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NARSTO Workshop on Innovative Methods for Emission Inventory Development and Evaluation University of Texas, Austin October 14-17, 2003 |
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Emission Inventory Needs And Enhancements Planned For Canada
Marc Deslauriers
Environment Canada, Pollution Data Branch, Hull, Quebec, Canada
Emission inventories are used in Canada to monitor the progress of current emission reduction programs and initiatives, and evaluate the need for future adjustments. They are also used to support the scientific assessment of the air pollution problems, inform the public, and support the reporting requirements of domestic and international protocols and agreements. In order to meet these requirements, Environment Canada is now embarking on a process to compile and update its comprehensive emission inventories and projections for key air pollutants such as Particulate Matter (TPM, PM10, PM2.5), Sulphur Oxides (SOx), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Carbon Monoxide, (CO), and Ammonia (NH3) on an annual basis. Mandatory reporting of these air pollutants for industrial and commercial facilities is now required on an annual basis. This information is reported to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI), which provides public access to the reported information. Additional reporting requirements for the NPRI program are currently in place and are being developed, such as the speciation VOC and PM emissions. As we increase the reporting requirements for industrial and commercial facilities and assess the accuracy of the emission estimates for various sources, the need for reproducible, accurate, and comparable emission measurement and calculation methods becomes more prominent. Canadian emission inventories are constantly being improved but there are still a number of areas where more research, measurements, and improved methodologies are required. Improvements to the Canadian emission inventories are required for mobile sources, fugitive dust, NH3 and PM emissions from agricultural activities, speciation of VOC and PM emissions, quantification of filterable and condensable particulate matter, and the temporal/spatial allocation of the emissions.
With improved emission inventories, Environment Canada in collaboration with the provincial/territorial governments and various stakeholders, will be in a better position to develop the emission reduction plans and programs required to achieve by 2010, the Canada-Wide Standards for ambient levels of PM and Ozone. These plans and programs will also allow Canada to meet its emission reduction commitments identified under the Canada-US Air Quality Agreement.
This presentation will describe the current and future emission inventory activities and improvements in Canada. The papers and posters presented during this workshop will address some of the emission inventory needs of Canada and allow for the identification and prioritization of additional research for the coming years.