Second report of the National Pollutant Release Inventory working group 2001 to 2002: chapter 1

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Background
• 1.2 Work Group Process
• 1.3 This Report

1.1 Background

A permanent process for modifying the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) was recently adopted by Environment Canada (EC). This process is based on recommendations developed by members of the previous multi-stakeholder NPRI Ad Hoc Work Group on Substances (1998 to 2000), with input from other Canadian stakeholders.

Consultation with stakeholders on proposed changes to the NPRI is fundamental to the process. On an annual basis, EC is to notify the public of proposed changes (drawing from nominations that can be submitted by any party), and establish an appropriate consultation process for input on those proposed changes.

EC summarized the changes proposed for the 2002 and 2003 reporting year in a February 2001 document titled Notification to Stakeholders. Because of the scope and complexity of these proposed changes, a new NPRI Work Group on Substances (the WG), with a two-year mandate, was established. A list of current members of the WG is included as Annex A.

Following public review of a draft of the First Report of the NPRI Multi-Stakeholder Work Group (the First Report) during the summer of 2001, the final First Report of the WG was submitted to EC on October 31, 2001. The First Report addressed the proposed changes for the 2002 reporting year. A second Notification to Stakeholders was released in January of 2002, which outlined the proposed changes to the NPRI for the 2003 reporting year and beyond. The current draft Second Report from the WG to stakeholders presents the WG’s views and recommendations on these proposed changes. Taking into account feedback from stakeholders, the WG will finalize this Second Report and submit it to EC by October 31, 2002.

1.2 Work Group Process

Since the beginning of 2002, the WG as a whole has held two face-to-face meetings (each of two-days duration) and one teleconference call. An additional meeting will be held in September to review and address the stakeholder feedback, followed by a last teleconference call in October to finalize this report.

To facilitate progress on the most significant of the proposed changes to the NPRI that it was mandated to address, in September 2001 the WG established three subgroups (SGs) and tasked them with identifying key issues and developing preliminary recommendations for consideration by the full WG. The SGs addressed each of the first three topics outlined below under section 1.3. Each of the SGs met and teleconferenced numerous times, and undertook or commissioned research to assist in their understanding of issues and options. Annex B includes a brief overview of the SG mandates and key documents. The WG and EC would like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts and the progress made by each of the SGs.

1.3 This Report

This report addresses the following topics:

1. Speciation requirements for reporting of Criteria Air Contaminants (CACs) to the NPRI
   Options, views and recommendations are contained in Section 2.
   
2. Requirements for NPRI reporting from the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry (UOG)
   Options, views and recommendations are contained in Section 3.
   
3. The addition of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) to the NPRI
   Section 4 of this report contains the WG’s views and recommendations related to whether GHGs should be added to the NPRI. Section 5 addresses the question of what the parameters for GHG reporting should be, assuming that GHGs are added.
   
4. Substance-specific changes
   EC proposed some further additions or listing changes, for the following substances: phosphorus, nonylphenol, octylphenol and their ethoxylates, and carbonyl sulphide. WG views and recommendations on these changes are addressed in Section 6.
   
5. Other issues arising
   Section 7 of this report contains a status update on a number of issues that have been under consideration by the WG, but will likely not affect the Canada Gazette notice for the 2003 NPRI reporting year. It also outlines several additional issues that WG members would like to see addressed on a priority basis.