National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) Reporting

The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) is Canada’s legislated, publicly accessible inventory of pollutant releases to air, water and land. The NPRI contains information reported annually by industrial facilities (meeting certain criteria) and published by Environment Canada under the authority of CEPA 1999. The NPRI also includes information on air emission estimates compiled for facilities not required to report and various non-industrial sources (e.g., motor vehicles).

NPRI information is primarily used to identify and monitor sources of pollution in Canada, develop indicators for the quality of air, water and land, and evaluate releases and transfers of substances of concern. This consolidated information can then be used to identify and take action on environmental priorities, or to implement policy initiatives and risk management measures.

NCASI’s Handbook of Substance-Specific Information for NPRI Reporting contains extensive substance-specific information (SSI) sheets for compounds that have some likelihood of exceeding NPRI reporting thresholds at pulp and paper mills and wood products facilities in Canada. The quantitative information provided includes summary statistics (min, max, averages) of emissions from major process units and concentrations in mill effluents, raw and process materials, fuels, and solid residues.