Appendix A: A Brief History of PCB Waste Export and Import
| Date | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Canadian (Chlorobiphenyls Regulations) and U.S. borders closed to PCBs | Canada and U.S. both pass legislation making it illegal to import PCBs (except for the importing to Canada for the purpose of destruction). |
| 1980 | U.S. PCB waste export/import ban imposed | |
| 1985 | Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR) introduced | Regulates transport of hazardous materials, including PCB wastes |
| 1986 | Canada-US Agreement on the Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste | Administrative conditions for export, import and transportation of hazardous waste |
| 1988 | Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) introduced | Designates PCBs as "Toxic Substance", provides for regulations respecting PCBs |
| Late 1980s | PCB shipments from Canada to France and Ireland approved. | Shipments successfully transported but enormous public concern in both Canada and country of receipt. |
| 1989 | Failed attempt to export PCB wastes to the United Kingdom. | Canada ultimately accepted return of the ships |
| 1989 | The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal signed by Canada | Canada agrees to work to implement the Convention |
| 1990 | PCB Waste Export Regulations introduced | Prohibits export to all countries except US |
| 1992 | Canada ratifies Basel Convention | Canadian legislation to apply Convention rules |
| 1992 | Export and Import of Hazardous Wastes Regulations introduced | Instituted to satisfy the requirements of the Basel Convention. PCBs regulated as a hazardous waste. |
| 1994 | North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) Side Agreement to NAFTA | Permits restrictions of transboundary movement and use of potentially harmful chemicals and treatment processes that do not meet the standards of a host country |
| Nov. 15 1995 | One US company granted "enforcement discretion" to import into US PCB wastes from Canada | Several U.S. companies eager to begin importing Canadian PCBs for destruction; have contracts in place waiting for border opening |
| Nov. 20 1995 | Interim Order under CEPA amends 1990 PCB Waste Export Regulations | PCB exports to the US cease. |
| 1996 | CCME Guidelines on PCBs clarified | Clarifies prohibition landfilling of PCBs greater than 50 ppm |
| 1996 | U.S. Import Rule on PCB waste imports | Allows import of PCB waste into the U.S. |
| Feb. 7 1997 | Canadian PCB Waste Export Regulations, 1996 in force | Replaced Interim Order and permitted export of PCBs to the U.S. for destruction but not for landfilling |
| July 8 1997 | U.S. Court of Appeals rules that the EPA did not have the statutory authority to allow the import of PCBs to the U.S. | U.S. border closed to all imports of PCBs. Some shipments had taken place between Feb. and July 1997, Canadian notifiers informed of US prohibition. |
| 1999 | Several PCB waste management companies express interest in importing PCBs from outside Canada | Environment Canada begins to consider adding import provisions to the PCB Waste Export Regulations |
| 1999 | Alberta government has approved to import of hazardous waste, including PCBs, at the Swan Hills Treatment Centre. | No notices for import of PCBs into Alberta received to date. |
| 1999 | CEPA, 1999 | Builds on federal authority to regulate movements of wastes and recyclable materials. |
| March 2000 | Attempt to import PCB contaminated transformers from US military base in Japan to facility in Northern Ontario. | Shipment returned when Ontario determined that the facility was not authorized to receive the waste even if it was below the 50 ppm level. |
| Oct. 2000 | Swan Hills operator provided Province of Alberta with written notice of its intention to cease operations at facility on Dec. 31, 2000 | Subsequent announcement from the Province that an interim operator has been selected. |