facilities have increased, however, such as many in resource extraction industries (e.g. petroleum)

Page 7 – TRI National Meeting, February 12-13, 2008 Canada’s International PRTR Activities Recognizing the importance of PRTRs, Canada has undertaken activities to promote adoption of PRTRs internationally –In collaboration with UNITAR and UNEP, held a PRTR Conference of the Americas in Mexico (2004) –Assisted Chile under the Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation under trade agreement –Participated in workshops in Jamaica, Peru, Malaysia, Ecuador Canada is also an active participant in: –OECD Task Force on PRTRs –Commission for Environmental Cooperation PRTR Project –International PRTR Coordinating Group

Page 8 – TRI National Meeting, February 12-13, 2008 OECD Global Portal to PRTR Information: Provides a global portal to PRTR information and activities from countries and organisations around the world The website aims to assist countries in the development, implementation and improvement of PRTRs, and provide information to citizens Provides links to documents and resources on: –PRTR development; –data from other countries; –improving data quality; and –release estimation techniques

Page 9 – TRI National Meeting, February 12-13, 2008 OECD Global Portal to PRTR Information: (2) The site also provides links to other countries’ PRTR sites, as well as links to the PRTR sites of international organizations such as OECD, UNITAR and the UNECE

Page 10 – TRI National Meeting, February 12-13, 2008 OECD Resource Centre for PRTR Release Estimation Techniques Provides a clearinghouse of guidance manuals and documents with information on techniques to estimate releases from both point and non-point sources Information on the site can be accessed through a search engine or a series of drop down menus Intended to assist governments in providing guidance and compiling emissions inventories, and to assist industry with estimating releases

Page 11 – TRI National Meeting, February 12-13, 2008 OECD Resource Compendium of Release Estimation Techniques Series of documents that are intended as a basic information resource on estimation techniques typically used in OECD countries to quantify releases and transfers for a PRTR –Part 1: Point Sources –Part 2: Non-Point Sources –Part 3: Transfers Available from the OECD Resource Centre.

Page 12 – TRI National Meeting, February 12-13, 2008 Contact NPRI at: ▪Website: ▪National Pollutant Release Inventory Environment Canada 9th Floor, Place Vincent Massey 351 St. Joseph Blvd. Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3 Tel: (819)