General accountability:
In New Brunswick, the implementation of Canada-Wide Standards for its only existing base metal smelting facility will be achieved by incorporating the Canada-Wide Standard for Mercury into the conditions of the facility’s Approval to Operate issued under the Air Quality Regulation - Clean Air Act. The approval will require the application of best available pollution prevention technologies to achieve the CWS, where required.
Milestones and Deliverables:
Currently, New Brunswick has only one base metal smelting facility, which is equipped with a host of modern emission control devices to control a variety of parameters including heavy metals, particulate matter, and sulphur dioxide.
It is anticipated that the Approval to Operate issued under the Air Quality Regulation for this facility will, upon its renewal or one year in advance of the CWS compliance date, include conditions stipulating the use of best available pollution control technologies to achieve Canada-Wide Standards.
Public Role:
Under the Clean Air Act, a public participation process must be conducted for the issuance of Approvals to Operate for all major facilities (termed “Class 1” facilities). Under these processes, public feedback is solicited through the provision of information on the Department’s Web site and also in hard copy. Meetings with stakeholders may also be arranged as needed to provide a forum for discussion and obtain feedback on the facility’s proposed conditions of approval.
Access to Information:
All Approvals to Operate issued under the Air Quality Regulation – Clean Air Act must be maintained in a Public Register, which is available in all regional offices of the Department. In addition, information relating to Class 1 facilities is made available on the Department’s Web site. Facility-specific performance information may be made available to the general public upon request. In some cases, larger facilities may be required through the conditions of their approvals to establish local “advisory” committees with specified stakeholders including concerned citizens, where relevant facility information may be obtained.
Verifiable Progress:
The base metal smelting facility’s Approval to Operate under the Air Quality Regulation, which will be amended to specify stack testing for mercury on an annual basis to demonstrate compliance with the Canada-Wide Standards, as well as the submission of annual reports to the Department of the Environment and Local Government.
Co-Benefits:
The Approval issued to this base metal smelting facility will also specify limits for a number of contaminants, including mercury, particulate matter, and other heavy metals where applicable. In cases where the addition of control equipment is required to meet the Canada-Wide Standards, such equipment is also likely to enable the reduction of a host of other potential contaminants.