Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Registration

1 – Welcoming remarks
Meeting objectives, overview of agenda, logistics, and a design-thinking brainstorm that will inform the design-thinking exercise later on.
Jody Rosenberger / Aline St-Laurent Guérin / Alicia Berthiaume (ECCC)

2 – NPRI Public Opinion Survey
A brief summary of the results of the recent Public Opinion research survey conducted by NPRI and EKOS Research Associates

3 – New NPRI Query site, Data products and Info products
An overview of recent changes made to the NPRI query site, data products (raw data) and information products (interpreted data e.g. fact sheets) to improve the NPRI user experience.

4 – Journalists Perspective
Two journalists from Journal de Québec and Journal de Montréal will discuss their experiences in reporting on pollution using government pollution data.
Charles Lecavalier, Journal de Québec / Annabelle Blais, Journal de Montréal

Health Break (coffee/tea provided)

5 – Exploring Co-Location of Adverse Birth Outcomes and Environmental Variables
A synopsis of four studies discussing: (1) the identification of industrial chemical emissions co-located with adverse birth outcomes across Canada; (2) the development of an ambient health hazard index for Alberta; (3) the formulation of hypotheses on the co-location of mixtures of industrial air pollution and adverse birth outcomes; and (4) the spatiotemporal modeling of hot spots.

6 – Exposure to Industrial Air Pollutants Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis Biomarker
An investigation of the association of anti-citrullinated antibodies (ACPA) with the ambient air pollutants fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in Québec.

7 – Application of NPRI data in source apportionment, decadal trend analysis and atmospheric deposition studies of monitored air pollutants
A focus on source apportionment of atmospheric mercury, acidifying pollutant and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Canadian oil sands region.

8 – Design-thinking exercise
A paper exercise to extract data user needs using a design-thinking approach will be explained and then executed by participants.

Lunch (will be provided)

9 – An overview of Canada’s National Pollutant Release Inventory program as a pollution control policy tool
This study investigates and critically discusses the stated policy goals of Canada’s NPRI to other Pollutant Release and Transfers Registers (PRTRs).

10 – Integrating mass balance multi-media models to link NPRI data with chemical fate and exposure in the environment and the potential for adverse effects
A case study using the Risk Assessment IDentification And Ranking (RAIDAR) model to evaluate 252 NPRI organic chemicals for potential harmful effects to humans and the environment through hazard (“PBT”), exposure and risk assessment.

11 – NPRI in accounting and modelling of water pollution impacts on the economy in the Great Lakes
A presentation on the creation of an integrated water basin accounting framework, linking economic activities to water as a source and a sink using the Great Lakes basin in Ontario as a case study.

12 – What influences the pattern of pollutant releases?
An investigation of firms’ siting and household sorting decisions in Ontario

13 – How TRI Data are Used by Academics and Other Researchers
An overview of US EPA programs and projects where US Toxics Release Inventory data are used to better understand pollution.

14 – Panel discussion
Several presenters (Charlene Nielsen, Stuart J. Edwards, Roy Brouwer, Burc Kayahan, Charles Lecavalier) will serve as panelists to discuss various perspectives on using the NPRI.
Moderated by: Alicia Berthiaume (ECCC)

Meeting wrap-up and closing remarks
Jody Rosenberger (ECCC)

Registration

Session 1:  Introduction and Goals of the Meeting – Orlando Cabrera-Rivera, CEC Head of Unit, Environmental Quality
Welcoming Remarks – Richard Morgan, CEC Executive Director

Session 2:  North American PRTR Initiative: Update on Activities

Orlando Cabrera-Rivera
and Danielle Vallée, Environmental Quality Unit, CEC
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Orlando Cabrera-Rivera

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Session 3:  National PRTR Program Updates

Break

Session 4:  Exploring Existing and Potential Uses of North American PRTR Data 

Lunch (provided)

Session 5:  Addressing the Needs of North American PRTR Data Users: Discussion  
As a follow-up to the preceding session, participants will be asked to share their experiences using PRTR data, and to provide suggestions for addressing identified issues.

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Session 6:  Suggestions for the Next Taking Stock Report: Discussion 
Participants will be asked to provide input on possible analyses of interest for the next Taking Stock report. 

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Break

Session 7:  Exploring Ideas for a North American Pollution Prevention Challenge (Panel) – Gary Vegh, ERA Environmental Management Solutions; Paola Hernandez, Grupo México; Sandra Gaona, U.S. EPA

Questions to be explored during this discussion:​

• Are industry sustainability efforts reflected in PRTR reporting?
• What are the barriers to implementing pollution prevention/sustainable production practices?
• What are some feasible approaches for a North American voluntary industry pollution prevention initiative?  

Session 8:  Next Steps and Closing Remarks – Orlando Cabrera-Rivera, CEC