General Accountability:
In New Brunswick, the implementation of Canada-Wide Standards for existing incineration facilities will be achieved by incorporating the Canada-Wide Standards for both Mercury and Dioxins and Furans into the conditions of individual facilities’ Approvals to Operate issued under the Air Quality Regulation - Clean Air Act.
Milestones and Deliverables:
Currently, only three modern biomedical waste incinerators exist in New Brunswick, all of which are equipped with emission control equipment consisting of afterburners, scrubbers, and in one case, a baghouse. Two of these facilities are relatively small. There exist no municipal solid waste incinerators or hazardous waste incinerators in the province, nor are any currently planned.
It is anticipated that the Approvals to Operate issued under the Air Quality Regulation for the three biomedical waste incinerators will, upon their renewal or one year in advance of the CWS compliance date, include conditions stipulating the limits established under the Canada-Wide Standards for Mercury. Initially, only the largest facility will be required to meet the Canada-Wide Standard for Dioxins and Furans, and the emission reduction potential for the two other facilities will be evaluated.
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:
Existing incineration facilities shall be required, through their Approval to Operate under the Air Quality Regulation, to conduct stack testing for mercury and dioxins/furans on an annual basis, or other such frequency as required 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:
Approvals issued to existing incineration facilities will, where appropriate, specify limits for a number of contaminants, including mercury, dioxins and furans, and particulate matter. 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.