Amendments to the Petrochemical - Industry Standard under the Local Air Quality Regulation (O. Reg. 419/05)

Nothing is more important than protecting the health and well-being of Ontarians.

Ontario recognizes the impact the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the regulated community and is taking necessary steps to protect the health of all Ontarians while ensuring continuity of important operations.

While environmental protection remains a priority, we recognize that in some cases temporary relief from certain regulatory requirements may be needed for some operations to support physical distancing and staff shortages.

Amendments to the Petrochemical Industry Standard will reduce the number of required inspections and surveys from three to two times in 2020.

These steps are temporary during this unprecedented emergency period. These actions are to support physical distancing and ensure operations can continue and goods and services can be delivered to the people of Ontario.

Reducing required surveys

Currently, registered petrochemical facilities are required to conduct three Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) surveys per year. The purpose of these surveys is to identify components, such as valves, that are leaking so that they can be quantified and repaired. We are amending the industry standard to require only two surveys in 2020 to help support physical distancing.

Reducing required inspections

There are also existing requirements in the industry standard for three inspections of storage tanks and primary oil/water separators per year. We are amending the industry standard to require only two inspections of storage tanks and primary oil/water separators in 2020 to help support physical distancing.

Ongoing requirements to manage risk to communities

The regulation continues to require ongoing Property Line Monitoring and all other requirements such as using vapour tight cargo loading tanks and record keeping remain in place to help manage risk to the surrounding communities. Property Line Monitoring will continue to be required during this period and could identify issues and allow the ministry to take actions as needed.

In addition to the monitoring that occurs through the Clean Air Sarnia and Area (CASA) network, the ministry operates two temporary air monitoring stations in the Sarnia area. The instruments at these stations provide real-time (i.e., hourly) measurements of key contaminants such as benzene and sulphur dioxide. They are located at strategic locations and they also measure wind speed and wind direction.

The ministry checks the data regularly and the stations are set to automatically notify ministry staff if elevated concentrations are measured. This enables the ministry to quickly follow up with local facilities whose emissions could be impacting the monitors.