Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy

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Benzo(a)pyrene and Hexachlorobenzene

Stakeholder Forum - May 30, 2002
Workgroup Meeting Minutes
Windsor, Ontario

Workgroup Leaders:
U.S. Workgroup Co-Chair: Steve Rosenthal
Canadian Workgroup Co-Chair: Tom Tseng

1.0 Pesticides

Judy Shaw noted that there is strong evidence HCB release numbers for the pesticides sector are down and was disappointed to see this was not reflected in the information presented at the stakeholder forum meeting (pesticide & herbicide application sector shown to contribute over 50% of Ontario’s HCB releases). Discussion centered around the difficulties in improving the estimates due to pest product confidentiality issues, and the fact that not all companies involved in manufacturing the pest products of concern are represented at the GLBTS. It was pointed out that the current estimates have been derived using maximum USEPA HCB content limits, assuming 100% volatilization. In an overall effort to the improve estimates the following actions were identified:

Action Item 1 – Since some of the pest products of concern may be discontinued, Judy Shaw is to provide information as to their anticipated future regulatory status, and use.
Action Item 2 – Judy Shaw is to work with Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency in an attempt to improve the accuracy of the HCB release estimate for the Ontario side of the basin, including looking at the possibility of using average HCB content levels rather than maximum permitted USEPA limits in calculating releases. In addition, Tom Beidler is to contact Dale Phenicie with the Council of Great Lakes Industries to see if a similar effort can be carried out on the US side of the basin.
Action Item 3 – Tom Tseng is to provide Judy Shaw with details on how HCB release contribution was determined for the Ontario side of the basin.

2.0 Petroleum Refineries

Steve Rosenthal mentioned the 1998 inventory of toxic air emissions (Regional Air Pollutant Inventory Development System) which estimated BaP releases from petroleum refineries in the Great Lakes basin at 19,500 lbs, or 23 % of total releases, and the American Petroleum Institute presentation at the last workgroup meeting in November 2001 which highlighted industry concern that sector BaP releases were grossly overestimated. Following the November meeting, a review has concluded that BaP releases from the fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCUs) are no longer considered

significant because of combustion improvements across the entire sector. This was further confirmed by the low (air/water) releases recently reported to Canada’s National Pollutants Release Inventory, although sector solid wastes containing BaP are being directed to landfarms.

In effect, petroleum refining is no longer a major priority for the BTS BaP workgroup.

3.0 Coke Ovens

David Ailor explained that the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the American Coke and Coal Chemicals Institute (ACCCI) formed a Coke Oven Environmental Task Force (COETF) to review and comment on the USEPA’s revised draft (July 2001) AP-42 Section 12.2 (Coke Production). The COETF had a number of concerns, particularly with the proposed coke plant emission factors, and documented these in a November 30, 2001 letter to the USEPA (handout provided). COETF is awaiting a reply. A resolution of this issue is required before agreement can be reached on BaP releases from the coke making sector.

David stated that the USEPA’s proposed rule for wastewater discharges from iron and steel facilities has been finalized, and briefly discussed the proposed MACT standards for coke ovens and the subsequent residual risk assessment activities.

David pointed out that in the order of ten coke making plants were located in the Great Lakes basin, and that strife was still present within the sector as highlighted by the recent closure of the Acme Steel Company facility, along with several other mills.

4.0 Scrap Tires

In March 2002, a CBC investigative program called Disclosure aired a documentary entitled “Tired Out” detailing the potential environmental problems resulting from the handling and disposal of scrap tires in Canada, namely massive toxic air releases from scrap tire pile fires. Since the Hagersville fire in 1990, involving some 14 million tires, six tire fires have occurred on the Ontario side of the basin. The documentary also identified Ontario as being one of only two provinces not having a mandated tire recycling program. Albeit, Ontario did implement a scrap tire management program in 1991 that significantly minimized stockpiling in the province and promoted development of a number of recycling initiatives, including a large tire recycling plant in Toronto; and that Ontario announced a far-reaching Waste Diversion Act in 2001 which most likely will establish a comprehensive scrap tire diversion program. From the perspective of the Ontario side of the Great Lakes basin, Darryl Hogg suggested that a possible BaP reduction initiative in this sector should focus on the existing scrap tire stockpiles where no consumer pay system supports recycling, rather than on “new” scrap tires coming into the environment where future diversion programs are likely.

The suggested initiative would use mobile equipment for on-site shredding and bailing of scrap tires, followed by on-site storage of bales, if diversion outlets are not found. The aim of this initiative is first, and foremost, to minimize the potential environmental impact of a site fire (and BaP releases). Overheads were presented on the pros and cons of shredding and bailing, and issues needing to be investigated.

Action Item 4 - Further work is to be carried out to determine the viability of a mobile tire shredding and bailing initiative as a BaP workgroup reduction initiative.

5.0 Residential Wood Combustion

Tex McLeod with the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association of Canada reported that the wood stove change-out program supported by USEPA Region 5 and eight states was successful, and generated a significant number of stove change-outs. Particularly effective were the demonstrations of old wood stoves and the cleaner burning USEPA –certified units. In comparison with the U.S. program which involved a large mass media campaign, Tex noted that the Ontario change-out initiative in the Georgian Bay watershed was focused on smaller community based workshops, in Collingwood, Parry Sound, Huntsville, Timmins, etc., that were well attended with two workshops having over 200 people. Tex also mentioned that the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) is focused on developing standards for residential wood combustion with a national regulation for wood burning stoves anticipated in 2005; that the association is committed to better burning habits and is working on a new seminar series for Natural Resources Canada which will have an item on wood burning habits such as trash burning; that an initial request from tribes is under consideration for a three program approach to wood burning (efficiency, health and safety); and that a fact sheet for Canada Mortgage and Housing on using wood for heating purposes has been prepared.

6.0 Newly Identified Sources of BaP

Steve Rosenthal mentioned a case study carried out on Beluga whale carcasses (over a 17 year period 1983-1999) from the St. Lawrence River Estuary which found a high incident of cancer within the adult population. The study also reported that the beluga were contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produce by some local aluminum smelters. Steve stated that the USEPA has a Maximum Achievable Control Technology Standard (MACT) for primary aluminum plants requiring a 50% reduction in releases and queried what was in place in Canada. It was pointed out that the Canadian side of the basin did not have any primary aluminum plants, but that a number of such facilities were located in Quebec in the St. Lawrence River basin, and that the Quebec government has been dealing with these plants on environmental matters.

Discussion from the dioxin/furan workgroup breakout session touched on releases from reservoir sources such as soil erosion, utility poles, uncontrolled fires, agricultural fires, and incinerator ash where there was a need to improve emission factors. These needs of better release numbers are also recognized as common to the BAP/HCB workgroup.

Action Item 5 – Details on the status of PAH control at the primary aluminum plants in Quebec will be investigated and available information forwarded to Steve Rosenthal.

7.0 BaP/HCB Air and Water Quality Issues

A handout was provided showing the deposition flows or fluxes of BaP and HCB to the Great Lakes over the period 1992 -1998, as determined by the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN). General discussion took place around the difficulty in interpreting the deposition trends, particularly for a substance like HCB where outside basin sources are very significant (world wide HCB release in the order of 90 tons per year). Major BaP and HCB release reductions are known to have occurred within in the Great Lakes basin over the years, but this reduction is not necessarily reflected in the IADN trend data, i.e. - the 1992 to 1998 BaP (particulate phase) data show no real change.

The above underlines one of the major issues facing the BTS of complying and interpreting the large amount of environmental monitoring data (air, water, sediments, gull eggs, fish, etc.).

Action Item 6 – BaP workgroup leaders will investigate what efforts are needed to coordinate the compiling/interpretation of BaP and HCB environmental trend data in the basin.

Participant Roster

Last Name	First Name	Organization	Telephone	E-mail Address
Ailor	David	American Coke and Coal Chemicals	(202) 452-1140	Dailor@accci.org
Bailey	Bob	Bailey Associates	(989) 835-3410	Bob.Bailey@tm.net
Beidler	Tom	Syngenta Crop Protection	(336) 632-2976	tom_beidler@syngenta.com
Dann	Tom	Environment Canada, Air Toxics Section	(613) 991-9459	tom.dann@ec.gc.ca
Hogg	Darryl	Contractor, Environment Canada	(416) 483-6563	hoggrd@rogers.com
McLeod	Tex	Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association of Canada	(416) 921-5501	tex@idirect.com
Michajluk	Shawn	Environment Canada, Ontario Region	(416) 739-5888	shawn.michajluk@ec.gc.ca
Risotto	Steve	Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance, Inc.	(202) 775-0232	Srisotto@hsia.org
Rosenthal	Steve	USEPA Region 5	(312) 886-6052	Rosenthal.Steven@epamail.epa.gov
Shaw	Judy	Syngenta Crop Protection	(519) 837-5328	judy.shaw@syngenta.com
Tseng	Tom	Environment Canada, Ontario Region	(416) 739-5853	tom.tseng@ec.gc.ca
Wong	Anita	Environment Canada, Ontario Region	(416) 739-5885	anita.wong@ec.gc.ca