DOCSLIB.ORG

Near Road Study Report 2019

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Near Road Study Report 2019 Near-Road Air Pollution Pilot Study Final Report Southern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research University of Toronto 2019 Executive Summary Context Vehicles emit a complex mixture of air pollutants that can reach wide areas around busy roads. Near-road monitoring of air pollution is needed in order to assess the extent and potential health impacts of the resulting exposure. One-third of Canadians live near major roads and are thus potentially exposed to traffic emissions. This report documents a pilot study conducted between 2015 and 2017 involving six monitoring stations in the cities of Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario. These stations were established beside major roads in order to directly measure traffic-related air pollution and well away from busy roads as comparator urban background sites. Findings Local traffic dominates pollutant concentrations beside major roads Air pollutants associated with vehicles, diesel vehicles in particular, were higher beside roads. For example, over 80% of nitrogen monoxide and 60% of black carbon was found to be coming from local traffic at the near-road sites. Local traffic also contributed up to half of the PM2.5 near roads, with the fraction varying over time. For example, during weekday morning rush hour, almost half of the overall PM2.5 beside Highway 401 in Toronto was due to traffic. Near-road concentrations can vary widely Concentrations of traffic-related air pollutants were typically highest during weekday morning rush hour and decreased in the afternoon and on weekends. Concentrations also decreased by up to a factor of four with increasing wind speed from 1 to 10 m/s and were six times higher when the monitoring station was directly downwind of the road. In general, dilution of vehicle exhaust depended on proximity to the road (i.e., traffic in the closest lanes typically dominated roadside concentrations). However, under stagnant wind conditions, little to no dilution occurred and concentrations were similar across a wide region spanning from the roadside to 150 m away. Near-Road Pollution Study 2019 1 Large trucks contribute disproportionally to emissions Heavy truck traffic produced pollutant concentrations beside a major road that were similar to those beside the busiest stretch of highway in North America, despite being lower in car traffic by a factor of ten. Emission factors were calculated based on measurements over approximately 400 days, consolidating the emissions from 200 million vehicles. These emission factors allowed direct comparisons across the three near-road sites in terms of the amount of pollutant emitted per kilogram of fuel used by vehicles. It was found that variability at and across the three sites depended more on the proportion of large trucks in the fleet than the total traffic volume. Emission factors for over 100,000 individual vehicle plumes also showed that a small portion of the trucks and cars were responsible for the majority of emissions. Policies and programs implemented to remove this small fraction of highest emitting vehicles from populated areas could yield large benefits. Black carbon indicates elevated exposure to diesel exhaust Black carbon can be used as a proxy to estimate exposure to the complex mixture of chemicals in diesel exhaust. The study found roadside levels of black carbon ≈ 1 μg/m3. These levels are in the range that has been associated with an elevated lifetime risk of lung cancer and are 400 times higher than the one in 100,000 risk-factor often used to establish exposure standards for the public. Another common pollutant associated with diesel emissions, nitrogen dioxide, exceeded Canada’s 2020 annual ambient air quality standard of 17 ppb (based on an annual average of hourly measurements) both near the major roads and as far away as 150 m. Canada’s seasons can increase emissions Colder winter temperatures increased near-road concentrations of nitrogen oxides and ultrafine particles. This finding suggests that the emission treatment systems on diesel vehicles may not function effectively under cold winter temperatures. In the case of ultrafine particles, the increase was due to less particle evaporation under colder temperatures. Black carbon was found to be higher in Toronto in summer than winter, suggesting seasonal changes in Ontario diesel fuel formulation may be affecting tailpipe emissions. Notably, this potential influence of fuel composition may offer an effective intervention for reducing black carbon emissions from vehicles. Near-Road Pollution Study 2019 2 As tailpipe emissions drop, non-tailpipe emissions are emerging Improvements to vehicle technologies have led to an overall reduction in the tailpipe emissions of many pollutants. However, this study has revealed that non-tailpipe emissions (brake wear, tire wear and resuspension of road dust) are rising. For example, non-tailpipe emissions are now contributing more PM2.5 than primary tailpipe emissions in downtown Toronto. Moreover, non- tailpipe emissions are changing the composition of PM2.5 by increasing the concentrations of metals such as Ba, Cu, Fe, and Ca beside roads. Near-road sites reflect pollutant concentrations across the city Pollutant levels measured through sampling across Toronto with a mobile lab (on highways, arterial roads, and quiet streets) were similar to those measured at the near-road monitoring sites. Thus, the pollutant concentrations at the near-road sites appear to be representative of other near-road locations across the city with equivalent vehicle fleet characteristics. Thus near-road monitoring can capture the wide range in exposure to traffic pollutants that is being experienced by residents across a city. Recommendations Creating a national network A national near-road monitoring network is needed and should include long-term near-road monitoring stations established in Canada’s largest cities. A national near-road monitoring network should support development of policies or guidelines (e.g. siting facilities for vulnerable populations) and assessing the effectiveness of potential air quality or climate-related interventions. Relevant stakeholders should be engaged from the outset in order to consider in advance how the data will be used and by whom. A national network for near-road monitoring should promote outreach and public involvement, to proactively engage Canadians, encourage behaviour change and build stronger societal support for new policies or regulations. Near-Road Pollution Study 2019 3 A national network for near-road monitoring should publicly share data from near-road stations through web sites, phone apps, and public displays (e.g., electronic signs on highways) when and where impacts are potentially arising. A national network for near-road monitoring should have a three-tiered design with: i) permanent stations, ii) easily deployable enclosures with selected instruments for shorter-term monitoring, and iii) widespread networks of inexpensive sensor technologies implemented as part of smart city initiatives. The scale of a national network for near-road monitoring should strategically balance the coverage achieved with the resources required. This process should be informed by considering the risks related to only monitoring at selected locations and the potential severity of impacts that might thereby go undetected. A national network for near-road monitoring should establish metrics to assess the effectiveness and adequacy of the program. These metrics should guide decisions on creating, relocating, or terminating monitoring stations or instruments. Suggested metrics include data completeness and reliability of instruments; the degree of variability in observations over time or across sites; and the focus and level of use of resulting data by researchers, policy developers, and the public. Station design and placement Site selection for stations should provide geographic coverage across Canada and take into consideration population and traffic density. The near-road stations should be designed to be flexible and adaptable. Capacity and space within stations should be adequate so that instruments can be rotated across stations and evolve as new vehicle technologies and pollutants emerge. Urban background stations are not essential to enabling near-road monitoring. Therefore, it is recommended that additional background stations not be included as a core component of the near-road monitoring network. However, urban background stations can provide useful data for a range of other research applications and it is thus recommended that the continuing operation of existing background stations be considered on a case-by-case basis. Near-Road Pollution Study 2019 4 Measurement methods Near-road stations should all be equipped with high-quality instruments to measure NOx, CO, CO2, PM2.5, UFP, BC, traffic volume, vehicle types, and meteorological data in order to create a backbone for traffic-related air pollution monitoring across the country. Additional pollutants such as SO2 and O3 may also be included depending on the pre-existing availability of other nearby measurements. PM2.5 speciation and organic gases should be measured some of the time or at some of the stations. This partial coverage might be achieved by rotating higher time-resolution instruments annually across stations or, if using twenty-four-hour integrated sample collection, rotating samplers or only making measurements every six days. Policy implications Policies should be implemented to identify and remove
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download PDF 303 KB
    HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY HEALTHY CANADIANS the aır we breathe AN INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON OF AIR QUALITY STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES ir pollution is the most harmful environmental problem in Canada in terms of human health effects, causing thousands of deaths, millions of cases of illness, billions of dollars in health care expenses, and tens of billions of dollars in lost productivity every year. To put these figures in context, the magnitude of deaths Aand illnesses caused by air pollution in Canada is equivalent to a Walkerton water disaster happening on a daily basis. This report compares Canada’s voluntary air quality guidelines with the legally binding national standards in the United States, Europe, and Australia, as well as the recommendations published by the World Health Organization. Ozone, particulate matter, sulphur oxides, ni- trogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and lead – known as the six criteria air pollutants – are the focus of the comparative analysis. The disturbing but undeniable conclusion reached by this study is that Canada provides weaker protection for human health from the negative effects of air pollution than the U.S., Australia, or the European Union. Canada is the only nation to rely on voluntary national guidelines, which provide a far weaker approach to air pollution than the national standards in the U.S., Australia, and the European Union. Canada’s air quality guidelines are weaker than the European Union standards on five out of six air pollutants. Canada’s air quality guidelines also are weaker than the Australian stand- ards on five out of six air pollutants. Canada’s air quality guidelines are weaker than the World Health Organization recommendations for all five air pollutants with WHO standards (nei- ther the WHO nor Canada has a guideline for lead).
    [Show full text]
  • The Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Oil Sands Development in Alberta: a Detailed Review and Analysis
    University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Research Centres, Institutes, Projects and Units Canadian Institute of Resources Law 2007 The Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Oil Sands Development in Alberta: A Detailed Review and Analysis Vlavianos, Nickie Canadian Institute of Resources Law by Nickie Vlavianos, The Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Oil Sands Development in Alberta: A Detailed Review and Analysis, Occasional Paper No. 21 (Calgary: Canadian Institute of Resources Law, 2007) http://hdl.handle.net/1880/47188 working paper Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca Canadian Institute of Resources Law Institut canadien du droit des ressources The Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Oil Sands Development in Alberta: A Detailed Review and Analysis Nickie Vlavianos Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law Research Associate, Canadian Institute of Resources Law University of Calgary CIRL Occasional Paper #21 August 2007 MFH 3353, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4 Tel: (403) 220-3200 Fax: (403) 282-6182 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.cirl.ca CIRL Occasional Paper #21 All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher: Canadian Institute of Resources Law, Murray Fraser Hall, Room 3353 (MFH 3353), University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 1N4 Copyright © 2007 Canadian Institute of Resources Law Institut canadien du droit des ressources University of Calgary Printed in Canada ii ♦ Framework for Oil Sands Development CIRL Occasional Paper #21 Canadian Institute of Resources Law The Canadian Institute of Resources Law was incorporated in 1979 with a mandate to examine the legal aspects of both renewable and non-renewable resources.
    [Show full text]
  • 2021 BC State of the Air Report
    BC LUNG ASSOCIATION state CELEBRATING THE CLEAN AIR MONTH OF JUNE OVID-19’s economic consequences are apparent everywhere. Yet the impact of 1 C COVID-19 restrictions on air quality and health are of less obvious – as are the effects of poor air quality on COVID-19 transmission and illness severity. 2 Accordingly, we begin this year’s State of the Air the Report with key findings on the subject, which a panel of international experts presented at the 18th Annual Air Quality & Health Workshop. We also provide an update on small air sensors’ 20 air reliability in measuring local air quality. Despite issues with certain models, Metro Vancouver and Environment and Climate Change Canada have recognized the potential of sensors in supplementing their air monitoring and forecasting efforts. In 2018, after the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) periodically under-reported health risks from wildfire smoke in our province, the AQHI-Plus was developed. We feature this novel tool that has been recently adopted as a complementary model to AQHI. Speaking of wildfire smoke, B.C.’s wildfire season is constantly setting new records in both duration and severity. As another wildfire season becomes imminent, we offer 10 best practices to limit our exposure, protect our health, and better prepare us this year. Another innovation we’re featuring is UBC’s SmellVan, a web-based app that collects odour information from user-submitted reports to paint a “smellscape” (smell landscape). The SmellVan app does not replace Metro Vancouver’s odour complaint process, but it offers information useful to the agency’s air quality work.
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Environmental Regulation in Canada
    Volume 26 Issue 3 Summer 1986 Summer 1986 Federal Environmental Regulation in Canada Peter N. Nemetz Recommended Citation Peter N. Nemetz, Federal Environmental Regulation in Canada, 26 Nat. Resources J. 551 (1986). Available at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/nrj/vol26/iss3/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Natural Resources Journal by an authorized editor of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. PETER N. NEMETZ* Federal Environmental Regulation in Canada" INTRODUCTION Despite basic similiarities in the environmental problems faced by Canada and the United States, there are several noteworthy differences in the structure and operation of the regulatory system for pollution control in the two nations. In essence, the Canadian system is characterized by a relatively closed, consensual and consultative approach with a small number of prosecutions. The evolution of this process has been condi- tioned by several factors: (1) The narrow decisionmaking framework which delimits the amount of information which may be available to environmental interest groups and the general public; (2) the traditional denial by the courts of class actions and locus standi to all but the most directly involved participants; (3) an entrenched civil service on the British model, generally non-politicized except at the most senior levels; (4) the considerable degree of discretion delegated by federal and provincial legislatures to regulators, permitting an extensive process of bargaining with industry in the formulation and implementation of regulations,' and (5) perhaps most important, a pervasive social phenomenon, born of historical tradition, which entails a greater acceptance of the legitimacy and authority of the government to attend to social concerns.
    [Show full text]
  • Air Quality and Perception: Explaining Change in Toronto, Ontario
    AIR QUALITY AND PERCEPTION: EXPLAINING CHANGE IN TORONTO, ONTARIO J.M. Dworkin and K.D. Pijawka Working Paper EPR-9 AIR QUALITY AND PERCEPTION: EXPLAINING CHANGE IN TORONTO, ONTARIO J.M. Dworkin and K.D. Pijawka Working Paper EPR-9 Pub IIca.t ions and Information, Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada MSS lA4 February 1981 Pub. No. EPR-9 PREFACE Environmental Perception Research is a series of Working Papers on research in progress. The papers are intended to be used as working documents by an international group of scholars involved in perception research and to inform a larger circle of interested persons. Theseries serves as a means of disseminating results and ideas quickly, especially the research activities of the Working Group on Environmental Perception of the International Geographical Union, and for work relating to the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme Project No. 13, Perception of Environmental Quality. The series is coordinated through the Perception and Policy Working Group of the Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Toronto and support is being provided by the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. Further information about the research programme and this series is available from: Anne Whyte, Coordinator, Ian Burton, Chairman, Environmental Perception I.G.O. Working Group on and Policy Working Group Perception of the Environment Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada M5S lA4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Study Approach 1 The Research Experience 1 Toronto's Perception of Air Quality 3 Explanations for Change in Perceptions 8 Changes in levels of air pollution 8 Changes in societal concerns 13 Changes in media coverage 14 Conclusions 16 References 16 1 AIR QUALITY AND PERCEPTION: EXPLAINING CHANGE IN TORONTO, ONTARIO Perception is one factor used to explain decisions concerning the environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Water Pollution-Control Policy
    ECON 260 Water Pollution-Control Policy 1 Learning Objectives LO1 Describe the characteristics of water pollutants and how that affects the type of policy instrument that can be used. LO2 Provide a brief sketch of federal water quality policy. LO3 Assess the effectiveness of technology-based standards using an example from Canada and the U.S. LO4 Explain the challenges in regulating nonpoint source emissions. © 2015 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. Characteristics of Water Pollutants • One way to categorize waterborne pollutants is by their chemical and physical nature. – Organic wastes: degradable wastes such as domestic sewage and residuals from pulp mills and food-processing plants; chemicals such as pesticides, detergents, and solvents; oil. – Inorganic substances: chemicals such as toxic metals, salts, and acids; plant nutrients such as nitrate and phosphorous compounds. – Non-material pollutants: radioactivity, heat. – Infectious agents: bacteria, viruses. LO1 © 2015 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. 3 Waterborne Emissions • There are different types of discharges of waterborne emissions: – Point sources: include outfalls from industry and domestic wastewater treatment plants – Non-point sources: include agricultural runoff of pesticides and fertilizers and the chemicals and oils that are flushed off urban streets by periodic rains – Emissions may also be continuous or episodic – Persistent pollutants: do not readily degrade – Degradable waterborne pollutants: undergo a variety of biological, chemical, and physical processes that change their characteristics after emission LO1 © 2015 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. 4 A Civil Action Example Case: A Civil Action – a book by Jonathon Harr – True story of health impacts of a persistent water pollutant. – A cluster of families in Woburn, Massachusetts were ill with similar conditions.
    [Show full text]
  • An International Comparison of Air Quality Standards and Guidelines
    H E A L T H Y E N V I R O N M E N T H E A L T H Y C A N A D I A N S the air we breathe A N I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O M P A R I S O N O F A I R Q U A L I T Y S T A N D A R D S A N D G U I D E L I N E S A U G U S T 2 0 0 6 the air we breathe A N I N T E R N A T I O N A L C O M P A R I S O N O F A I R Q U A L I T Y S T A N D A R D S A N D G U I D E L I N E S A R E P O R T P R E P A R E D F O R T H E D A V I D S U Z U K I F O U N D A T I O N H E A L T H A N D E N V I R O N M E N T S E R I E S B Y D A V I D R . B O Y D Trudeau Scholar, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia Adjunct Professor, School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University Senior Associate, POLIS Project on Ecological Governance, University of Victoria The Air We Breathe: An International Comparison of Air Quality Standards and Guidelines © 2006 David Suzuki Foundation ISBN 0-9737579-8-1 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data for this book is available through the National Library of Canada Acknowledgements Many people provided valuable assistance in preparing this report.
    [Show full text]
  • TAR SANDS Or Shut Them Down Verything About the and in Our Atmosphere, the Eathabasca Tar Sands Consequences for the Planet Happens on a Massive Scale
    Canada’s Published by the Wilderness Committee | Spring 2009 | Issue card 6 Clean them up TAR SANDS or shut them down verything about the and in our atmosphere, the EAthabasca tar sands consequences for the planet happens on a massive scale. will be severe. They are already the biggest Newly elected President energy project in the world, Barack Obama has and the fastest-growing promised to curb the US source of greenhouse gas addiction to dirty fuels. pollution in Canada. As Canadians concerned The tar sands threaten an about climate area of boreal forest the size of change, we must Florida, and are causing acid encourage him in Photos: Alberta’s Boreal forest by Garth Lenz. rain affecting lakes and rivers this goal. Ending in Saskatchewan. In Ontario, Unfortunately, political the importation human and animal health are leadership on this issue has of dirty tar sands harmed due to the refining of been lacking. The federal oil will allow both dirty tar sands oil there. and Alberta governments of our countries to The tar sands have negative are neglecting the health of deal with the reality impacts on the human health tar sands workers, nearby of climate change. of surrounding communities, communities, wildlife and meant to protect the people Let President Obama and the wild species that call forests of northern Alberta, and environmental heritage of Prime Minister Harper northern Alberta home, and and are ignoring the real need Canada. If our governments know how you feel about the desires of Canadians to tackle climate change. don’t deal with the negative the tar sands.
    [Show full text]
  • Health Effects of Air Pollution in Canada: Expert Panel Findings for the Canadian Smog Advisory Program
    REVIEW Health effects of air pollution in Canada: Expert panel findings for The Canadian Smog Advisory Program DAVID M STIEB*t MD MSc CCFP FRCPC, L DAVID PENGELLYt+ PhD, N INA ARRON* BScPHN MHA, S MARTIN T AYLORt§ PhD, MARK E RAIZENNE* BSc *A ir Quality Health Effects Research Section, Health Canada, Ottawa, tJnstitute of Environment and Health. McMaster University and University of Toronto, +Departments of Medicine and Engineering Physics, McMaster University, Hamilton, §Department of Geography, McMaster University, Hamilton. Ontario OM STIEU, LO PE GE LLY, N ARRON , SM TAYLOR, ME its among indi viduals with heart or lung disease. rcducL'ci R AIZF.N E. Health effects of air pollution in Canada: exercise capaL·ity, increased hospital admissions and possi­ Expert panel findings for The Canadian Smog Advisory ble increased mortality. Similar effects were felt to occur in Program. Can Respir J 1995;2(3): 155-1 60. association with airborne particlL·s. with the l'xccption of inflammatory changes, and with the addition or increaseJ O n.J ECTIVE: To revit:w the evidrnce on health effects of air school absenteeism. Poor data 011 individual exposure were pollution for the Canadian Smog Advisory Program. identified as a limitation of studi..:s on hospital admi.,.,ions METHODS : Evide nce w;1s reviewed by two expert pane ls. and mortality. who were asked to define the health effects expected at RECOMMENDATIONS: The panels identified the need to levels o f exposure given by the National Ambient Air Qual­ reflect the evidence accurately without unduly r;1i .,i11g pub­ ity Objectives.
    [Show full text]
  • BC State of the Air Report-2020
    contents 2 Foreword 3 Emerging Issues: Air Pollution and COVID-19 – What Does it All Mean? 4 Emerging Issues: Cannabis – Health and Air Quality Impacts 5 Environmental Justice of Air Quality in the Era of Citizen Science: Highlights from the 2020 Air Quality and Health Workshop 7 Natalie Suzuki: 2020 Clean Air Champion 8 Pollution Levels: How Does B.C. Measure Up 10 Trends: Air Pollution Through the Years 12 Updates from Partner Agencies 16 Contact Information of Agencies Bowen Island, Vancouver, Canada, Photo by Victor Sauca on Unsplash First of all, I’d like to say thank you to the entire staff of the State of the Air Report. It is a testament to their dedication and diligence that we’ve been able to publish this year’s Report in a timely fashion, despite the many challenges of working remotely during the pandemic. Air pollution reduces our immune response, increasing both our risk for infection and sensitivity to COVID-19. Accordingly, we begin this Report by examining how air pollutants affect our respiratory system – and what we can do to minimize them. Large-scale cannabis production releases Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air that, if not collected and treated properly, cause adverse effects. We explore the air quality and human health impacts of these emissions, along with the measures government agencies are taking to manage them. Foreword Environmental justice is a growing movement centred on the equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. It recognizes that distinct segments of the population, especially indigenous communities, have historically faced disproportionate pollution exposures – and continue to do so.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of Green Space on Heat and Air Pollution in Urban Communities: a Meta-Narrative Systematic Review
    The impact of green space on heat and air pollution in urban communities: A meta-narrative systematic review MARCH 2015 THE IMPACT OF GREEN SPACE ON HEAT AND AIR POLLUTION IN URBAN COMMUNITIES: A META-NARRATIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW March 2015 By Tara Zupancic, MPH, Director, Habitus Research Claire Westmacott, Research Coordinator Mike Bulthuis, Senior Research Associate Cover photos: centre by Jonathan (Flickr user IceNineJon) courtesy Flickr/ Creative Commons, background by Jeffery Young. This report was made possible with the support of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. Download this free literature review at davidsuzuki.org 2211 West 4th Avenue, Suite 219 Vancouver, BC V6K 4S2 T: 604-732-4228 E: [email protected] Photo: Yけんたま/ KENTAMA, courtesy Flickr/CC CONTENTS Executive summary ..................................................................................................................................................4 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 5 Review purpose .........................................................................................................................................................6 Background: heat, air quality, green space and health ................................................................................. 7 Method ......................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Mine Water Pollution in Canada
    Mine Water Pollution in Canada: Are Waters & Fish Habitat Protected? Response to the Canada’s Commissioner on Environment & Sustainable Development’s (CESD) Audit released on April 2, 2019 Ugo Lapointe Canada Program Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada Ottawa, April 5, 2019 (revised from April 2, 2019 version) Our Response to Commissioner’s (CESD) Audit: Canada Fails To Protect Waters & Fish “MiningWatch Canada urges the federal Environment Minister to take immediate actions to beef up inspections and enforcement for the thousands of active and abandoned mine sites affecting waterways across the country.” Alarming findings (CESD Audit, April 2, 2019): Too sparse inspections done at each mine site (every 1.5 years on average) 35% of 138 metal mines out of compliance: not reporting pollutant release data 117 non-metal mine sites not subject to a mandatory monitoring of effects on fish Lack of enforcement measures when mines show effects on fish and fish habitat Lack of transparency on pollution, spills, and effects to fish on a mine-by-mine basis, to inform the public and affected communities 2017 Environment Canada Report indicates that 76% metal mines show effects to fish or habitat (referred indirectly in this audit) https://www.ec.gc.ca/esee-eem/default.asp?lang=En&n=F2078C08-1&offset=7&toc=show Canada’s Metals & Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations (MDMER) under Fisheries Act (non-metal mines covered by Fisheries Act, but not by MDMER) Dilution zone tolerated End-of-pipe limits + toxicity (100m to kms!) by test in lab (50% Trout Kills
    [Show full text]