Canadians Access Toxics In Their Communities Through One Click of A Button

Ottawa, December 28, 2000 - Are you wondering what to do with that new computer you received for Christmas? If so, why not check out what pollutants were released into the air, water and on land in your community in 1999. You can do this on-line with Environment Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) at: http://www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/npri.

The NPRI database provides Canadians with information on the release of different pollutants from facilities nation-wide. Information can also be accessed by:

1. clicking on the NPRI Icon at the bottom of the front page of Environment Canada's Green Lane;
2. clicking on the Data Search button;
3. typing in the name of a community, local company, pollutant or postal code.

In 1999, 2,187 facilities reported on releases of 245 different pollutants, up from 176 pollutants that were monitored in 1998. Those pollutants include: Arsenic, Benzene, Cadmium, HCFCs and Asbestos. The NPRI does more than simply report releases. It also tracks transfers such as the disposal and recycling of substances of concern.

Currently, NPRI is the only legislated, nation-wide, publicly-accessible database providing a list of substances of concern the same year they are reported to Environment Canada by companies under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).

Since 1998, Environment Canada has been undertaking consultations with Canadian stakeholders to review and expand the NPRI list of substances.

This on-line information allows companies to demonstrate their efforts to reduce the environment impact of their activities and provides Canadians with the means to track those efforts.

Related document:

• National Pollutants Release Inventory Website [information collection]