Canoe

OTTAWA (CP) -- Incompatible data systems in Canada, Mexico and the United States make it impossible to track transborder shipments of hazardous wastes, let alone determine if wastes are disposed of properly, a NAFTA report indicates.

Neither the Canadian nor American systems are "capable of tracking a single shipment from origin to destination when the origin is in one country and the destination is in another," says the report obtained by The Canadian Press.

It blames incompatible rules, poor-quality information, differences in the definition of hazardous waste and confidentiality requirements in each country.

Even within Canada, provincial definitions of hazardous waste are incompatible with those of the federal government, says the report by the North American Free Trade Agreement's commission for environmental co-operation.

Statistics Canada forms supplied to waste shippers at the border usually aren't filled out properly, it adds.

"According to Environment Canada, most forms submitted are missing significant percentages of the information on the forms and especially those data fields that would be relevant to enforcement of import/export restrictions for hazardous waste."

Nor is there any system to verify that shippers dispose of waste in the way they said they would.

"Canada does not require that its hazardous waste management facilities submit annual reports and thus has no formal reporting of waste handling after shipment."

Canadian officials interviewed for the study reported no pressing need for changes in the system.

"According to many Canadian officials, there is no clear evidence (apart from anecdotes) of significant problems with transborder hazardous shipments."

But Environment Minister David Anderson said in an interview he favours a North American-wide system for tracking hazardous waste.

"We want to make sure that we get the integration of the various systems so they work well together," said Anderson.

The issue was being discussed at the commission's meeting Thursday and Friday in Guadalajara, Mexico. Anderson did not attend the meeting because he tripped and cracked his pelvis.

An Environment Canada report made public this week indicated large quantities of American waste are being imported to Ontario and dumped into landfills, which would not be allowed in the U.S.

Anderson said he would like to see "a North American approach to managing all hazardous waste so we would have essentially a seamless system."

That would eliminate the risk that wastes would be shipped to the jurisdiction with the lowest standards, he said.

Anderson expressed surprise that Ontario Environment Minister Elizabeth Witmer blamed him for the U.S. waste imports. Witmer said Ottawa is responsible for the import and export of hazardous wastes.

The provinces have jurisdiction over waste disposal sites and approve shipments in advance, responded Anderson.

"I was surprised by her comment, which may simply be based on the fact she was unaware of the lengthy discussions we've had with Ontario and Quebec to work out something that is going to result in a clear public policy statement," he said.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), June 29, 2001