PCB Waste Export Regulations

Act: Canadian Environmental Protection Act, R.S.C. 1999, c. 33.
Regulation: PCB Waste Export Regulations, 1996, SOR/97-109

To Whom Does This Apply?

Any person that proposes to export from Canada, Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) waste.

Regulations apply to:

• PCB liquids
• PCB solids
• PCB mixtures
• PCB equipment
• PCB-contaminated solid or electrical equipment
• packaging that held any of these materials.

Eligible Activities

The export of PCB waste from Canada is only allowed for thermal or chemical destruction at authorized and environmentally sound U.S. facilities. Export for landfilling and purposes other than those listed in the Regulations is not allowed. Exports of PCB wastes to countries other than the United States continue to be prohibited.

Summary

The PCB Waste Export Regulations, were published in Canada Gazette Part II on February 7, 1997. PCB liquids, solids and mixtures will be controlled down to a concentration of 50 parts per million.

The Regulations establish strict controls on the export of PCB waste, that are an enhancement of similar controls already in place for hazardous waste under the Export and Import of Hazardous Wastes Regulations.

Key elements of the Regulations are:

• prior notification for proposed exports;
• consent from U.S. authorities (written or 45-day tacit consent);
• exports only to facilities authorized to thermally or chemically destroy PCB wastes;
• transport by authorized carriers;
• contracts between Canadian exporters and U.S. importers;
• liability insurance of $5 million in case of release of PCB wastes into the environment during export;
• tracking of shipments via waste manifests and certification of disposal; and
• making alternative arrangement where the PCB waste cannot be received or disposed of as intended.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Manitoba Contact(s):
See National Contact.

 

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National Contact(s):
User Guides and other information:
Waste Reduction and Management Division
Environment Canada
14th Floor
Place Vincent Massey
351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0H3
Telephone: 819-997-3377
Fax: 819-997-3068
E-mail: use the form at http://www.ec.gc.ca/wmd-dgd/default.asp?lang=En&n=99A6F450-1
Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/wmd-dgd/default.asp?lang=En&n=FDC36D83-1
 

 

Joe Wittwer
Manager, Operations
Waste Reduction and Management
Environment Canada
6th Floor
Place Montcalm
70 Crémazie Street
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0H3
Telephone: 819-953-2171
Fax: (819) 997-3068
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-6767
TTY (hearing impaired): 819-994-0736
E-mail: joe.wittwer@ec.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html