Draft Environmental Performance Agreement for Refractory Ceramic Fibers

In 1994, Environment Canada and Health Canada declared Refractory Ceramic Fibers (RCFs) "toxic" under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. A multi-stakeholder issue table was formed to recommend management options for RCFs.

In response to the recommendations of the Strategic Options Report for the management of RCFs, an Environmental Performance Agreement was signed by Environment Canada and the Manufacturers and Processors of RCFs. The purpose of that Agreement was to gather actual emission data to determine if additional controls are needed and to confirm the commitment of the industry to establish and maintain a Product Stewardship Program.

That Environmental Performance Agreement has been re-negotiated to widen participation from this sector, and to implement a Product Stewardship Program to better control on-site particulate emissions of RCFs. The Agreement is now being distributed for comment and public consultation. Environment Canada will consider your comments before a final version of the Agreement is forwarded to the parties for signature.

Please forward your comments before December 8, 2005, to EPA_EPE@ec.gc.ca. You may also contact Sandi Moser for more information at:

Sandi Moser
Controls Development Engineer
Pollution Prevention, Environmental Stewardship Branch
Environment Canada
351 St-Joseph Blvd.
13th floor, Place Vincent Massey
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3
(819) 953-6065