Cement industry to be involved in Canadian government’s implementation of Multi-Sector Air Pollutants Regulations

The Canadian government has announced that it will regulate industrial air pollutant emissions through the requirements proposed by the Multi-Sector Air Pollutants Regulations for the first time. The first phase of the regulations will cover the cement industry, industrial boilers and heaters and stationary engines.

This will help to reduce smog levels and enhance air quality, while lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 3.4 megatonnes in 2013 – 2035.

The announcement follows the Canadian government’s implementation of the new Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and particulate. This legislation also aims to cut smog-forming emissions and put Canada’s air pollutant emission standards for transport in line with the stricter Tier 3 standards proposed by the US.

According to economists at Environment Canada, emissions regulations for the cement sector will yield net health benefits worth $1.4 billion in 2013 – 2035, some $1.1 billion from boilers and heaters and approximately $6.5 billion from gas-fired engines. Between 2017 and 2035, SO₂ emissions from regulated kilns in the cement industry are forecast to be reduced by 96 000 t and NO_X emissions by 63 000 t.

“The Harper Government is committed to cleaner air for Canadians – for today, and for future generations. With today’s proposed regulations we are taking real, tangible actions by establishing, for the first time, mandatory national air pollutant emissions standards for major industrial facilities across the country. Thanks to our actions, the reduction of nitrogen oxides in the air we breathe will be equivalent to removing four million cars from the road,” said Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, and Minister for the Arctic Council.

“The cement industry supports these new regulations,” added Michael McSweeney, President and CEO of the Cement Association of Canada. “We were the first industrial sector to conclude discussions with the government and other stakeholders on the performance standards that would apply to our cement plants. We believe that the development of the regulations benefited from the multi-stakeholder process.”

Adapted from press release by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/05062014/canadian_government_announces_introduction_of_multi_sector_air_pollutants_regulations_310/