Consultation Document: Risk Management Measure for BNST

4. Existing Risk Management Tools and Actions

4.1 Existing Risk Management Activities

Canada

BNST is not subject directly to any existing Canadian risk management measures. Because BNST is an additive contained in certain vehicle engine oils (crankcase oils) and other lubricating oils, it is indirectly controlled by existing measures for used crankcase oils and other waste lubricating oils. Also, as BNST is a petroleum hydrocarbon, it contributes to measurable concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbon, also known as oil and grease, in water. The quantity of "oil and grease" in water is an analytical parameter subject to various federal-, provincial- and municipal-level effluent discharge quality regulations. Since BNST is a constituent of used oils and lubricants, any measures that act to control releases of used oils would also control releases of BNST².

Provinces and territories

Provinces and territories have put in place risk management measures for used crankcase oils. These include prohibitions for land, landfill and sewer disposal of used oils; permits or approval systems to control burning of used oils; prohibitions or guidelines for use of used oils in dust suppression; controls for used oil reprocessing and re-refinery operations; and programs to collect and manage used oil. Ontario also sets specific allowable "oil and grease" concentration discharges for certain refineries and chemical manufacturing facilities.

Municipalities

Municipal sewer use bylaws describe existing limits on the concentration of "oil and grease" in wastewater discharged to municipal wastewater systems means that releases of BNST due to manufacturing, lubricant blending and industrial use at facilities would be effectively controlled.

United States

BNST is part of the US EPA's High Production Volume (HPV) Chemical program which requires sponsoring companies to provide and make public basic hazard information on the chemical.

Europe

Under the European Union REACH Program, BNST was pre-registered in 2008. By December 1, 2010, manufacturers and importers are required to submit a technical dossier to the European Chemicals Agency containing available information on chemical properties, persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity.