Owens Corning Composite Materials Canada GP Inc. - Environmental Compliance Approval (air)

The director is proposing to impose new terms and conditions in Environmental Compliance Approval No. 2625-BNET4H issued to Owens Corning Composite Materials Canada GP Inc. as general partner for and on behalf of Owens Corning Composite Materials Canada LP (Owens Corning) using the powers under subsection 20.13 (b) of the Environmental Protection Act. The proposed new terms and conditions relate to a Site-Specific Standard which Owens Corning has requested under section 32 of Ontario Regulation 419/05 for chromium compounds (hexavalent).

The proposed conditions, if approved, would put in place requirements for source testing, annual updates to the ministry on glass melting operations, annual updates to the public on action plan implementation, and a requirement to prepare an engineering report to evaluate the technical feasibility of installing add-on controls to reduce chromium compounds (hexavalent) emissions from the facility.

Background

Owens Corning has requested a site-specific air standard under s. 32 of Ontario Regulation 419/05 for chromium compounds (hexavalent) for their Guelph Glass facility (the facility). Please refer to ERO # 026-0478 for the proposal notice for the site-specific standard application.

The director is proposing to impose requirements in the facility’s Environmental Compliance Approval that are related to the site-specific air standard and chromium compounds (hexavalent) emissions from the facility.

Regulating air contaminants in Ontario

In Ontario, we regulate air contaminants to protect communities that reside close to industrial sites. Our regulatory approach has resulted in improvements in air emissions.

Ontario's Local Air Quality Regulation (O. Reg. 419/05: Air Pollution - Local Air Quality) works within the province's air management framework to address contaminants released to air in communities by various sources, including industrial and commercial facilities.