Clean Harbors Canada, Inc. - Environmental Compliance Approval (air)

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (Ministry) received two letters submitted as part of the consultation work conducted in relation to the Clean Harbors Canada Inc. (Clean Harbors) proposal to inject treated leachate into the quench water system of the hazardous waste incinerator located at 4090 Telfer Road in Corunna, Ontario.

The contents of the letters requested additional information on the age, design, operation, and monitoring requirements for the hazardous waste incinerator, as well as provided suggested improvements for the review and subsequent conditions in the Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) to be issued to Clean Harbors. These letters and the subsequent responses from Clean Harbors were considered during the review of the application.

The Ministry is committed to protecting the natural environment in the province of Ontario. Under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), any undertaking such as the treated leachate proposal may not proceed until appropriate approvals are granted by the Ministry. Through the approvals, the Ministry requires that the facility operate in accordance with relevant legislation and policies.

Approval of the use of treated leachate in the quench zone of the incinerator will follow a phased approach. Clean Harbors is required to develop a Commissioning Plan in consultation with, and acceptable to, the Ministry prior to the start of the Commissioning Period. The purpose of the Commissioning Period is to demonstrate that the system can operate as proposed and includes compliance source testing to be completed at the end of the period. Based on information collected during the Commissioning Period, the company shall develop a Quench Verification Plan to ensure that the continued operation of the leachate treatment system will meet all relevant legislations and policies and will not result in an adverse effect occurring.

In addition to the conditions related to the operation of the leachate treatment system, the following additional conditions have been included in the approval for the operation of the hazardous waste incinerator:

1. The Compliance Source Testing condition has been amended to include mercury testing to be completed once every four months.
2. The Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEM) condition has been amended to include hydrogen chloride to the list of contaminants to be monitored. The Company is also required to develop a Continuous Monitoring Plan for the operation and maintenance of the CEM system.
3. A new condition has been added that requires that the hazardous waste incinerator and emission control equipment be inspected on an annual basis.
4. The Air Quality Monitoring condition has been amended as follows:
   1. sampling for TSP, VOCs and metals to be conducted year-round;
   2. sampling locations to be reviewed; and
   3. a revised/updated monitoring plan to be submitted to MECP for approval.
5. A new condition has been added requiring that Clean Harbors submit an Application for Review of the Approval three years from the date of the approvals.