Air quality and the discharge of air contaminants are regulated at the Federal, Provincial and Metro Vancouver levels.

The Environment Canada National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) Program is Canada’s legislated, publicly-accessible inventory of pollutant releases (to air, water and land), disposals and transfers for recycling. Under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, owners or operators of facilities that meet published reporting requirements are required to report to the NPRI

Provincial Regulations

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target Act (GGRTA) sets aggressive legislated targets for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG). Under the Act, B.C.’s GHG emissions are to reduce by at least 33 per cent below 2007 levels by 2020. Interim reduction targets of six per cent by 2012 and 18 per cent by 2016 will guide and measure progress. A further emission-reduction target of 80 per cent below 2007 levels is required for 2050.

The BC Carbon Neutral Government Regulation 392, 2008 requires all public sector organizations to measure reduce and offset GHG emissions from buildings, vehicle fleets and paper use.

Metro Vancouver Regulations

The regulation of emissions from industrial, commercial and institutional stationary sources aims to minimize emissions, thereby avoiding adverse health impacts and environmental degradation.

Metro Vancouver Air Quality Management Bylaw 1082, 2008 (PDF), includes general prohibition to discharge air contaminants that cause pollution. It also uses a permitting system to manage the nature and quantity of emissions from large emitters of air contaminants.

Metro Vancouver Boilers and Process Heaters Emission Regulation Bylaw 1087, 2008 (PDF), uses emission regulations as an alternative to issuing site-specific permits to manage the air emissions from certain types of individual industrial, commercial or institutional sources.

The Non-Road Diesel Engine Emission Regulation Bylaw No. 1161, 2012 (PDF), aims to reduce diesel emissions from industrial and construction machines, as emissions of diesel soot (particulate matter) are responsible for 67% of the lifetime cancer risk from air pollution in Metro Vancouver.

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What operations and activities are affected by air quality?

Learn which UBC operations and activities are affected by air quality regulation, and what you need to do to maintain compliance.

- UBC’s Campus Energy Centre and Power House boilers, as well as the Biofuel Research & Demonstration Facility, have to comply with the National Pollutant Report Inventory requirements and report Criteria Air Contaminants (CAC) emitted from these facilities to Environment Canada.
- UBC needs to comply with The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target Act (GGRTA) greenhouse gases reduction targets and with the Carbon Neutral Government Regulation (2008), and report and offset its GHG emissions through the MOE annually. These requirements are managed through the UBC Climate Action Plan by the Sustainability office.
- The Metro Vancouver Air Quality Management bylaw 1082 (PDF) general pollution prevention clause apply to all UBC’s activities and operations. The bylaw permit requirements apply to the Bio-fuel Research and Demonstration Facility (BRDF); the Power House was grandfathered for these requirements.
- Metro Vancouver Boilers and Process Heaters Emission Regulation Bylaw 1087 (PDF), applies to boilers and process heaters fueled by natural gas or propane in capacity of 3-50 MW.
- Non-Road Diesel Engine Emission Regulation Bylaw No. 1161, 2012 (PDF), applies to owners and operators of non-road diesel fueled engine with a capacity of 25hp and above and restricts the exhaust opacity and idling of all non-road diesel engines at that capacity. It does not apply to emergency generators or other stationary machines operated only in the case of emergency, or to machines used in agriculture. Find out more from the Non-Road Diesel Engine Regulatory Program

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What are the air quality management procedures?

For air quality procedures see: Air Quality Management Procedures (PDF)

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What is the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) and UBC’s most current NPRI report?

The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) is Canada’s legislated, publicly-accessible inventory of pollutants released, disposed of and recycled by industrial, institutional and commercial facilities across the country.

The NPRI is used for identifying and monitoring sources of pollution and developing indicators for air, land, and water quality. Under this legislation, the university provides Environment and Climate Change Canada with an annual report of air emissions from UBC Utilities. Also refer to Environment Canada’s Criteria Air Contaminants and related pollutants.

View the most recent NPRI annual report summary for criteria air contaminants released by the UBC Bioenergy Research & Demonstration Facility (BRDF) and Campus Energy Centre (CEC).

Contaminant Name	[BRDF] – 2019 Releases from Wood-based Biomass & Natural Gas Combustion (Tonnes)	[CEC] – 2019 Releases from Natural Gas & Diesel Combustion (Tonnes)	Annual Release Threshold (Tonnes)
Carbon Monoxide	6.8	14	20
Nitrogen Oxides (expressed as NO₂)	31.7	5.7	20
Sulphur Dioxide	2.1	1.2	20
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)	3.0	0.92	10
Total Particulate Matter (PM)	0.45	0.16	20
PM10	0.45	0.10	0.5
PM2.5	0.45	0.09	0.3