Asbestos Mines and Mills Release Regulations (SOR/90-341).

The present Regulations enact subsection 48(1) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. In particular, the Regulations lay down provisions relating to the release into the air of asbestos from asbestos mines and mills. First issued under the Clean Air Act in 1977, the Regulations were intended as a precautionary measure, to limit the concentration of asbestos fibres in gases emitted into the ambient air at asbestos mines or mills from crushing, drying, or milling operations. The Regulations required asbestos mines and mills to install the necessary environmental control technology in order to meet the prescribed limits. Asbestos fibres are controlled to varying degrees by dust collection systems using mechanical collectors and/or baghouses. The Regulations contain provisions whereby the Minister of the Environment may request to the owner or operator of a facility to submit: information and samples respecting the operation of the facility (release measurement reports); information on malfunctions and breakdowns; and information on air pollution control equipment. The text consists of 10 sections and 3 Schedules as follows: Mine or mill release measurement report (I); Malfunction or breakdown report (II); Air pollution control equipment report (III).