Minister pledges tighter regulation of PCBs in Quebec

MONTREAL – Quebec’s Minister of Sustainable Development, Yves -François Blanchet, pledged tighter regulation of PCBs in Quebec on Tuesday.

READ MORE: What are PCBs?

Blanchet has proposed a new inspection program and closer management of materials containing PCBs and their gradual elimination.

His announcement comes several months after the ministry took over the clean up operations of a PCB spill in Pointe-Claire, Que.

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READ MORE: Quebec to take over PCB clean up in Pointe-Claire

“The worrying case of Pointe-Claire has been a catalyst for change for Quebec,” Blanchet said in a statement.

“Although it was cleaned up with minimal environmental impact, it is clear that there are still things to be done.”

READ MORE: Montreal environmentalist voices concerns over PCB sites

The statement also noted that more stringent measures and increased frequency of inspection would have reduced the likelihood of the Pointe-Claire PCB spill.

As part of this new initiative, more than 60 inspections of PCB storage sites will be conducted in Quebec by April 2014, with a goal of inspecting all locations within the next five years.

Companies that plan to store PCBs must hold a special license and submit an annual report to the Ministry of Hazardous Waste Management.