By Franco Di-Giovanni, Ph.D., AirZOne Inc.
Ontario has signed the Canada-Wide Standard (CWS) for emissions of dioxins and furans from waste incinerators and also proposes adopting a CWS for iron and steel industries for these substances. The standard sets out emission limits and implementation deadlines for these facilities and will apply as policy to applicants seeking Certificates of Approval. Application plans for existing facilities will be developed over time. The CWS sets emission limits for modified electric arc furnaces of 100 pg ITEQ/m3. Existing furnaces will be limited to 150 pg ITEQ/m3 by 2006, falling to 100 pg ITEQ/m3 by 2010. Ontario has also endorsed the CWS for benzene (Phase 2), building on Phase 1 activities by proposing a further 6 kilotonne reduction for facilities addressed in Phase 1. It also proposes minimizing emissions by application of best available pollution prevention and control techniques.
On October 24, 2001, Ontario announced a system of emission caps for the electricity sector and its plans to expand the system to major industrial emitters such as the pulp and paper sector, cement and concrete, iron and steel, petroleum refineries, chemicals and non-iron smelters. Caps for fossil fuel plants will reduce NOX and SO2 emissions by 53% and 25% respectively. It is unclear if such reductions will be applied to other industry sectors at present.
These caps will go hand-in-hand with an emission reduction trading system wherein emission credits can be claimed by organizations and sold to others to offset excess emissions. Ontario businesses will also be able to purchase credits produced by emitters from surrounding US states. Ontario intends to add other pollutants, primarily greenhouse gases, to the list of tradeable credits.
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