Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) and Specialty Technical Consultants (STC) Publish Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Audit Protocol for Alberta, Canada

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 12, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) and Specialty Technical Consultants (STC) announce the availability of the newly updated International Audit Protocol Consortium (IAPC) EHS audit protocol for Alberta, Canada. Leading companies around the world use IAPC EHS audit protocols to understand the scope of their EHS regulatory obligations and rapidly collect, share, archive, and export audit findings in a cost effective manner. IAPC EHS audit protocols are now prepared by STC in partnership with STP and continue to focus on those national (plus, in some cases, regional or provincial) EHS requirements that have site-specific application for manufacturing operations. As a leading EHS management consulting firm with a global network of experienced EHS teaming partners, STC has in-depth knowledge and technical expertise of local/regional EHS requirements.

STP and STC maintain leading-edge EHS audit protocols for more than 50 jurisdictions. The protocol documents are written in English and are available in MS Word, Adobe Acrobat and Excel formats, as well as through STP's web-based portal or can be integrated into an existing company platform. Using the protocols' custom templates and advanced functionality features, auditors can easily track audit findings and manage data over time to improve compliance, risk management and safety performance. In addition, STP's formatting is compatible with leading risk management and sustainability platform providers.

Highlights of selected legislation covered in the newly developed protocol include:

Federal:

• "Ozone-Depleting Substances and Halocarbons Alternatives Regulations [SOR/2016-137; last amended by SOR/2017-216]" repealed and replaced the "Ozone-Depleting Substances Regulations, 1998" as of December 29, 2016. The new version of the regulations is intended to ensure that Canada's international obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer are met and introduce a new permitting and reporting system for the import, manufacture, and export of HFCs. The Regulations continue to require reductions in production and import of various ODS substances according to a phase-out schedule. They require reduction of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) emissions and other ODS, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The Regulations also contain prohibitions, a permit system, reporting and record keeping requirements.
• "Notice with Respect to the Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) for 2018" informs facilities of the government's intention to collect data on greenhouse gas emissions for the purpose of conducting research, creating a national inventory, formulating objectives and codes of practice, issuing guidelines or assessing or reporting on the state of the environment. It covers calendar year 2018.
• "Order Declaring that the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations Do Not Apply in Yukon, 2014, SOR/2014" declares that a wastewater system located in Yukon is not subject to the "Wastewater System Effluent Regulations, 2015."
• "Prohibition of Asbestos and Products Containing Asbestos Regulations [SOR/2018-196], 2018" set forth requirements to prevent new asbestos and products containing asbestos from entering the Canadian marketplace. In general, the import, use, sale and manufacture of processed asbestos fibres, products containing processed asbestos fibers or any consumer product containing asbestos is prohibited. Specific activities are excluded from this prohibition and are subject to asbestos management plans and annual reporting of asbestos-related activities.
• "Regulations Adding Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and Its Salts to the Virtual Elimination List (SOR/2009-15), 2009" adds perfluorooctane sulfonate and its salts to column 1 of the Virtual Elimination List under the "Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)."
• "New Substances Notification Regulations (Organisms) (SOR/2005-248), last amended by SOR/2018-11; 2005 as amended through 2018" set forth requirements for provision of information to the government agencies by manufacturers and importers of microorganisms.
• "2-Butoxyethanol Regulations, SOR/2006-347" set forth requirements for import and manufacture of products containing 2-butoxyethanol. They apply to the product types listed in Schedule 1 that contain 2-butoxyethanol.

Alberta:

• "Carbon Competitiveness Incentive Regulation [Alta. Reg. 255/2017]" replaced the "Specified Gas Emitters Regulation 2007." This Regulation, like the previous one, applies to facilities with GHG emissions exceeding 100 000 tonnes or more in 2003 or a subsequent year. It provides requirements for output based allocation, benchmarks and benchmark allocation, net emissions, reporting and emission offset projects. Qualifications for third party verifiers are established. For the purpose of ensuring that this Regulation is reviewed for ongoing relevancy and necessity, with the option that it may be repassed in its present or an amended form following a review, this Regulation must be reviewed by 1 January 2021 and on or before 1 January 2023 and of every 5th year after 2023.
• "Remediation Regulation [Alta. Reg. 154/2009 last amended by Alta. Reg 97/2018]" has been amended. Part 5 of the "Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act" requires any person responsible for release of a substance into the natural environment that has caused, is causing, or could cause, an adverse effect to take all reasonable measures to remediate the area and return it to a condition deemed satisfactory by the Ministry of Environment and Parks. Section 117 of the Act authorizes the Director to issue a remediation certificate when all remedial activities have been carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of any applicable approval or environmental protection order, the Act, or any other instructions provided by the Director. Remediation certificates provide an incentive to clean up spills by providing closure of regulatory liability. In 2009, Alberta Environment published the "Remediation Certificate Regulations;" these were amended in 2018 and renamed "Remediation Regulation." The requirements of the 2018 amendments are effective 1 January 2019 and apply to all remediation programs implemented after that date, unless otherwise specified by the Director. The 2018 amendments include, among other things, additional reporting requirements, significant new remedial obligations, and the option for a sitebased remediation certificate. The Ministry's Tier 1 and Tier 2 "Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines, Environmental Site Assessment Standard, Exposure Control Guide, and Risk Management Plan Guide" were also amended and incorporated within.
• "Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act) [R.S.A. 2017, c.O-2.1]" replaced the previous Act from 2000. This Act stipulates the duties and obligations of employers to ensure the health and safety of employees. Additionally it requires that employees adhere to safe practices in order to protect themselves, and others present, while working. This Act covers topics including, but not limited to, reporting injuries, investigating accidents, medical examinations, hazard assessments, inspections of work sites, controlled and designated substances, joint work site health and safety committees, sanitary conditions and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• "Occupational Health and Safety Code (OHS Code ) [Alta. Code 87/2009, last amended by Alta. Reg. 56/2018" was significantly amended by "Alta Reg 56/2018." The title of the Code has changed from "Occupational Health and Safety Code 2009 (OHS Code 2009)" to "Occupational Health and Safety Code (OHS Code)." Among other things the Code now adopts WHMIS 2015 in Alberta.

For more information on all International EHS audit protocols offered by STP and STC click here.

About Specialty Technical Publishers
Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) produces technical resource guides covering environmental, health & safety, transportation, accounting, business practices, standards and law, offering comprehensive guidance on key compliance and regulatory issues. STP is a division of Glacier Media Inc., a Canadian information communications company that provides primary and essential information in print, electronic and online media. Glacier's Business and Professional Information Group publishes directories, technical manuals, research and development materials, medical education, electronic databases, investment information and specialty websites.

About Specialty Technical Consultants
Specialty Technical Consultants, Inc. (STC) is a specialized management consulting firm working to enhance environmental health and safety (EHS) performance. Through its consulting services, STC partners with clients to strengthen management systems' design and implementation, and identifies needs and implements solutions to meet business objectives. Services provided include: EHS compliance support; risk assessment; EHS auditing; corporate responsibility and sustainability; EHS management systems development and implementation; EHS regulatory information tools; and EHS training.

STC is certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the Supplier Clearinghouse for the California Public Utilities Commission, and as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.

SOURCE Specialty Technical Publishers