Chlor-Alkali Mercury Release Regulations (SOR/90-130)

Regulations are current to 2012-05-14

Chlor-Alkali Mercury Release Regulations

SOR/90-130

CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, 1999

Registration 1990-02-15

Regulations Respecting the Release Into the Ambient Air of Mercury from Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants

P.C. 1990-242 1990-02-15

Whereas, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, pursuant to subsection 34(3) of the Canadian Environmental Protection ActFootnote *, the annexed regulation does not regulate an aspect of a substance that is regulated by or under any other Act of Parliament;

Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of National Health and Welfare, pursuant to subsection 34(1)Footnote ** of the Canadian Environmental Protection ActFootnote *, is pleased hereby to revoke the Chlor-Alkali Mercury National Emission Standards Regulations,

C.R.C., c. 406, and to make the annexed Regulations respecting the release into the ambient air of mercury from mercury cell chlor-alkali plants, in substitution therefor.

SHORT TITLE

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Chlor-Alkali Mercury Release Regulations.

INTERPRETATION

2. In these Regulations,

“alkali metal amalgam”

“alkali metal amalgam” means a combination of sodium metal or potassium metal and mercury; (amalgame de métal alcalin)

“ambient air”

“ambient air” means the atmosphere surrounding the earth but does not include the atmosphere within a structure or within any underground space; (air ambiant)

“brine”

“brine” means a solution of sodium chloride or potassium chloride in water; (saumure)

“cell room”

“cell room” means, in respect of

  • (a) a structure housing one or more mercury cells, the structure, and

  • (b) mercury cells not housed in a structure, the mercury cells; (salle d’électrolyse)

“denuder”

“denuder” means a horizontal or vertical container that is part of a mercury cell and in which water and alkali metal amalgam are converted to alkali metal hydroxide, metallic mercury and hydrogen gas in a short-circuited electrolytic reaction; (décomposeur)

“end box”

“end box” means a container located on an end of a mercury cell that functions as a collection point for mercury, alkali metal amalgam and brine; (collecteur)

“mercury cell”

“mercury cell” means any device utilizing mercury as a cathode; (électrolyseur au mercure)

“normal cubic metre”

“normal cubic metre” or “norm. m3” means, in respect of a gas, the quantity of gas that occupies a volume of one cubic metre at 25°C and at a pressure of 760 mm of mercury; (mètre cube normal ou m3 norm.)

“plant”

“plant” means any facility, located at an industrial site, designed or operated for the production of chlorine and alkali metal hydroxides by means of any industrial process involving the electrolysis of brine using one or more mercury cells, and includes any ancillary equipment that is used for the further concentration of the alkali metal hydroxide produced and any properties used for the operation of the facility; (fabrique)

“rated capacity”

“rated capacity” means the amount of chlorine that a plant is designed to produce each day; (production nominale)

“retort”

“retort” means any equipment used to recover mercury from mercury contaminated waste; (récupérateur)

“tank”

“tank” means a container for any liquid or sludge required in or resulting from the operation of a plant. (réservoir)