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Using Resources Wisely Residual Hazardous Materials (RHMs) |
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| To comply with provincial regulations on the management of residual hazardous materials (RHMs), Hydro-Québec has set up numerous RHM recovery areas in its facilities. RHM management has become part of regular work procedures. RHMs are collected on the various sites where they are produced, then sent to one of the company's four RHM recovery centres. There they are processed according to 4R-D program criteria. The RHMs include the insulating oil we use to operate some of our equipment, such as power transformers. Once used, this oil is recovered, then decontaminated or regenerated in our regeneration centres. Insulating oil that cannot be regenerated to meet the requisite quality standards is used to produce energy. It should be noted that, since 1998, our distribution and transmission systems have been free of high-oil-volume equipment insulated with pure PCBs (askarel). We began removing PCBs in 1985. However, some low-volume equipment remains in service, and some slightly contaminated equipment may remain in the transmission and distribution systems, and at certain generating stations. An inventory is taken of all such equipment, which is gradually removed or decontaminated at the end of its useful life.
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