Environment Canada Announces Actions to Reduce Pollution from Base Metals Smelters

OTTAWA, Ontario, April 28, 2006 – Significant steps are being taken today by the Government of Canada towards reducing releases of several toxic substances from some of the largest sources of industrial pollution in Canada. This is a concrete and tangible step toward the government delivering on its commitment to tackling air pollution and cleaning up the air that Canadians breathe.

The publication tomorrow of a Notice in the Canada Gazette will require base metal smelters to prepare and implement comprehensive Pollution Prevention Plans and to publicly report on their conformance with an Environmental Code of Practice for Base Metals Smelters and Refineries. The publication follows extensive consultations with provinces, industry and other stakeholders.

“The health and prosperity of Canadians are strongly dependent on the quality of our air. Air pollution is still a serious threat to our health, our environment and our economy,” said Minister Ambrose. “This approach to reducing sulphur dioxide and metal pollutants from base metal smelters across the country will bring environmental and health benefits to citizens, while respecting the economic and social well being of smelter communities.”

Base metal smelters, which include producers of copper, lead, nickel and zinc, melt and separate valuable metals from less desirable metals and impurities. These smelters release large amounts of pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and particulate matter containing various metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel.

The requirements under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) provide industry with clear direction on current and future environmental standards, and ensures that smelters will prepare plans to address these objectives. The Government of Canada will monitor and make public, progress on these Pollution Prevention Plans to ensure that steps are being taken by industry to attain significant reductions in emissions and to continually improve environmental performance to achieve world class standards.

Sulphur Dioxide contributes to acid rain and smog and resulting adverse effects on lakes, soils, forests and plants, and on human respiratory systems. Certain metal compounds are linked to health problems such as neurological disorders and cancers, and can also pose risks to other organisms. Pollutants in air can travel long distances and affect the quality of the environment in many regions.

For the Pollution Prevention Plans, base metal smelters are required to develop and implement Community Air Quality Protection Programs and Smelter Emission Reduction Programs. As smelters implement the Plans and address emission reduction targets, it is expected that the sector will reduce annual sulphur dioxide emissions by over 600,000 tonnes (about 70%) and will reduce annual particulate matter emissions containing metals by over 3,000 tonnes (about 50%) by 2015 from 1998 levels.

These pollution prevention planning requirements will support the development of conventional regulations by 2015 for all base metal smelters and refineries. Work with the smelter provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, allows all facilities in the sector the time necessary to make appropriate technological changes and improvements in environmental practices and performance.

For further information, please contact:

Ryan Sparrow
Associate Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441

Media Relations
Environment Canada
1-888-908-8008