Guide for Reporting to the National Pollutant Release Inventory 2000: preface

Preface

The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) is at the centre of the Government of Canada's efforts to track toxic substances. It is the only nation-wide, publicly-accessible program of its type in Canada that provides information on pollutants being released to the environment and transferred for disposal. Since its inception in 1992, the role of the NPRI has expanded to include the collection of information on NPRI substances being recycled and pollution-prevention activities.

For the 2000 reporting year, there are 268 substances listed in the NPRI, 55 of which have been declared toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Twenty substances have reporting thresholds and reporting criteria which differ from the original NPRI reporting criteria (10-tonne, manufacture, process and other use reporting threshold with 1% concentration exemption, except for by-products). Substances with alternate reporting thresholds are mercury (and its compounds), 17 individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (dioxins) / polychlorinated dibenzofurans (furans), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB).

This Guide, together with its companion document, Supplementary Guide for Reporting to the National Pollutant Release Inventory - Alternate Thresholds - 2000, enables facility owners or operators to review the NPRI reporting criteria and determine if they are required to report to the NPRI for the 2000 reporting year. It also provides guidance for completing the reporting form and submitting a report to Environment Canada.