Non‑domestic Substances List Changes; Species Habitat

Summary#

This Canada Gazette entry (published March 7, 2020) contains Environment‑related notices. It adds and removes specific chemicals from the federal Non‑domestic Substances List and describes critical habitat protections for four at‑risk species in two federal National Wildlife Areas in British Columbia.

What it does#

• Adds many chemical substances (listed by CAS numbers and by chemical names) to Part I and Part II of the Non‑domestic Substances List under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. This is done by Order 2020-66-01-02 Amending the Non-domestic Substances List.
  • That order states it "comes into force on the day on which it is published in the Canada Gazette."
• Removes two CAS‑numbered substances from Part I of the Non‑domestic Substances List by Order 2020-87-04-02 Amending the Non-domestic Substances List.
  • That removal order will come into force when a separate domestic‑list order (Order 2020-87-04-01 Amending the Domestic Substances List) comes into force.
• Describes the locations of "critical habitat" for four species at risk, and gives notice that federal protections will apply to that habitat after a 90‑day delay:
  • Great Basin Spadefoot — within the Vaseux‑Bighorn National Wildlife Area.
  • Pallid Bat — within the Vaseux‑Bighorn National Wildlife Area.
  • Western Tiger Salamander, Southern Mountain population — within the Vaseux‑Bighorn National Wildlife Area.
  • Northern Leopard Frog, Rocky Mountain population — within the Brisco unit of the Columbia National Wildlife Area.
  • For each species, Environment and Climate Change Canada invites interested parties to request clarification by email; some location details may be withheld to protect the animals.

Who's affected#

• Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and researchers who handle the substances added to or removed from the Non‑domestic Substances List. Changes to the list affect which federal tracking and assessment processes are relevant to particular chemicals.
• People and organizations that use, manage, or plan activities in and around the Vaseux‑Bighorn National Wildlife Area and the Brisco unit of the Columbia National Wildlife Area — for example, local land managers, conservation groups, researchers, and residents near those sites.
• Anyone with a need for specific technical or location information about the critical habitat (contacts are provided), noting that some details may be withheld to avoid harming the species.

Why it matters#

• Updating the Non‑domestic Substances List changes which chemicals the federal government tracks and reviews under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. That can influence future assessments, reporting expectations, or regulatory actions affecting companies and researchers dealing with those substances.
• Describing and applying federal protections to critical habitat for four species at risk makes it clearer which areas are recognized as important for those species’ survival. That recognition can affect permitted activities, conservation planning, and land management in those National Wildlife Areas.
• The notices include a way to request clarification from Environment and Climate Change Canada if you need more detail about the habitat locations or the chemical‑list changes.