Take Notice: Important CEMC Member Information on Hazardous Waste & Toxic Materials

The CEMC Council keeps abreast on important industry information. The following is details from the CEMC Issues Update (June):

Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan (Canadian Environmental Protection Act – CEPA 1999) Pollution Prevention Planning Notice – Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing Sector, Isoprene

On June 9, 2012, Environment Canada published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, a Notice requiring persons within the synthetic rubber manufacturing sector to prepare and implement pollution prevention plans in respect to a few substances that are released from synthetic rubber manufacturing industries. The first substance to be addressed is Isoprene (CAS RN 78-79-5). Other substances may be added as required in the future. Such Proposed Notice has been published earlier last year.

This Notice outlines the requirements to prepare and implement pollution prevention plans and includes related reporting schedules to be completed by persons subject to the Notice. “Resin and synthetic rubber manufacturing sector” includes establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing synthetic resins, plastics materials or synthetic rubber from basic organic chemicals, through a polymerization reaction.

Mandatory Survey – Section 71 Notices:

Grouping initiatives – Certain cobalt-containing substances group

On June 2, 2012 Environment Canada issued a Notice (mandatory survey) in the “Canada Gazette”, Part I, in regards to a subset of substances which are part of the cobalt-containing substances group. Every person to whom this Notice applies is required to comply with the Notice no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT, October 2, 2012. Click here for the substances considered for this group.

Cobalt-containing substances have a wide range of consumer applications including: paints and coatings, plastic and rubber materials, food packaging, ink toners and colorants etc… that could result in exposure to humans and to children.

The information collected from this survey will inform the risk assessment and, if necessary, risk management for these substances. Responses to the Notice must be submitted to the Minister of the Environment, to the attention of the Substances Management Coordinator. For more information regarding this Survey, click here to visit Environment Canada website:

2) Grouping initiatives – MDI/MDA substances group

On June 16, 2012 Environment Canada issued a Notice (mandatory survey) in the “Canada Gazette”, Part I, in regards to 7 substances which are part of the Methylenediphenyl Diisocyanate and Diamine Substances group (MDI/MDA), and one substance (phenol, methyl-) which is part of the Internationally Classified Substances group. Every person to whom this Notice applies is required to comply with the Notice no later than 5 p.m. EDT, October 16, 2012. Responses to this notice shall be submitted to the Minister of the Environment, to the attention of the Substances Management Coordinator, Chemicals Management Plan, 200 Sacré-Cœur Boulevard, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3.

MDI is used to produce flexible and rigid polyurethane foams, elastomers, coatings, thermoplastic resins, foundry core binders, adhesives, sealants, and spandex fibers. MDA produced is mainly used in the manufacture of MDI (above). The remaining portion is used as a precursor for the manufacture of plastic fibers, antioxidants, dyestuff, corrosion preventatives, and special polymers.

For more information, click here to visit the Environment Canada website

Mercury Regulations update

According to the latest information received from Environment Canada, the “Proposed Regulations Respecting Products Containing Certain Substances Listed in Schedule 1 to the CEPA, 1999” issued in February 2011, are now targeted to be published as final Regulations entitled “Mercury Containing Products Regulation” in late fall 2012. The proposed Regulations were drafted to cover products containing mercury and mercury compounds – this will remain the case for the final Regulations. In addition, the final Order to change the Toxic Substances List to read “mercury compound” in lieu of “mercury” is planned to be published this summer or in early fall 2012. This change would allow risk management instruments to address mercury and its compounds. The final “Mercury Containing Products Regulations” would then apply to products containing mercury and any of its compounds