CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT

ATLANTIC REGION HIGHLIGHTS
1998/99

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The following highlights indicate some of the significant activities the Atlantic Region conducted in support of CEPA in 1998/99.

RESEARCH AND MONITORING

Mercury

The Atlantic Region Mercury Team, made up of EC scientists, published Mercury in Atlantic Canada - A Progress Report. The report summarized the results of three years of cooperative mercury research in the Region involving departmental staff and external partners. The report's eight chapters were written by 37 contributors and included results from studies of regional mercury sources, mercury in the atmosphere, in lake water, sediments, fish and wildlife. Also included were conclusions and recommendations for future scientific efforts on the issue. Most significantly, the report indicated that mercury deposition has increased 2-3 times over what it was in the mid-1800s, concentrations in wildlife such as loons is the highest of any reported for North America and sport fish concentrations generally exceed consumption guidelines in some areas of the Region. While the source of the mercury residues cannot be precisely apportioned, it is believed that both long range transport and local sources play a role. The report was distributed to scientists and managers throughout North America.

The Atlantic Region Mercury Team helped organize and co-sponsored the Conference on Mercury in Eastern Canada & the Northeast States, which was held in Fredericton, New Brunswick on September 21 through 23, 1998. The Conference was co-sponsored by the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network, Health Canada and the New Brunswick Department of the Environment. Over 160 scientists, managers and members of the public attended the 3-day event. Fifty-eight presentations were made on environmental science, human health guidelines, policy and pollution reduction strategies for mercury. Conference proceedings were published on the Department's EMAN web site.

Results from a collaborative study of mercury impacts on common loon reproduction and behaviour were reported in a university thesis, journal papers and conference presentations. Mercury concentrations are clearly high enough in some acidic lakes in the Maritimes to impair the production of loon chicks and to affect their behaviour. The final year of a cooperative field study of mercury bioaccumulation in lake foodchains was completed by the University of New Brunswick. That study will assist the assessment of mercury risks to loons that were monitored in the same lakes by CWS staff and partners. Results will be further reported in 1999/2000.

Modeling of mercury dynamics in lake ecosystems in Kejimkujik National Park was contracted to Tetra Tech Inc. by CWS. Data collected by EC scientists and our partners over the last three years were used in the Regional Mercury Cycling Model. The model was used to integrate the information collected and to provide a better understanding of the sources of mercury and the environmental factors influencing its bioaccumulation in different lakes. Results will be reported in 1999/2000.

The second year of a study to examine spatial and temporal patterns of mercury concentrations in yellow perch from lakes in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia was completed. In 1998/99, 37 composite yellow perch samples were collected from 16 lakes. Over the course of the two-year study, over 60 composite samples of yellow perch, 10 to 15 cm in length, were collected from 31 lakes. The Bluenose Atlantic Coastal Action Program and Clean Annapolis River Program assisted in field collection of fish and water samples. Results will be reported in 1999/2000.

A study assessing mercury bioaccumulation in Mill Creek, a small tributary of the Richibuctou River, resulting from a peat spill from a commercial harvesting operation was completed. The data collected indicated that there was no bioaccumulation of mercury in the two species of small indigenous fish studied, and in caged mussels.

Total gaseous mercury (TGM) monitoring continued at two regional sites, Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia and St. Andrews, New Brunswick. TGM monitoring at those sites has been conducted since July 1995 with over 90% data completeness. Mercury concentrations in precipitation also continued to be measured at those sites in cooperation with the U.S. Mercury Deposition Network (MDN). A possible expansion of that monitoring network into Newfoundland in 2001 is contemplated.

Endocrine Disrupting Substances

A pilot field program was undertaken on Prince Edward Island to determine if freshwater or sediments on the Island have the potential to induce endocrine disruption in the aquatic environment. That project was a collaborative effort between the University of Prince Edward Island, Environment Canada and the provincial department of environment. Results indicated that there were some significant differences in the sex hormone levels in blood of rainbow trout from highly intensive agricultural areas compared with areas of minimal known agricultural activity, although those levels could not be well correlated with agricultural activity. In addition, fish embryos exposed to sediment taken from the same rivers had mortality rates and developmental problems which were apparently related to agricultural activity. Further research, supported by the Toxic Substances Research Initiative, will continue in 1999/2000.

Priority Substances List Assessments

The ecological risk assessment of textile mill effluents under the Priority Substances Assessment Program continued. The Atlantic Region is leading that assessment which is scheduled to be completed in 2000. Activities conducted during 1998/99 included: a field study examining the aquatic toxicity of untreated and treated textile mill effluents from eight textile mills in eastern Canada; and a Section 16 CEPA survey of all wet processing mills in Canada.

Gulfwatch

The Environmental Quality Monitoring Committee of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, which is composed of Environment Canada and other Canadian and US government and university scientists, published the seventh in a series of technical reports on the results of its annual mussel watch monitoring project "Gulfwatch". That committee reports on concentrations of toxic contaminants, including PAHs, PCBs, chlorinated pesticides, heavy metals, dioxin and furans and their equivalencies, in mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected from coastal sites in the five jurisdictions bordering the Gulf of Maine. Spatial distribution and temporal trends of toxics throughout the Gulf were reported and concentrations interpreted in context of environmental and human health. In 1998/99 the Committee also prepared a comprehensive retrospect review of the first five years of the Gulfwatch programme and its results.

Persistent Organic Pollutants

Monitoring of persistent organic pollutants in Atlantic Region precipitation continued in 1998/99. Concentrations of organochlorine and polyaromatic hydrocarbon compounds were determined in monthly composite samples of wet precipitation from three sites, Kejimkujik National Park (NS), Gros Morne National Park (NF), and Kouchibouguac National Park (NB). The data will be used to assess temporal and spatial trends for organic contaminants deposition in the Region.

NATIONAL POLLUTANT RELEASE INVENTORY (NPRI)

In 1998/99, the regional component of the National Pollutant Release Inventory processed 331 substance reports from 99 facilities for the 1997 reporting year, representing a 21% increase in compliance from 1996. On-site releases to air, surface water and land totaled 12,442 tonnes (an increase of 18% over 1996), with hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, methanol, zinc, ammonia, chlorine dioxide, manganese, chlorine, and ethylene glycol as the top substances. Reported transfers to off-site facilities totaled 7,127 tonnes (an increase of 35% over 1996), with zinc, methanol, and ethylene glycol as the top substances. Voluntary reports of off-site transfers to recycling and recovery accounted for 827 tonnes in 1997.

OCEAN DISPOSAL

For the Atlantic Region Ocean Disposal Program, 53 ocean disposal permits and 7 amendment requests were approved in 1998/99. Environmental assessments were completed for each of the approvals. Acoustic surveys were completed at the two Liverpool, NS dredge spoil disposal sites. Results of those surveys will be used to assess changes of benthic conditions at the two disposal sites after several years of dumping. A research project was conducted to assist the standardization and development of Environment Canada Sediment Toxicity Reference Methods. Results of that research was presented at national and international conferences and will be used in the preparation of a new amendment for the Sediment Toxicity Reference Methods.

CONTAMINATED SITES

Saglek, Labrador

Environment Canada continued to provide technical advice to the Department of National Defense on the environmental site assessment and remediation of the long range radar station at Saglek, Labrador. PCB contaminated soil has been delineated, excavated and stored on site awaiting treatment. Environment Canada along with others, including the Labrador Inuit Association, provided advise to DND on the extent of clean-up required. Evidence of concentration of PCB in the food chain (sculpin, deermice) around Saglek is evident. Contamination of marine sediments and the effect on aquatic organisms, seabirds and terrestrial organisms used as country foods by local Inuit and the potential to enter the foodchain will be the focus of future work.

An initial survey of PCB accumulation in seabirds at a contaminated military radar site at Saglek, Labrador was completed in partnership with the Royal Military College's Environmental Sciences Group and the Labrador Inuit Association. Results indicated elevated PCB concentrations in black guillemots, a seabird that breeds locally. Further collaborative studies are planned for 1999/2000 to assess the impacts of the PCBs on the reproduction, endocrine and immune function of the guillemots.

Irving Whale Site

In order to determine whether PCB residues in sediment continue to decline, EPB again conducted sampling at the site where the Irving Whale was raised from the ocean bottom. The analysis of sixty sediment samples, obtained from locations within 500 metres of the footprint of where the barge formerly laid, indicated that the overall concentrations of PCBs continue to decline and there is a general dispersion of low level contaminated sediments over a larger area.

Napan River Watershed

In collaboration with the Miramichi River Environmental Assessment Committee (MREAC), a regional ACAP community group, a pilot study was conducted to assess the presence of toxics in the Napan River Watershed, which drains a former DND military base. Background concentrations of metals, PAHs, PCBs, DDT and metabolites were observed in sediment samples from most sampling stations, with the exception of two sites where concentrations were high. Follow-up work has been planned for 1999/2000.

POLLUTION PREVENTION

Environment Canada continued to chair a multi-agency group focusing on reducing toxic use and release in the ship repair industry. Surveys on facilities and practices of 20+ sites were conducted. As well, EC staff worked with DND staff at CFB Halifax to continue upgrading of ship repair activities, resulting in a zero discharge/emission programme. Efforts are underway to influence federal and other tendering procedures to more specifically address toxic use and release in hull maintenance.

Participation continued on the steering committee for the $3 million Halifax Regional Municipality Pollution Prevention Program, which is focusing on at-source minimization and control of toxics.

The Ecoefficiency Centre at Burnside Industrial Park was opened in September 1998 to provide informational support to business in Halifax Regional Municipality to encourage them to minimize use and release of toxics and practice conservation of energy and water. EC provided strategic and some technical support to the Centre, along with NS Power which provided considerable technical support.

COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

Ozone Depleting Substances EPB Atlantic developed an Industry advisory on enhanced controls over ozone-depleting substances (ODS) pamphlet for distribution to regional high-volume consumers and importers of ODS products. The pamphlet contained highlights of the federal government’s amendments to the ODS regulations published in Canada Gazette, Part II, on January 6, 1999 and specifically outlined bans on non-essential uses of products containing hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

New Substances

In order to assess the regional consumption of new substances which could potentially be subject to the CEPA New Substances Notification Regulations, EPB Atlantic commenced industry-specific surveys starting with the Pulp and Paper industry. Each regional company was requested to submit to EC, on a voluntary basis, complete lists of all chemicals, chemical products and biotechnology products in its stock. EC is currently reviewing those lists against the DSL and NDSL in order to identify substances that may be new to Canada.

PCB Management

During 1998/99, approximately 6 tonnes of federally-regulated PCB wastes were removed from the Atlantic Region for destruction.

Enforcement Activities

On December 8, 1998, Harris & Roome Supply Limited, Halifax, NS pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 3(1)(b) of the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations for illegally importing and selling a product which contained CFCs. The company was fined $20,000, of which $15,000 was paid to the Environmental Damages Fund and $5,000 paid to the court.

Enforcement activities included 230 administrative and field inspections to monitor compliance with CEPA regulations. Seven investigations were conducted as a result of those inspections and 10 warning letters were issued in response to the violations. The violations which occurred were under the Export and Import of Hazardous Wastes Regulations, the National Pollutant Release Inventory, the Storage of PCB Material Regulations, the Ocean Dumping Regulations and the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations.