The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI), established in 1992, and launched in 1993, is the national pollutant release and transfer register of Canada.[1][2] This list of pollutants contains releases from a facility to the air, water, and land along with disposals at, or from a facility.[3] Reported information is used in the creation of pollution management plans and to inform Canadians about their environment.[4]
Facilities which meet reporting requirements are required to report to the NPRI under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). Over 300 substances are listed on the NPRI, and over 8,000 facilities annually report information on their pollutant releases and transfers to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
NPRI data is available through an on-line Query search, downloadable Microsoft Access (mdb) format datasets, and downloadable map layers for use with Google Earth (which were the first Google Earth map layers to be published by the Government of Canada).
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Narrator: EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory program doesn’t just track emissions to the environment. It also highlights which facilities recycle waste and prevent waste generation. Manufacturers have an opportunity to go above and beyond compliance and showcase their commitment to sustainability by completing the optional pollution prevention or P2 section of the TRI Reporting form. Steve Knizer: What we’re hoping is that we will get additional information that more fully describes what your company has done to be a good neighbor, to be good to the environment and to demonstrate your corporate sustainability. Narrator: Nordic Ware is a family owned Minneapolis-based manufacturer of kitchenware that chooses to report optional P2 information to the community through TRI. Bette Danielson: We’re in the middle of a residential area, in an area where we got lakes nearby. You know, we’re very conscious of the fact that we need to be responsible for the type of manufacturing that we do here. Our use of glycol ether in coatings changed drastically when we had decided in the 90's to eliminate some of the faster solvents. It took a long time but it started coming down, down, down to a point where we didn't have to report it on under TRI any longer. Narrator: Proud of their success, Nordic Ware joined the growing number of manufacturers that choose to describe P2 practices to TRI. Bette Danielson: Just give the extra bit of information when you fill the report out. I think the, the state can benefit, the community can benefit. Any company could learn from taking a look at the results that other people have done. David Constable: Industry likes to listen to other people in their industry. It also assures the public they’re doing everything they can to reduce environmental impacts and it also helps them to think about their products and chemicals in their products. Narrator: When you share your success stories through TRI, people will learn about your P2 practices, not just your emissions. Your information will also be featured in TRI’s P2 Search Tool. Steve Knizner: When others go to see what has been done for that particular chemical in an industry, if you substituted a less toxic chemical with one that is not subject to TRI reporting for the toxic chemical, your name will pop to the top. You achieved 100 percent reduction. You can’t do better than that. Narrator: Report P2 to TRI. Show the community what your company is doing to prevent pollution and help create a cleaner, safer, and healthier world.
Use of NPRI
The NPRI records information about:[5]
- Releases from facilities to air, water and land
- Disposals at facilities and transfers to other locations for disposal
- Transfers to other locations for treatment or disposal and
- Facilities’ activities, location and contacts
All orders of government, companies and associations use NPRI data to track national environmental performance. The NPRI is also used to inform Canadians of the pollutants in their communities, identify environmental priorities and track progress in pollution prevention. Other uses include evaluating releases and transfers of any substances of concern, model air quality and implement policy initiatives. An overview of the NPRI is released annually and is known as the NPRI data highlights.[6]
Data collected by the NPRI is accessible in a variety of ways including:
- Annual data highlights[7]
- Annual summary report[8]
- Online query tool[9]
- Single year tables[10]
- Five-year summaries[11]
- Datasets for all years[12]
Data is provided in the language in which it was submitted, and updated at least once every year.
Requirements for Reporting to the NPRI
Reporting to the NPRI is mandatory under CEPA. Facility owners and operators may need to report if one or more of these conditions is met:[5]
- The facility’s owners, operators and employees work more than 20,000 hours (about 10 full-time employees) per year
- The facility performs activities including, waste or sewage sludge incineration, wood preservation, fuel terminal operations, municipal wastewater collection and/or treatment, pit or quarry operations, and operation of stationary combustion equipment (regardless of employee hours)
- The facility operates stationary combustion equipment that must report criteria air contaminants if the release thresholds are met (regardless of employee hours)
- The facility is a pipeline installation
Facility owners and operators report their substances by using the tools found on the on-line reporting software known as the Single Window reporting module. This software guides users through a comprehensive questionnaire in order to organize and set up their annual report.[5]
References
- ^ Johnston Edwards, Stuart; Walker, Tony R. (2020-05-11). "An overview of Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory program as a pollution control policy tool". Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 63 (6): 1097–1113. doi:10.1080/09640568.2019.1634525. ISSN 0964-0568.
- ^ Taylor, Stephanie; Edwards, Stuart Johnston; Walker, Tony R. (2020-01-01). "A toxicity-based analysis of Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI): a case study in Nova Scotia". Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 27 (2): 2238–2247. doi:10.1007/s11356-019-06933-x. ISSN 1614-7499.
- ^ Canada, Environment and Climate Change. "Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory: data highlights 2016 - Canada.ca". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- ^ Canada, Government of Canada, Environment and Climate Change. "Environment and Climate Change Canada - Acts & Regulations - Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999". ec.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Canada, Environment and Climate Change (2013-01-08). "Reporting guide for the National Pollutant Release Inventory". aem. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- ^ NPRI data highlights
- ^ Annual data highlights
- ^ Annual summary report
- ^ Online query tool
- ^ Single year tables
- ^ Five-year summaries
- ^ Datasets for all years
External links
- 1. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the National Pollutant Release Inventory.
- 2. Canada Gazette, Notice with Respect to Substances in the National Pollutant Release Inventory.
- 3. Single Windows
- 4. Data Highlights
- 5. Environment Canada NPRI Website
This page was last edited on 13 October 2023, at 08:48