PROGRESS REPORT 2000 

OCTACHLOROSTYRENE

Canadian workgroup co-chair: Darryl Hogg
U.S. workgroup co-chair: Frank Anscombe

Workgroup Activities and the 4-Step Process

United States

A Draft Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy Octachlorostyrene (OCS) Report: Stage 3 was distributed to the Integration Group at the September 22, 2000, meeting and was sent by email to OCS workgroup members. This Stage 3 report addresses stakeholder comments received in response to the Draft Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy Octachlorostyrene (OCS) Report: A Review of Potential Sources.

Canada

In June 2000, Environment Canada updated and made available to interested stakeholders its GLBTS Stage 1 and 2 report Octachlorostyrene Sources, Regulations and Programs for the Province of Ontario 1988, 1998 and 2000. The report concludes that there are no documented OCS releases being reported on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes basin, but identifies potential sources where testing is required in order to confirm that releases do not exist. Work is now underway with several facilities that have indicated a willingness to become involved in a voluntary Environment Canada air testing initiative to help fill data gaps on releases of GLBTS substances, including OCS.

Concerns, Challenges, and Next Steps

EC and EPA will co-sponsor a binational meeting on best management practices for preventing environmental releases of chlorinated hydrocarbons during electrolytic production of metallic magnesium. The production of magnesium has historically been known to emit OCS, HCB, and dioxin, which have the potential to enter the Great Lakes through atmospheric transport. On October 3, 2000, EPA Region 8 announced a consent order with Magnesium Corporation of America (Rowley, Utah) to evaluate its site for the presence of dioxin and hexachlorobenzene, which could lead to cleanup of appropriate areas and, by May 2002, to fundamental process changes to reduce formation of these compounds. A press release and the consent order can both be found at www.epa.gov/region8.

Other than obtaining additional environmental monitoring data, which can be used to assess the need for further action, future OCS reduction efforts will be linked to reduction efforts focused on HCB and/or dioxin.