NPRI, ChemTRAC

ChemTRAC, ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING & DISCLOSURE BY-LAW, (Municipal Code Ch.423)

The ChemTRAC program requires a number of businesses operating in Toronto area to annually track and report on the use and release of priority substances (25 substances) if they meet certain reporting criteria.

chem-trac-01The priority substances that meet or exceed the reporting thresholds must be reported. The priority substances are divided into three groups:

  • Group A are the priority substances where the reporting threshold is determined by adding the amounts of the chemical manufactured (including any by-product created), processed and otherwise used;
  • Group B refers to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The reporting threshold for PAHs is the combined, total amount of all PAHs your facility released, disposed and/or transferred for recycling; and
  • Group C includes NOx, PM2.5 and VOCs. The reporting threshold for these substances takes into account only the amounts released to air

ChemTRAC came into effect January 2010 and all reports are due by June 30 for the previous calendar year for the following Sectors:

  • Manufacturing including chemical and petroleum products
  • Food beverage manufacturing, tobacco products; Power generation
  • Printing and publishing
  • Water and wastewater treatment
  • Wood industries; Automobile repair and maintenance
  • Chemical wholesale; Dry-cleaning and laundry services
  • Funeral services; Medical and diagnostic services
  • Other services not exempt under the bylaw

All other sectors not listed above will be phased-in by January 2012.

Please visit City of Toronto, Environmental Reporting and Disclosure Bylaw

(Municipal Code Chapter 423) at: toronto.ca/chemtrac

National Pollutant Release Inventory

The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) is Canada’s legislated, publicly-accessible inventory of pollutant releases (to air, water and land), disposals and transfers for recycling.  The NPRI includes comprehensive emission summaries and trends for key air pollutants, based on facility-reported data and emission estimates for other sources such as motor vehicles, residential heating, forest fires and agriculture.

For the latest reporting year, close to 7800 facilities reported to the NPRI on more than 300 listed substances. Comprehensive air pollutant emission summaries and trends were compiled by Environment Canada for:

  • criteria air contaminants (the main pollutants contributing to smog, acid rain and/or poor air quality)
  • selected heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants.

Facilities that meet the following criteria are required to report to the NPRI by June 1 each year for the previous operating years:

  • the total number of hours worked at the facility exceeded the 20 000 hour employee threshold (approximately 10 full-time employees) during the calendar year.  The number of hours worked criteria does not apply to the following operations:
    • Facilities involved in waste or sewage sludge incineration;
    • wood preservation;
    • fuel terminal operations;
    • municipal wastewater collection and/or treatment;
    • pit or quarry operations; and
    • facilities operating stationary combustion equipment must report for criteria air contaminants, regardless of employee hours
  • one or more NPRI substances exceeding the reporting threshold was manufactured, processed or otherwise used at the facility during the calendar year
  • the NPRI substance was manufactured, processed or otherwise used at a concentration greater than or equal to 1% by weight (Group 1A), with the exception of NPRI substances considered to be by-products.

We are here to discuss your compliance needs and assist you with reporting you facility under NPRI, Reg 127, and TRA prior of the reporting deadline of June 1 of each year.

Please feel free to contact us for further information or to request a FREE, no obligation quotation and our team will be happy to assist you.