Response to Recommendations
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
14. Governments develop a detailed program, including benchmarks and schedules, for the systematic destruction of PCBs in storage, in use and in the Great Lakes environment.
Under the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy, Environment Canada and the United States Environmental Protection Agency have committed to a cooperative approach to the reduction of PCBs. Specifically the Canadian challenge under the Binational Toxics Strategy is to:
" Seek by 2000, a 90 percent reduction of high level PCBs (> 1 percent PCB ) that were once, or are currently, in service and accelerate destruction of stored high level PCB wastes which have the potential to enter the Great Lakes Basin "
This is consistent with Environment Canada's commitment under the Canada - Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.
A binational PCB workgroup has been established under the Binational Toxics Strategy to develop and implement a systematic approach for actions and activities towards meeting the goals of the PCB challenges. The workgroup includes participation from a wide range of stakeholders. Information concerning the activities of the workgroup can be found on the website: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/bns/pcb/index.html
Environment Canada maintains a database to track both PCBs in use (federal and non federal ) and PCBs in storage (federal). The MOE maintains an inventory of non federal PCBs in storage as waste.
As of 1998 over 50 percent of the high level PCBs in service have been decommissioned and over 50 percent of the PCB waste in storage has been destroyed.
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