Environment Canada Multi-stakeholder Consultation Series to Finalize Elements of the Air Quality Management System
Consultation
When: A series of meetings and teleconference calls between February and December 2011 (1st meeting: 2 hour orientation teleconference/webinar week of February 14 to 18).
Where: Primarily conference calls and webinars and some face to face meetings in Ottawa and other major Canadian cities.
Context:
In May 2008, the federal government agreed to work with provinces, territories and stakeholders to develop an alternative proposal to the Federal Regulatory Framework for Air Emissions. Work finished in April 2010 with the proposed Comprehensive Air Management System (CAMS).
In October 2010, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment agreed to move forward to finalize a new air quality management system based on the CAMS proposal. The Ministers established ambitious timelines and directed officials to develop the major elements in 2011 with implementation in 2013.
The Ministers committed to a collaborative process that would engage stakeholders. Environment Canada has requested the RCEN to select ENGO delegates through the RCEN’s democratic and transparent delegate selection process. The points of engagement will include participation in an overarching Stakeholder Advisory Group, consultation on the development of the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards, and participation on the technical Sector and Equipment Expert Groups. The purpose of each is described below.
Selected Delegates:
Stakeholder Advisory Committee Organization
Delegates:
- Anna Tilman, International Institute of Concern for Public Health
- Stephen Hazell, Ecojustice
- Quentin Chiotti, Pollution Probe
Alternates:
- Therese Hutchinson, Citizens Environment Alliance of Southwestern Ontario
- Lisa Gue, David Suzuki Foundation (Note: Lisa Gue has been added to the Stakeholder Advisory Committee)
Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards
Delegates:
- Quentin Chiotti, Pollution Probe
- Myles Kitagawa, Toxics Watch Society of Alberta
Alternate:
- Stephen Hazell, Ecojustice
Sector Groups Organization
Oil Sands
Delegates:
- David Spink, Prairie Acid Rain Coalition
- Mark Huot, Pembina Institute
Upstream Oil and Gas
Delegates:
- Anna Tilman, International Institute of Concern for Public Health
- Chris Severson-Baker, Pembina Institute
Natural Gas Pipelines
Delegate:
- Sheila Cole, Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia
Alternate:
- Mark Huot, Pembina Institute
Petroleum Refineries
Delegate:
- Mark Huot, Pembina Institute
Alternate:
- Sheila Cole, Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia
Electricity
Delegate:
- Tom Marr-Laing, Pembina Institute
Alternate:
- Anna Tilman, International Institute of Concern for Public Health
Base Metal Smelting
Delegate:
- Anna Tilman, International Institute of Concern for Public Health
- Sandra Madray, Chemical Sensitivities Manitoba
Iron, Steel and Ilmenite
Delegate:
- Jim White, Ecology Action Centre
Iron Ore Pelletizing
Delegate:
- Peter Ormond, Conserver Society of Hamilton and District
Aluminum and Alumina
Delegate:
- Dave Stevens, Community Health Opposition to Known Emission Dangers
Cement
Delegate:
- Mary Richardson, Keepers of the Athabasca
Alternate:
- Quentin Chiotti, Pollution Probe
Pulp and Paper
Delegate:
- Sandra Madray, Chemical Sensitivities Manitoba
Chemicals and Fertilizer
Delegate:
- Sandra Madray, Chemical Sensitivities Manitoba
Alternate:
- Mary Richardson, Keepers of the Athabasca
Potash
Delegates:
- Susan Sang, York Region Environmental Alliance
Cross-sectoral Equipment Groups Organization
Equipment Standards for Boilers and Heaters
Delegate:
- David Spink, Prairie Acid Rain Coalition
Equipment Standards for Combustion Turbines
Delegate:
- Peter Ormond, Conserver Society of Hamilton and District
Equipment Standards for Natural Gas-Fired Reciprocating Engines
Delegate:
- Chris Severson-Baker, Pembina Institute
- Sheila Cole, Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia
Purpose:
Stakeholder Advisory Group (3 delegates and 2 alternates)
To engage in dialogue with and provide advice to governments on the development of some of the elements of the system.
Base Level Industrial Emission Requirements (BLIER) (1 delegate and 1 alternate for up to 16 Sectors and Equipment Groups - to be confirmed)
Provide input on the development and finalization of base level industrial emission requirements. A BLIER should match what leading jurisdictions require for comparable industrial sources in attainment areas (where ambient air quality standards are met without the highly stringent requirements designed to address severe air quality issues), adjusted for Canadian circumstances. BLIERs alone are not intended to achieve all emission reductions that will be needed to improve air quality in areas where air quality is poor; all sources must be addressed. While more stringent requirements in addition to BLIERs may be imposed on industrial sources in a specific air zone where air quality is under pressure, it may also be the case that other measures directed at other sources will be more effective.
As many as 16 sector or equipment groups could be developing these requirements in 2011 with input from stakeholders. Sector and Equipment Groups will require a varying number of meetings.
The Sector Groups are:
- Oil sands
- Upstream oil and gas
- Natural Gas Pipelines
- Petroleum Refineries
- Electricity
- Base Metal Smelting
- Iron, Steel and Ilmenite
- Iron Ore Pelletizing
- Aluminum and Alumina
- Cement
- Pulp and Paper
- Chemicals and Fertilizer
- Potash
The Cross-Sectoral Equipment Groups include:
- Equipment standards for boilers and heaters
- Equipment standards for combustion turbines
- Equipment standards for natural gas-fired reciprocating engines
Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) (2 delegates and 1 alternate)
To participate by face-to-face meetings and teleconferences in a working group for the development of the recommendations for the new Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particles and ozone which will potentially replace the existing CWS for PM and Ozone.
Multistakeholder Representation:
- Stakeholder Advisory Group: Industry and environmental and health NGOs.
- Base Level Industrial Emission Requirements: All Sector and Equipment Groups will be multi-stakeholder and will include representatives from the federal government, provincial governments, industry and environmental and health NGOs
- Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards: Industry and environmental and health NGOs
Additional Information:
Comprehensive Air Management System: A Proposed Framework to Improve Air Quality Management
For more information, please contact Daniel Casselman, RCEN National Caucus Coordinator, at (613) 728-9810 ext. 236.
