2   National Spill Statistics and Trends

2.9   Summary Findings for Major Spills in Canada (1984-1995)

• 2.9.1 Distribution of Major Spills in Canada
• 2.9.2 Number of Major Reported Spills
• Sewage and effluents are spilled in high quantities nation-wide.
  
• The largest reported spills involve either sewage or effluents.
  
• There are a number of large saltwater spills occurring in the petroleum industry.
  
• Spills involving fuel oil and crude oil are the largest of the non-sewage/effluent spills.
  
• The number of spills exceeding 100 tonnes in Canada increases from 1984 to 1992; the frequency decreases after 1992.
  
• The industry base and industrial activity in each of Environment Canada’s five regions correlates to the nature of the major spills occurring in these regions.
  

2.9.1 Distribution of Major Spills in Canada

This section provides information on major spills in Canada by Environment Canada regions for the years 1984 to 1995 (Tables 2.9.1 through 2.9.5). Environment Canada’s five regions are Pacific and Yukon (includes British Columbia and Yukon Territory), Prairie and Northern (includes Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories), Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic (includes New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland). The tables presented in this section provide information on the types and quantities of major spills occurring in Canada in various sectors, and the sources and causes of these spills.

The sectors reporting large spills include chemical, government, metallurgy, mining, petroleum, pulp and paper, and service industry. These are the sectors examined most closely in this report. The transportation sector, although recognized as an important sector and prone to major releases, has not been included for reasons discussed previously in this report (see ‘Notes for Sections 2.2-2.4’).

The range of major spills and the types of substances spilled vary from region to region. High-quantity sewage spills are prevalent across the country.

A large number of major spills in the Pacific and Yukon and Atlantic regions are discharges to water. Most major spills occurring in the Prairie and Northern Region are either from pipelines or the production field. Ontario has multiple large spills in the metallurgy sector. Quebec shows spills in a variety of industries, including the transportation sector, petroleum refineries, and the chemical sector. The sources of the major spills reflect the industry base and activity in each region.

2.9.2 Number of Major Reported Spills

The number of spills exceeding 100 tonnes rises steadily between 1984 and 1992 (Fig. 2.9.2). Since that time the number of large spills appears to decrease. This may be explained by industry’s management in the area of hazardous materials; with an increased focus on the elements of prevention and preparedness, the result is fewer major spills from 1992 to 1995.