Environment, Health & Safety

Environment

Water and Soil

Soil and groundwater protection is a priority for CPPI and its members. For over 30 years, refineries subject to federal regulations have been submitting their data on liquid effluent to Environment Canada. Refineries subject to provincial regulations also have to report their discharges to the appropriate authorities.

Oil and grease, sulphide, nitrogen ammonia, phenols and TSS have federal standards for authorized levels. Discharges of four of these five substances are 3 to 11 percent of the permitted level considered acceptable by federal officials.

Over three-quarters of the spills that occurred in 2005 were caused by 16 major accidents involving over 10,000 litres of fuel. All these spills occurred on land and were confined, recovered and cleaned up. There were no marine spills.

The petroleum refining industry has been a leader in responsibly managing its use of water and supports the broad policy undertakings currently underway by Canadian governments.
       CPPI Water Management Framework
       Water - A Precious Resource