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Whitby, Ontario – The Regional Municipality of Durham would like to advise residents that ambient air quality test results have indicated an exceedance for total suspended particulate (TSP) at the Rundle Road ambient air monitoring station. The June 12, TSP measurement at the Rundle Road Station was 126 µg/m3, exceeding the 24-hour Ontario Ambient Air Monitoring Criteria (AAQC) of 120 µg/m3 by five per cent. This offsite monitoring station is part of the Durham York Energy Centre’s (DYEC) Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Program.

Stantec Consulting Ltd. (the Regions’ consultant) has advised the Region that wind direction on June 12 indicates the source of the TSP was not the DYEC. The consultant identified the exceedance, at the Rundle Road Station, during a review of the previous month's non-continuous monitoring data and notified the Region on July 21. A copy of the correspondence from the consultant regarding the Ambient Air Monitoring Program results was submitted to the MOECC and is available online at www.durhamyorkwaste.ca.

The Rundle Road Station site is one of three, offsite ambient air monitoring stations, setup to monitor air quality in the vicinity of the Durham York Energy Centre (DYEC). There are many possible sources of TSP, including construction activity in the area, transportation corridors and industry. The Region has almost three years of ambient air monitoring data and June 12, 2017 was the only day where the measured TSP went over the 120 µg/m3 criteria. These ambient air monitoring station sites were selected in consultation with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) and the ambient air monitoring first began in May 2013.

The MOECC has imposed strict limits on the air emissions for the DYEC, ensuring that this facility will operate in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Current emissions monitoring data is posted online at the project website www.durhamyorkwaste.ca and on a large electronic board outside of the visitor’s centre. Ambient Air reports, as well as a comprehensive overview of the facility and answers to frequently asked questions are available online.

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For more information, please contact Corporate Communications.