Recently in a Quebec court, Mr. Isaac Gelber pleaded guilty to three charges related to the illegal use/storage of PCBs and he was fined $25,500 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
The investigation, led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, showed that Mr. Isaac Gelber had committed several violations to the Act, namely:
- Using transformers containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) thereby violating the PCB Regulations;
- Failing to comply with the environmental protection compliance order, issued by an officer in January 2013, to dispose of three (3) transformers containing more than 500 mg/kg of PCBs
- Knowingly making false or misleading statements
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) used to be very popular in a wide range of industrial and electrical applications. They were excellent fire resistant coolants and insulating fluids in transformers, capacitors, cables, light ballasts, bridge bearings, and magnets, among many other things. Unfortunately, they turned out to be persistent and toxic to humans and the environment. PCBs can:
- Travel long distances and deposit far away from their sources of release
- Accumulate in the fatty tissues of living organisms
- Cause complications like cancer and birth defects
- Potentially disrupt immune and reproductive systems and even diminish intelligence.
Amended PCB Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), came into force on September 5, 2008. The new regulations set phase out dates for in –use PCB equipment, as well as rigorous labelling and reporting requirements. They also require prompt and proper disposal of PCB equipment, once it is no longer in active use.
The Department of Environment and Climate Change enforcement officers conduct inspections and investigations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. They ensure that regulated organizations and individuals are in compliance with environmental legislation.
