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Toxic Substances Division
The Toxic Substances Division (TSD) provides scientific and technical
expertise in a variety of program areas relating to toxic substances.
Areas of expertise include: risk assessment, chemical toxicity evaluations,
environmental effects, chemistry, biology, compliance promotion, and laboratory
analysis. TSD staff conduct evaluations, perform studies, develop and
maintain inventories of pollutants, and develop and promote compliance
with environmental legislation.
Examples of TSD programs include:
- implementing the recommendations outlined in the Canadian Environmental
Protection Act (CEPA) Strategic Option Process. These recommendations
will reduce the release of CEPA toxic chemicals by the wood preservation
sector. Participants in the process include industry, other government
departments and environmental groups.
- conducting the toxicity assessment of chemicals as required by CEPA
- providing information and advice on toxic chemicals to other government
agencies and to the public
- developing and maintaining the National
Pollutant Release Inventory for the Prairie and Northern Region,
including the inclusion of the Criteria Air Contaminants
- managing the regional component of the Environmental Effects Monitoring
requirements for the pulp
and paper mills under the Fisheries Act (FA) Pulp and Paper Effluent
Regulations and managing the regional component of the Environmental
Effects Monitoring requirements for the Mining
industry under the Fisheries Act Metal Mining Effluent Regulations
- providing regional direction for the implementation of the federal
Toxic Substances Management
Policy
- developing a protocol by which Canada can exchange scientific information
in toxic substances with other jurisdictions
- developing and conducting training and compliance promotion on CEPA
and FA regulatory requirements.
- providing program secretariat support and expert advice for the Federal
Contaminated Sites Accelerated Action Plan through Interdepartmental
Regional Working Group (IRWG) activities in Prairie and Northern Region.
This includes the technical review of proposals, support of consistency
in assessments, and the provision of guidance and training to departments.
Toxic Substances Division also operates the Environmental Protection
Branch regional analytical laboratory in
Edmonton, which conducts testing and provides analytical support to Environment
Canada's compliance and enforcement activities. The lab also conducts
laboratory analysis in support of research, field monitoring, emergency
spills, evaluation of environmental contaminants under CEPA and support
for other federal departments on a cost recovery basis.
Environmental Protection Branch
Toxic Substances Division
Twin Atria #2, Room 200, 4999 - 98 Ave.
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6B 2X3
Tel: (780) 951-8890
Fax: (780) 495-2758
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