— Industry Update MISA law for pulp and paper mills
semi-annual tests for these persistant toxic chemicals at eight mills not using bleached pulp.
Ontario's 27 pulp and paper mills are now required by law to monitor wastewaters discharged to lakes
Flow monitoring will be required to provide consistency in establish ing the total loading of contami
and rivers for 130 contaminants.
nants. The monitoring regulation
"This is an important step in cleaning up an industry which has traditionally been a major polluter of Ontario waterways," said Envir onment Minister Jim Bradley.
This 12-month comprehensive monitoring program will let the MOE know for the first time the full
range of toxic pollutants and amounts discharged. With the detailed results in hand, the MOE will formulate an abatement regula
tion requiring the mills to reduce toxic discharges to the level attaina ble by the hest available pollution control technology that is economi cally achievable. Each mill must sample its own wastewater discharges and have them tested to ministry specifica tions. Random ministry audits will verify that results are accurate and representative. The regulation stip ulates quality control and quality assurance procedures for collecting, storing, analyzing and checking samples.
The regulation prescribes moni toring schedules for process efflu ent, cooling water, backwash, waste disposal site effluent, emergency overflow and stormwater effluent.
It also requires all mills to monitor
process wastewater dally for four
has been promulgated under the Ontario Environmental Protection
Act. Violators face fines of up to $25,000 a day for first offences and $50,000 for subsequent convictions. Pulp and paper mills must com mence monitoring on Jan. 1, 1990. This lead-in time will allow the com
panies to purchase and Install the required equipment, to arrange for
sonnel.
Costs incurred under the regula tion will be borne by the industry. The ministry has estimated the total incremental capital and operating costs for all mills at between $7.5 million and $11 million. Costs to individual mills are estimated to
range from $158,500 (Beaver Wood Fibre Co., 'Thorold) to $1,227,400 (Domtar Inc., Red Rock). The ministry developed this regu lation in consultation with the pulp and paper industry, Environment Canada and the MISA Advisory Committee of independent environ mental experts.
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LEA K DETECTION FOR MONITORING WELLS Portable Hydrocarbon Vapour Detection
conventional pollutants,three times a week for a fifth conventional pollu tant, weekly for two metals, and monthly for 113 contaminants. Addi
The "Vapor-Safe" is a portable hydrocarbon vapour system capable of detecting leaks In underground monitoring wells.
tional substances to be tested for
monthly, weekly and three times a week are stipulated for each type of
The "Vapor-Safe" is completely portable, utilizing simple plug-In operation with readings display In
mill.
The ministry and the industry will also conduct semi-annual open scans using a mass spectrometer to identify any chemicals present which are not being specifically
laboratory services and to train per
numerical values or colour bands.
Readings take only a few minutes.
PEA
GRAVEk SACK
The "Vapor-Safe" also provides Indication of background vapours (previous contamination) and new vapours (recent contamination).
tested for under the regulation.
Monthly biological monitoring is also required. Toxicity tests will be
For more Information on the
run on mill effluents using Rainbow Trout and another sensitive orga
"Vapor-Safe" write or call. . .
nism,Dap/inio magna (water fleas). The new regulation will require monthly testing of process wastewater discharges for dioxins and furans at nine Kraft mills and one
de-inking mill that use chlorine or chlorine derivatives to bleach pulp. There also will be bi-monthly moni toring for dioxins and furans at nine mills using bleached pulp,as well as Environmental Science & Engineering, October 1989
Dqvis Controis LIMITED
4251 Dundas St. West, Toronto, Ontario M8X 1Y3
(416) 233-2311
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