The Petroleum Sector Stream Approach
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Background
On December 8, 2006 the Government of Canada announced the Chemicals Management Plan. The Plan includes a number of proactive measures to make sure that chemical substances are managed properly and acts to safeguard human health and the environment of Canadians.
A key element of the Chemicals Management Plan is the "Challenge", which covers approximately 200 substances. This initiative requires manufacturers, importers and industrial users of high-priority substances to provide Environment Canada and Health Canada with information on batches of 15 to 30 substances every three months. There will be a total of 12 batches released over a period of three years. The information that is received, along with that gathered from other sources, will be assessed and used to decide, if necessary, the appropriate actions required to protect the health of Canadians and the environment.
Another key element of the Chemicals Management Plan is the “Petroleum Sector Stream Approach” which includes approximately 160 petroleum substances that are considered high priority, but were set aside from the Challenge to be addressed under a sectoral approach. They were set aside from the Challenge because of the following considerations:
- the group consists of a large number of substances;
- the substances are primarily related to the petroleum sector; and
- they are complex mixtures.
It is expected that a large portion of the petroleum substances are limited to petroleum sector facility sites, meaning that they are:
- used for blending into finished marketed products;
- confined within an oil & gas facility; or
- consumed as fuels or as feedstocks within a petroleum sector facility.
These substances are expected to be addressed within the same timeframe as the Challenge substances.
For a list of the Petroleum Sector Stream Approach substances, please visit the  Existing Substances Website at Environment Canada.
Petroleum Sector Stream Approach
Environment Canada and Health Canada have developed a plan that includes data collection, assessment of the substances, and development of risk management instruments, if required. The following schematic outlines these activities.
Data Collection
The first step is to gather all available information on high priority petroleum substances so that informed decisions are made and any potential risks that may be associated with these chemicals are appropriately managed. As a starting point, an initial sorting or “triage” of the substances is being conducted to identify:
- substances that are no longer in commerce;
- substances that do not leave petroleum sector facility sites (e.g. substances that are used as intermediates or feedstocks in on-site processes only); and
- substances that do leave petroleum facility sites (e.g. products that are sold, or intermediates that are transferred elsewhere).
The triage will also identify companies that manufacture or acquire each substance, and obtain quantity ranges for these activities. The triage uses the mandatory information gathering provisions of section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), in a tiered approach.
Most of the high priority petroleum substances are likely used or manufactured during petroleum refining or bitumen / heavy crude oil upgrading activities. The two S.71 survey Notices published to date apply to any person who, during the 2006 calendar year, owned or operated:
- a petroleum refining facility;
- an upgrading facility; or
- a facility that is engaged in both petroleum refining and upgrading.
For those parts of the petroleum sector not subject to the notices, research and voluntary submissions are being used to collect this type of information and any other information required.
Screening Assessment and Risk Management
Because this approach is specific to the petroleum sector, efficiencies for screening assessments and risk management can be made. Synergies with other initiatives may also be identified.
Data obtained through the S.71 survey Notices and all other collected data will be compiled and analyzed in order to determine:
- substances that are no longer in commerce and may be recommended for application of the “Significant New Activity” (SNAc) provisions,
- substances that are similar and can be addressed with a group-based approach, or
- substances for which a more focused approach is required.
The results will be used to direct the path forward for the Petroleum Sector Stream Approach. Screening assessments will be completed and risk management instruments will be developed as needed.
Mandatory Section 71 Survey Notices
#1
The following Notice, issued on March 8, 2008 under section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, entitled: Notice with respect to certain high priority petroleum substances applies to 145 of the approximately 160 substances (data is already available for the others) in the petroleum sector stream identified under the Chemicals Management Plan.
#2
The following Notice, issued on July 25, 2009 under section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, entitled: Notice with respect to potentially industry-limited high priority petroleum substances applies to 52 of the approximately 160 substances in the petroleum sector stream identified under the Chemicals Management Plan.
Every person to whom the Notice applies must comply with the Notice by no later than 3:00 p.m. EDT, September 23, 2009. Please note that under subsection 71(4) of the Act, extensions may be granted in some cases upon written request. To apply for an extension, a written request and justification must be received by the Minister of the Environment prior to the deadline.
Definitions
“bitumen” means crude oil having a density greater than or equal to 1 000 kg/m3.
“heavy crude oil” means crude oil that has a density of between 900 and 1 000 kg/m3.
“petroleum refining" means the refining of crude oil or bitumen diluted with a hydrocarbon, into petroleum products, and includes storage and processes such as cogeneration, hydrogen generation and sulphur recovery, but excludes the production of synthetic crude oil.
"SNAc” refers to the Significant New Activity provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. A Significant New Activity notice is a flag put on a chemical substance so that any major changes in the way it is used are reported to the Government of Canada. In this way, government experts can evaluate whether this new use poses a risk to human health or the environment.
"upgrading" means the conversion of bitumen or blends of bitumen or heavy crude oil or blends of heavy crude oil to produce synthetic crude oil or petroleum products and synthetic crude oil.
Contact Information
Comments or questions should be sent to:
DSL Surveys Coordinator
Existing Substances Program
Gatineau (QC) K1A 0H3
Telephone: 1-888-228-0530 (in Canada) or 819-956-9313
Fax: 1-800-410-4314 (in Canada) or 819-953-4936
E-mail: DSL.surveyco@ec.gc.ca
Please indicate on the envelope or subject line “CMP Petroleum Stream Inquiry”.
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