(MERAF) for the Base Metals Smelting Sector - CCME

Other effects of these pollutants include reduced visibility in the case of PM, and
crop damage and greater vulnerability to disease in some tree species in the
case of ozone 12 .
1.2. Canada-wide Standards for Particulate Matter and Groundlevel
Ozone
In June 2000, CCME Ministers, with the exception of Québec, endorsed Canadawide
Standards (CWS) for Particulate Matter (PM) and Ground-level Ozone 13 .
These standards set ambient limits for PM less than 2.5 microns (PM 2.5 ) and
ozone to be obtained by the year 2010. The standards are as follows:
PM 2.5 : 30 micrograms/m 3 , 24 hour averaging time, by year 2010
(Achievement to be based on the 98 th percentile ambient measurement
annually, averaged over 3 consecutive years.)
Ozone: 65 parts per billion, 8 hour averaging time, by year 2010
(Achievement to be based on the 4 th highest measurement annually,
averaged over 3 consecutive years.)
PM and ground-level ozone are two of the six substances selected as priorities
for development of CWS. Other substances being addressed through the CWS
process include benzene, mercury, dioxins and furans, and petroleum
hydrocarbons in soil.
1.2.1. Multi-pollutant Emission Reduction Strategies (MERS)
At the time of endorsing the CWS for PM and Ozone, CCME Ministers also
agreed to a list of Joint Initial Actions aimed at reducing pollutant emissions
contributing to PM and ozone 14 . The Joint Initial Actions include the development
of comprehensive Multi-pollutant Emission Reduction Strategies (MERS) for key
industrial sectors. The MERS approach is an effort to pursue integrated
solutions to problems of smog, acid rain, toxic releases and climate change.
The sectors identified for the development of a MERS include the electric power
generation, base metals smelting, iron and steel, pulp and paper, lumber and
allied wood products, concrete ready-mix, and asphalt hot-mix sectors. The
selection of these sectors was based on several factors including the following:
• These sectors are significant sources of direct emissions of PM and of
the precursor pollutants that form PM and ozone, as based on best
available information;
12 Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. Backgrounder - Particulate Matter and
Ozone Canada-wide Standards. June 2000. URL:
http://www.ccme.ca/pdfs/backgrounders_060600/PM_Ozone_Backgrounder_E.pdf
13 Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). Canada-wide Standards for
Particulate Matter (PM) and Ozone. June 5-6, 2000. Québec City. URL:
http://www.ccme.ca/pdfs/backgrounders_060600/PMOzone_Standard_E.pdf
4