2010 NPRI Reviewed Facility Data Release

Technical Notes:

The following are the specific assumptions and considerations taken into account by Environment Canada in the analysis of NPRI data as shown in the Overview of Reviewed 2010 NPRI Data:

  • The March 27, 2012 version of the NPRI database was used for this analysis. Environment Canada conducted a number of data checks for compliance and completeness. Environment Canada will continue to analyze the data. The data provided in this report are for information purposes only. Any interpretation of the data must consider the possible presence of estimation, calculation or input errors made by facilities.

  • Some of the totals reflected in the analysis, charts and tables may not add due to rounding.

  • 8096 facilities reported to the NPRI for 2010. This number consists of facilities that reported on one or more substances for 2010. It does not include facilities that reported only that they closed or did not meet the NPRI requirements. (Facilities that reported on one or more substances for the previous year are required to notify Environment Canada if they no longer meet the reporting requirements.) These types of reports are not included in the facility count for 2010; however, information on these facilities is available through the NPRI online data search and downloadable databases. 
     
  • Total reduced sulphur (TRS) was added to the NPRI substance list for the 2007 reporting year due to concerns about its impact on air quality. For the purposes of reporting to the NPRI, TRS consists of six individual substances. Three of these substances (hydrogen sulphide [H2S], carbon disulphide [CS2] and carbonyl sulfide [COS]) are also listed individually in the NPRI substance list. Therefore, there is a potential for “double counting” if data on total reduced sulphur and the individual substances is combined. To avoid double counting, the three individual substances were excluded for the on-site release analysis, whereas the total reduced sulphur was excluded for the disposals and transfers for recycling analysis. For more information on the potential for double counting and other data analysis issues, please see Considerations When Using NPRI Data.

  • Information on the geographic location of facilities includes adjustments for facilities that reported mailing addresses and/or latitude and longitude coordinates that differ from their actual physical location.

  • The following seven air pollutants are included in the analysis for Criteria Air Contaminants (CACs): total particulate matter (TPM), particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 microns (PM10), particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (expressed as NO2), sulphur dioxide and volatile organic compounds. These CACs are listed under Part 4 of the NPRI substance list and were added for the 2002 reporting year. Ammonia released to air can also be considered a CAC, but it is included under the category of "Releases to Air, Water and Land (Excluding CACs)", given that it is also released to water in large quantities.

  • When calculating the total air releases for particulate matter, road dust emissions were included. To avoid double or triple counting of particulate matter, the highest values were used among the TPM, PM10 or PM2.5 reported by facilities, given that facilities may exceed the NPRI threshold for the smaller fractions (0.5 tonnes for PM10 and 0.3 tonnes for PM2.5) without meeting the 20 tonne threshold for TPM.

  • Facilities reporting a release of less than one tonne of a Part 1A substance are not required to report the specific media of the release (i.e. to air, water or land). In these cases, they have the option to report only a value for total releases. For a given Part 1A substance, therefore, total releases reported to the NPRI may be larger than the sum of reported releases to air, water and land.

  • Facilities may report negative values for substances contained in waste rock or tailings. Reporting of a negative value for waste rock or tailings indicates that the quantity of a substance removed from the management area exceeded the quantity of the substance deposited in that area for a given year. Total amounts for disposals may vary depending on whether the negative values are considered.