ONTARIO TOXICS REDUCTION ACT

Transcription

1 ONTARIO TOXICS REDUCTION ACT DE BEERS CANADA INC. VICTOR MINE 2017 REPORT ON TOXIC SUBSTANCE ACCOUNTING SUMMARY INTRODUCTION In 2009, the Toxics Reduction Act (Act) and its associated regulation (O.Reg. 455/09) were promulgated as part of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC s) toxics reduction strategy, with the purposes of preventing pollution and protect human health and the environment by reducing the use and creation of toxic substances, and to inform Ontarians about toxic substances (TRA 2009, c. 19, s. 1.). The Act is applicable to manufacturing facilities with North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes starting with 31, 32 or 33 and facilities with NAICS codes starting with 212. Regulated substances under the Act include all substances listed in Environment Canada s National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) and O.Reg. 127/01. Forty-seven substances and substance groups were listed in Table A of O.Reg. 455/09 as Phase I priority substances, and reduction plans were prepared and submitted in December Phase II of the Act required accounting for all other NPRI substances and the TRPs were prepared in For De Beers Victor Mine, twenty one substances were determined to be subject to the Toxics Reduction Act, and a total of seven Toxic Reduction Plans have been prepared. They include dioxins and furans individual congeners, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, hexavalent chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, nickel, selenium, thallium, vanadium and zinc), phosphorous, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter (TSP, PM 10, and PM 2.5). The annual toxic substance accounting requirements were completed for the 2017 reporting year, and this annual toxic substance accounting summary has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Ontario Toxics Reduction Act and Ontario Regulation 455/09. Further information on the Toxics Reduction Act is provided by the Ministry of the Environment on their website TOXIC REDUCTION POLICY STATEMENT OF INTENT De Beers Canada Inc., Victor Mine is committed to playing a leadership role in protecting the environment. Wherever feasible, we will reduce the creation and discharge of toxic substances in full compliance with all federal and provincial regulations. Our employees are encouraged to participate in all types of toxic substance reduction activities. Toxic substance reduction will be an 1 P a g e

2 ongoing effort at DeBeers, and we will continue to monitor advancements to ensure that options that are both technologically and financially viable are implemented at our facility. No current options were identified that are technically or 2 P a g e

3 BASIC FACILITY INFORMATION Company Name: DeBeers Canada Inc., Victor Mine Contact Information: 119 Pine St. South, Suite 310, Timmins, ON. P4N 2K3 Highest Ranking Employee: Technical Contacts: Parent Company: Address: Alistair Skinner Operations Manager Ext Alexandra Hood Environmental Superintendent ext.5779 De Beers Canada Inc. 100% ownership Airport Road NE Calgary, Alberta T2E 6Z8 Business Number: The facility s NPRI ID: full time employees (equivalent). Site Location (UTM Coordinates): Zone 17, E and N The NAICS codes applicable to the facility are: 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 2123 Non- metallic mineral mining and quarrying Diamond Mining 3 P a g e

4 REDUCTION OBJECTIVES Particulates (TPM, PM10, PM2.5) There was no reduction option identified because there is no additional viable way of reducing the creation of particulates. Particulates (TPM, PM10 and PM2.5) are primarily created and released at the DeBeers Canada Inc. Victor Mine site through truck travel on unpaved roads for hauling purposes. In addition, some small amounts of particulates are created and released through combustion of fuel oil, incinerator use and primary and secondary crushing. DeBeers already employs a fugitive dust management plan to minimize particulate emissions that includes watering the unpaved roads, maintenance of the roads and speed limits. No further reduction options have been considered because any further mitigation will only increase costs while offering no viable payback. Nitrogen Oxides There was no reduction option identified because DeBeers is already improving their facility operations to minimize the release of nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen oxides is primarily created and released at the DeBeers Canada Inc. Victor Mine site during the use of emulsion explosives for blasting and removing the ore. Emulsion explosives are widely used in the mining sector due to their low cost, ease of use and the ability to work in wet environments. DeBeers already employs a great deal of planning and scheduling to minimize the use and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the explosives. There are no viable alternatives to the use of emulsion explosives based on cost and other viable explosives will create and release similar amounts of nitrogen oxides. Carbon Monoxide There was no reduction option identified because DeBeers is already improving their facility operations to minimize the release of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is primarily created and released at the DeBeers Canada Inc Victor Mine site during the use of emulsion explosives for blasting and removing the ore. Emulsion explosives are widely used in the mining sector due to their low cost, ease of use and the ability to work in wet environments. DeBeers already employs a great deal of planning and scheduling to minimize the use and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the explosives. There are no viable alternatives to the use of emulsion explosives based on cost and other viable explosives will create and release similar amounts of carbon monoxide. Metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, hexavalent chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, nickel, selenium, thallium, vanadium and zinc) DeBeers does not intend to reduce the transfer of metals because these substances are naturally occurring in ore from which diamonds are extracted and eventually disposed into the onsite tailings management facility. The only way to reduce the amount of metals transferred to the 4 P a g e

5 tailings facility would be to reduce the amount of ore processed, which could only be obtained by reducing output and plant operations. DeBeers is committed to ensuring their tailings transfers are handled in a safe and responsible manner. While DeBeers does not intend to reduce the transfer of the aforementioned metals, technologies that may reduce the releases to the environment of these substances will be monitored. Dioxins and Furans, Hexachlorbenzene There was no reduction option identified because there is no viable way of reducing use and creation of Dioxins and Furans, and Hexachlorobenzene. Dioxins and furans and Hexachlorobenzene are not brought into the site but are created and released during the incineration of mine waste. In addition, the incinerator emissions have met the reporting criteria for the Toxic Reduction Act, although at extremely low levels, because emissions below the level of detection were required to be reported as if they were in fact occurring at the Method Detection Limit. Consequently, there are few practical options for lowering the emissions reported, which are for the most part not scientifically quantifiable. DeBeers Canada Inc. has made recent plant improvements. All employees at the Victor Mine will be involved in waste reduction efforts. Waste Segregation will be one of our first priorities for reduction. Our goal is to reduce the use of plastic substances where economically feasible. Steps taken include a reduction in plastic use and employee education to help with waste segregation. Phosphorus DeBeers does not intend to reduce the transfer of phosphorus because it is naturally occurring in ore from which diamonds are extracted and eventually disposed into the onsite tailings management facility. The only way to reduce the amount of phosphorus transferred to the tailings facility would be to reduce the amount of ore processed, which could only be obtained by reducing output and plant operations. DeBeers is committed to ensuring their tailings transfers are handled in a safe and responsible manner. While DeBeers does not intend to reduce the transfer of phosphorus, technologies that may reduce the releases to the environment of phosphorus will be monitored. 5 P a g e

6 TOXIC SUBSTANCES The site uses or emits following nineteen MOECC toxic compounds. Chromium NA 04 Hexavalent Chromium NA 19 Cobalt NA 05 Copper NA 06 Manganese NA 09 Nickel NA 11 Vanadium Zinc NA 14 Arsenic NA 02 Cadmium NA 03 Lead NA 08 Selenium NA 12 Thallium NA 37 Dioxins and furans - total NA - D/F Hexachlorobenzene NOx CO TPM N/A M08 PM10 N/A M09 PM2.5 N/A M10 Phosphorus NA 22 A total of seven Toxic Reduction Plans have been prepared. They include dioxins and furans individual congeners, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, hexavalent chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, nickel, selenium, thallium, vanadium and zinc), phosphorous, carbon monoxide, NOx and particulate matter (TSP, PM 10, and PM 2.5). 6 P a g e

7 TRACKING AND QUANTIFICATIONS The method used to calculate the TRA quantifications was a combination of source testing results, published emission factors and mass balance. Table 1 is a summary of reported TRA quantities for the 2017 operational year. The decrease in use and creation of metals, dioxins and furans can be attributed to updated source testing results and less waste in In the 2017 operational year, there were no out of the ordinary incidents or significant process changes at the facility. COMPARISION OF TRACKING AND QUANTIFICATION No changes were made in the quantification and tracking methodology from 2016 to DESCRIPTION OF STEPS TAKEN TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVE AND ASSESS EFFECTIVNESS There were no technologically feasible reduction strategy objectives identified for De Beers Canada Inc. and as such there was no economic feasibility study completed for the MOECC toxic substances. There are no objectives to track or reduction targets to evaluate. Table 2 provides a summary of the facility TRA changes and updates which took place in P a g e

8 Table 1: Comparison of Quantities Description of Processes that Use or Create Reporting under NPRI Part NPRI Threshold 2017 Used 2016 Used - Last % Change 2017 Created 2016 Created - Last % Change 2016 Contained In Product 2015 Contained in Product - Last % Change Reason for Changes Metals (Part 1) Chromium NA - 04 Part 1 10 tonnes (MPO or Transferred to Tailings) >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA Less waste Copper NA - 06 Part 1 10 tonnes (MPO or Transferred to Tailings) >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA Less waste Manganese NA - 09 Part 1 10 tonnes (MPO or Transferred to Tailings) >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA Less waste Nickel NA - 11 Part 1 10 tonnes (MPO or Transferred to Tailings) >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA Less waste Phosphorus NA-22 Contained in Solid waste Part 1 10 tonnes (MPO or Transferred to Tailings) >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA No significant change Vanadium Part 1 10 tonnes (MPO or Transferred to Tailings) 0 0 NA 0 0 NA 0 0 NA No significant change Zinc NA - 14 Part 1 10 tonnes (MPO or Transferred to Tailings) >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA Less waste Criteria Air Contaminants (Part 4) NOx CO Explosives use, Combustion Explosives use, Combustion TPM N/A - M08 Road dust PM10 N/A - M09 Road dust PM2.5 N/A - M10 Road dust Part 4 Part 4 Part 4 20 tonnes (Release) 20 tonnes (Release) 20 tonnes (Release) 0 0 NA > > NA 0 0 NA 0 0 NA Part (Release) 0 0 NA > > > > > > Update to emission factor NA No significant change NA Less VKT NA Part (Release) 0 0 NA > > NA Less VKT Less VKT 8 P a g e

9 Description of Processes that Use or Create Reporting under NPRI Part NPRI Threshold 2017 Used 2016 Used - Last % Change 2017 Created 2016 Created - Last % Change 2016 Contained In Product 2015 Contained in Product - Last % Change Reason for Changes Metals (Part 1B) Arsenic NA - 02 Part 1B 50 kg (MPO or contained in tailings) >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA Less waste Cadmium NA - 03 Part 1B 5 kg (MPO or Transferred to Tailings) >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA No significant change Hexavalent Chromium NA - 19 Part 1B 50 kg (MPO or contained in tailings) NA 0 0 NA No significant change Cobalt NA - 05 Part 1B 50 kg (MPO or contained in tailings) >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA Less waste Lead NA - 08 Part 1B 50 kg (MPO or contained in tailings) >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA Less waste Selenium NA - 12 Part 1B 100 kg (MPO or contained in tailings) >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA Less waste Thallium NA - 37 Part 1B 100 kg (MPO or contained in tailings) NA 0 0 NA No significant change Dioxins and Furans HpCDD(Dioxin) HpCDF(Furan) HpCDF(Furan) HxCDD(Dioxin) HxCDF(Furan) HxCDD(Dioxin) HxCDF(Furan) NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA and amount and amount and amount and amount and amount and amount and amount 9 P a g e

10 Description of Processes that Use or Create Reporting under NPRI Part NPRI Threshold 2017 Used 2016 Used - Last % Change 2017 Created 2016 Created - Last % Change 2016 Contained In Product 2015 Contained in Product - Last % Change Reason for Changes HxCDD(Dioxin) HxCDF(Furan) PeCDD(Dioxin) PeCDF(Furan) HxCDF(Furan) PeCDF(Furan) TCDD(Dioxin) TCDF(Furan) Octa CDD (Dioxin) Octa CDF (Furan) Hexachlorobenzene NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA and amount and amount and amount and amount and amount and amount and amount and amount and amount and amount 0 0 NA >0-1 > NA Less waste 10 P a g e

11 Table 2: Changes in s, Quantities and Plan Updates Chromium NA - 04 Cobalt NA - 05 Copper NA - 06 Manganese NA - 09 Nickel NA - 11 Method(s) Used Change in Method Used Rationale for Using Selected Method(s) Incidents out of the Ordinary Significant Process Change Phosphorus NA-22 Source Vanadium Objectives, Descriptions, Targets Actions Amendments 11 P a g e

12 Zinc NA - 14 Method(s) Used Change in Method Used NOx Emission Factors No change CO Emission Factors No change TPM N/A - M08 Emission Factors No change PM10 N/A - M09 Emission Factors No change PM2.5 N/A - M10 Emission Factors No change Rationale for Using Selected Method(s) Incidents out of the Ordinary Significant Process Change No site-specific monitoring data available No No No site-specific monitoring data available No No No site-specific monitoring data available No No No site-specific monitoring data available No No No site-specific monitoring data available No No Arsenic NA - 02 Source Objectives, Descriptions, Targets Actions Amendments 12 P a g e

13 Cadmium NA - 03 Method(s) Used Change in Method Used Rationale for Using Selected Method(s) Incidents out of the Ordinary Significant Process Change Hexavalent Chromium NA - 19 Source Lead NA - 08 Selenium NA - 12 Source Thallium NA - 37 Source HpCDD(Dioxin) Source HpCDF(Furan) Source Objectives, Descriptions, Targets Actions Amendments 13 P a g e

14 Method(s) Used Change in Method Used Rationale for Using Selected Method(s) Incidents out of the Ordinary Significant Process Change HpCDF(Furan) Source HxCDD(Dioxin) Source HxCDF(Furan) Source HxCDD(Dioxin) Source HxCDF(Furan) Source HxCDD(Dioxin) Source HxCDF(Furan) Source Objectives, Descriptions, Targets Actions Amendments 14 P a g e

15 Method(s) Used Change in Method Used Rationale for Using Selected Method(s) Incidents out of the Ordinary Significant Process Change PeCDD(Dioxin) Source PeCDF(Furan) Source HxCDF(Furan) Source PeCDF(Furan) Source 2378-TCDD(Dioxin) Source 2378-TCDF(Furan) Source Octa CDD (Dioxin) Source Objectives, Descriptions, Targets Actions Amendments 15 P a g e

16 Method(s) Used Change in Method Used Rationale for Using Selected Method(s) Incidents out of the Ordinary Significant Process Change Octa CDF (Furan) Source Hexachlorobenzene Source Objectives, Descriptions, Targets Actions Amendments 16 P a g e

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