Document rx7jQrmrjzOzY2gby3d1waYNE

New rules Vc.Cr.0, f'r~c/ crack down 3 on mill wastes Pulp and paper targeted - The Canadian Press deemed a violation of the Canadi- -------------------------------------- OUa . an Environmental Protection Act. w nsw a The maximum penalty under the The federal government took act is $1 million per day, although aim at chemicals harmful to hu- fines are usually far lower, mans in new regulations an- The regulations also include a nounced Wednesday to slash toxic ban on the use of contaminated de- pollutants and other wastes pulp foamers and woodchips, which mills flush into waterways. lead to the creation o f dioxins and Environment Minister Jean Cha- (brans, rest said the measures will require The government also plans to $3 billion in changes in the way the amend regulations under the Fish- industry processes pulp and paper eries Act to set tougher limits on but won't eliminate pollution. other wastes discharged by all "This does offer a very marked mills in Canada, improvement in the quality of the Current regulations to protect environment around pulp and pa- fish around mills apply to the 13 .per mills," he said at a news con- mills built since 1971. iterence. ' But guidelines cover the 90 per Even tougher regulations could cent of mills built before 1971, . follow in two.years after more sci- when regulations were introduced, entitle research, he said. The government expects wastes Pulp-mill pollution has become a to be cut by more than 60 per cent hot issue as far away as Europe -- or about 600,000 tonnes a year, and the industry fears it could face The regulations take effect in devastating boycotts. mid-February after 9 60-day peri- "I think the industry realizes, od for public review/' ' there is no choice," said Charest, A federal study this year said Main targets of the regulations the industry could remain compel- are dioxins and Jbrans -- complex itive in world markets^ despite compounds harmful to human tough pollution controls, health -- and other chemicals The regulations were developed known as organochlorines. in consultation with the industry, The government says it is the provincial governments and envi- first in the world to bring in regula- ronmental groups, tlons to prevent the formation' of Charest also announced he will dioxins and fUrans in pulp mills, strengthen the Environment De- Starting in 1994, any measurable partment's enforcement program level of the two compounds will be by boosting staff by 136 people. Studies see new risk in pulp mill effluent BRIN LUS Environment Minister Jean Journal Staff Writer Charest, who introduced the new Edm onton standards Wednesday, said the amount of chlorine-contaminated New studies on Canadian pulp chemicals leaving Canadian pulp mills show unidentified chemicals mills would be reduced as compa may be damaging Osh, a top feder nies eliminate dioxins and fUrans,. al scientist said Wednesday. considered the two most dangerous Although the federal government members of organo-chlorine group introduced long-awaited standards of compounds. calling for the virtual elimination of But Charest said the government dangerous dioxins and fUrans by decided not to require specific iim- 1994, it may not solve all the prob its on all chlorinated organics be lems associated with pulp mill cause scientific research is still try effluent, said John Carey, director ing to determine if it is the biggest of river research for Environment culprit in pulp mill effluent. Canada's water research institute The new regulations will have in Burlington, Ont. no effect on Alberta's three operat Carey has been part o f studies ing bleached krall pulp mills, looking at three pulp mills in Onta which say they are already meet rio and Quebec which found physi ing the federal standards. cal changes in fish living down "We're more stringent now than stream from the mills. any federal standards," said Jim Smaller gonad size and de Dau of Alberta Environment. creased amounts of sex hormones But environmentalists say the -- which indicate potential effects federal government hasn't gone far on the ability to reproduce -- were enough with the new regulations. found in fish near the mills. "If Canada is going to remain in But these changes don't appear the marketplace they've got to get to be linked to the amount of chlo rid of all chlorine compounds in rinated organic pollution produced their pulp bleaching. Europeans by the mills, said Carey. Even a are simply not going to buy pro mill which would meet new federal duct bleached with chlorine," said standards caused changes in the Louis Schmittroth, spokesman for fish downstream, he said. Friends o f the Athabasca. * ( 1 A cm