Issue
There are approval mechanisms in place for drinking water and wastewater plants, and for Alberta transportation usage as well as across Canada. However, there is currently no existing mechanism for product approval for industry in Alberta for water or soil chemical usages that supports best available technologies.
Current acceptance only requires that a material safety data sheet and toxicology report be provided; however, there is no minimum/maximum threshold guidance, and there is broad acceptance of products that still pose significant risk. We appreciate recent government action taken to address some concerns. There is still, however, more important work to be done, especially for products that focus on soil chemistry.
Background
There are approval mechanisms in place for drinking water and wastewater plants, and for Alberta transportation usage as well as across Canada. However, there is currently no existing mechanism for product approval for industry in Alberta for water or soil chemical usages that supports best available technologies. Current acceptance only requires that a material safety data sheet (MSDS) and toxicology report be provided; however, there is no minimum/maximum threshold guidance, and there is broad acceptance of products that still pose significant risk.
Our Recommendations
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With consultation from stakeholders, develop consistent requirements for regulations within the environmental sector;
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Ensure that the regulations apply to any new products, processes and technologies, as well as all existing products, processes and technologies;
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Ensure that toxicological studies have been performed on all products being used and are available on request (new and existing) in addition to the provision of MSDS sheets;
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Work to ensure that regulations municipally, provincially and federally are streamlined, consistently applied and have a coordinated regulatory approval process; and
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Implement a product-review standard between the various regulators. If the product or technology meets the criteria, then it passes for all the regulators.
Topic
Year
2022
Contact
If you have any questions, contact Dana Severson at dseverson@abchamber.ca or (780) 425-4180 ext. 2.