On November 22, 1994, the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) announced that it was prepared to grant conditional approval for the receipt of hazardous wastes from other Canadian jurisdictions by the Alberta Special Waste Management System for treatment at the Alberta Special Waste Treatment Centre near Swan Hills. The Application by Chem-Security (Alberta) Ltd. was considered in province-wide hearings held on May 16th, 1994 and June 27 - July 19, 1994 at Swan Hills, Calgary and Edmonton.

The Board determined that the project would be in the public interest. The Board's approval contained a number of conditions including placing a priority on the treatment of Alberta hazardous wastes through adoption of an Alberta First Policy. The Board issued its approval of the Application upon receiving the necessary authorization by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

The NRCB Decision Report reviews the Application in detail having regard for social, economic and environmental effects. The Board concluded that:the economic effects on the Alberta economy and Alberta taxpayers would be positive and significant;

• from an environmental perspective, the Alberta Special Waste Treatment Centre is a first class hazardous waste treatment facility that could effectively manage all types of hazardous wastes regardless of source and the acceptance of wastes under the conditions of the approval from other Canadian jurisdictions would not result in any significant environmental impact in Alberta;
• the Application would have both positive and negative social effects that could occur without any significant impact throughout Alberta; and
• the transportation of hazardous wastes from other Canadian jurisdictions for treatment at the Alberta Special Waste Treatment Centre could occur without any significant positive or negative impact on the public.

Copies of the decision report for this project are available by contacting the NRCB's Edmonton office at (780) 422-1977.