From 1980 to 1994, as manager of Environment Canada's Pacific coast marine programs, Dr. Harding led environmental assessments and advised on regulatory requirements under the Pulp Mill Effluent Regulations for 13 coastal pulp mills.  In 1984 his group discovered the presence of dioxin and dioxin-like contaminants in the British Columbia marine environment and in 1985 linked these to pulp mill effluents.  By sampling marine sediments, water and fish and invertebrate tissues, his group defined the extent of contamination around each mill and Harding wrote control orders to the companies for detailed assessments.  His group led a national assessment of the effectiveness of control of pulp mill effluents under the Fisheries Act and participated in an evaluation of the toxicity of dioxins under the Environmental Contaminants Act. Harding led the development of successful proposals to Privy Council Office for new regulations and environmental effects monitoring (EEM) requirements.

SciWrite is currently (2006-2009) leading an investigation of ecological changes in a Chilean wetland following start-up of a pulp mill in 2004. A paper has been accepted for publication in a scientific journal (see below). Click here for a summary.