Jump to main content.

GLBTS Links

Back to Index
exit EPA (About PDF)

Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy

Stakeholder Forum - 1998

IMPLEMENTING THE BINATIONAL TOXICS STRATEGY
Implementation

Stakeholders Minutes
March 23, 1998 - Chicago, Illinois

Hexachlorobenzene and Benzo(a)Pyrene Meeting Minutes

Workgroup Leaders and Facilitator
Steve Rosenthal, United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Co-Chair
Thomas Tseng, Environment Canada, Co-Chair
John Menkedick, Battelle, Facilitator

Step 1- Discussion of status of chemical; i.e. inventory, emission sources, and
Step 2- Discussion of current and upcoming regulatory status

The meeting was opened with each participant briefly stating their interest in the workgroup and what they expected tocontribute or to receive from the workgroup. S. Rosenthal distributed background Information on B(a)P and HCB, a summary of USEPA's 112(c)(6) inventory which contains national emission estimates of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (from which B(a)P emissions were determined) and HCB emissions, and an inventory of water discharges of B(a)P and HCB to the Great Lakes. The 112(c)(6) air inventory indicates that the HCB emissions are essentially all from pesticide manufacture and application, and chlorinated solvent manufacture. Steve also provided the status of current and planned air regulations for B(a)P and HCB sources.

In the resulting discussion, there was concern expressed as to whether the HCB air emissions estimates, which were largely based on TRI data, reflected all of the appropriate source categories, particularly combustion. The TRI data does show a significant downward trend in HCB air emissions. The issue/question of Long-range transport was raised for HCB. R. Bailey stated that HCB emissions from China were a big source of atmospheric loadings and that water discharges of HCB into receiving waters outside of the Great Lakes could not be dismissed because the HCB would quickly volatilize into the air.

T. Tseng distributed the status of Canadian activities for HCB and B(a)P as well as a 1997 Environment Canada update of Pollution Prevention in the Ontario Great Lakes Basin. The status documents contain a list of control and reduction (including voluntary) activities as well as release estimates for these compounds.

It was preliminarily determined that the following sectors appear significant for HCB and B(a)P:

HCB B(a)P

*incin./comb.(HCB&B(a)P)-this appears more appropriately covered by other workgroups*

A. Bandemehr presented an overview of relevant information from the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN). The IADN and other scientific information indicate that HCB is globally dispersed but that deposition from B(a)P is more localized. This means that while the national B(a)P inventory is dominated from categories such as wildfires and prescribed burning and various types of combustion, the B(a)P that is being deposited to the Great Lakes is probably from more localized sources such as iron/steel mills (with coke ovens), mobile source emissions and possibly from B(a)P that is being blown off of soil containing large concentrations of B(a)P.

Step 3 - Discussion of voluntary reduction options

No specific voluntary reduction options were presented. 

Step 4 - Action items identified for workgroup:
  1. Provide emission information on source categories not accurately quantified in the emission inventory summaries that were handed out. - All workgroup members.
  2. Provide information on the contribution of HCB discharges to water (outside the Great Lakes) that is subsequently volatilized into the air (and therefore has the potential of being transported and deposited into the Great Lakes). - Information has been provided by R. Bailey.
  3. Coordinate with other groups, esp. Mercury and Dioxin/Furan, that are dealing with combustion and incineration sources-regarding B(a)P and HCB. - EPA/EC
  4. Determine the best scientific information on the relative contributions of air deposition vs. direct water discharges of HCB and B(a)P to the Great Lakes. - All workgroup members.
  5. Develop a draft workgroup report on sources/emissions of HCB and B(a)P. One use of this report is to interest companies with significant emissions (in this report) in the Binational Toxics Strategy. - EPA/EC to prepare initial draft and workgroup members to review.
  6. Coordinate with CGLI to recruit members from the chlorinated solvent manufacturing, pesticide, iron&steel, petroleum refining and aluminum manufacturing industries as well as appropriate representatives for vehicle emissions and wood burning stoves. - Hugh Eisler to work with Warner Braun to obtain representatives from chemical process manufacturing.
  7. Hold conference calls on an as needed basis but at least quarterly.

Discussion of the need to identify and recruit additional members:
Additional representation in this workgroup is needed primarily from the pesticide industry, the chlorinated solvent manufacturing industry, the iron and steel industry (which appears essential for B(a)P) and possibly the aluminum manufacturing industry.

Issues identified for referral to Integration Group:
  1. What is the effect of Long-Range Transport and how should the contribution of sources outside the Great Lakes be addressed.
  2. Will combustion sources be sufficiently addressed by other workgroups (especially mercury and dioxin) so that HCB/B(a)P workgroup can focus on other sources.
  3. What help can be provided by the integration group in recruiting key players for HCB/B(A)P workgroup.

Additional participants:

 

Local Navigation

 

Jump to main content.