In Canada, the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) is the means by which Canadians can access information on pollutants released into the environment from emitting companies. It helps Indigenous Nations, governments, scientists and civil society identify priorities for action to protect public health and the environment.
Public access to the NPRI is through its web page.
In March 2024, the Québec Ministry of the Environment published a report stating that data obtained from provincial sampling stations established a link in Québec City between “the cycle of ships docked at Glencore's facilities and the increases in nickel found [in the air of the Basse-Ville neighborhood]”. The purpose of our submission is to provide the NPRI Working Group with a report about the different facilities subjected to the NPRI in the Basse-Ville neighbourhood of Québec City and identify data that may be related to mining operations (transshipment, ore transport) at the Port of Québec. To do this, we check whether the NPRI presents data on atmospheric nickel emissions in this sector. In the presence or absence of such data, we make recommendations aimed at better documenting atmospheric emissions of mineral substances into the air of Québec City.
This submission is only a minor contribution to the established work of many local organizations living in Québec City, who understand well the importance of publishing information on air emissions through the NPRI. These organizations and initiatives include the Vigilance Port de Québec committee, Revolvair, the Conseil de quartier du Vieux-Limoilou, the Conseil de Quartier de Maizerets and the Conseil de quartier de Lairet. Considering that these organizations are increasingly paying attention to PM2.5 emissions in their neighbourhoods, we will include this data in our report so as to present recommendations that may also be of use to them.
As organizations independent from government and industry, our mission is to better know the effects of the industrial and fugitive air emissions in this neighbourhood and its effects on the population and the environment. Similar to our March 2023 publication about the Horne Smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, the following submission identifies and proposes responses to the gaps and shortcomings in mining-related information in the application of the NPRI and its accessibility and utility to communities and researchers.