Section 6: Recommendations
- Mercury losses to emissions associated with cell room ventilation are still the largest emission source loss (when compared with other emission sources) during normal plant operations.
- Recommendation
It is recommended that companies consider completely enclosing the cell room so that all cell room air is vented to an air pollution control system.
- Recommendation
- Plants continuously discharge effluent to sewer systems. Levels of mercury in final effluent are within regulated amounts. In the event of accidents, however, mercury above regulated amounts may be released.
- Recommendation
It is recommended that plants install check tanks in which treated final effluent can be stored and checked with respect to mercury concentrations before being released.
- Recommendation
- Emission regulations require that cell room ventilation testing each quarter should consist of three sampling events, with a 2 hour sampling period per event. One company, on the other hand, was found to be sampling once each month using a 2 hour sampling period.
- Recommendation
It is recommended that all plants be made aware of correct cell room ventilation testing procedures with respect to the number of sampling events required and the duration of the sampling period.
- Recommendation
- Inspections of mercury cell plants are conducted by Environment Canada regional offices. Emission sources are monitored on a quarterly basis. Effluents are monitored and sampled once each year, with effluent analysis being conducted at Environment Canada laboratories.
- Recommendation
It is recommended that Environment Canada personnel continue to monitor and inspect these plants at the same frequency as is currently practised.
- Recommendation