ESAA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of the Members of the Association will be held at the Hyatt Regency Calgary, on April 20th, 2022, at the hour of 3:00 pm for the following purposes:
- to approve the minutes of Members dated April 7th, 2021;
- to receive the report of the President;
- to receive the report of ESAA Management;
- to receive the report of the Treasurer;
- to vote on a special resolution to amend the Associations Bylaws (as attached)
- to appoint Auditors;
- to appoint/elect Directors; and
- the transaction of such further and other matters as may properly be brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Full members have the right to appoint a proxy, who needs not to be a member, to exercise the same voting rights that the member appointing such proxy would be entitled to exercise if present at the meeting.
The location of the meeting is Hyatt Regency Calgary
Dated at the City of Edmonton, in the Province of Alberta, this _24th___ day of _February_, 2022.
Full details can be found at: https://esaa.org/2022-esaa-agm/
ESAA Board of Directors – Call for Nominations
The ESAA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the initial slate of candidates for the upcoming Board of Directors election to be held at the ESAA AGM on April 20th, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Calgary.
There will be two (2) positions open for the ESAA Board of Directors, each for a three (3) year term.
If you would like to be included on the list of candidates for the ESAA Board of Directors and are a representative of a full ESAA Member, please submit 6 letters of support* by no later than March 18th, 2022, to the ESAA Office via e-mail: chowaniec@esaa.org.
Proposed List of Candidates
- Tyler Barkhouse, Dillon Consulting (I)
- Adam Dunn, Earthmaster Environmental Strategies
- Scott Purves, Matrix Solutions
- Cory Sommer, Millennium EMS Solutions
(I) Incumbent
(*) Letters of support must be from ESAA Members and only one letter per member.
The ESAA photo contest has returned.
Do you work for an ESAA Member company? If so, they you are eligible to enter the 2022 ESAA Photo Contest.
The theme for 2022 is ‘Canadian Wildlife.’ No matter how big or small all of Canada’s wildlife is simply amazing. Just remember to give wildlife space, don’t stress animals and don’t submit photos of any nesting wildlife. Full details below. Submission deadline – August 1st, 2022.
Prizes:
- 1st Place – $250 Posterjack Gift Certificate
- 2nd Place – $100 Posterjack Gift Certificate
- The top 12 photos will be included in the first annual ESAA calendar.
Full contest details, rules, submission upload link and more can be found at: https://esaa.org/
New Direction for Coal Activity in the Eastern Slopes of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains
On March 4, the Government of Alberta released a report from a coal policy committee it formed in early 2021 to gather feedback on future policy as it relates to coal development in Alberta.
In response to the report, the Government of Alberta, through Ministerial Order 002/2022, has directed the AER to continue its suspension of all approvals, and to not accept any new applications, for coal exploration activities on Category 2 lands. This suspension is consistent with previous direction that was provided to the AER last year and will remain in place until written notice is given by the minister of Energy or the minister of Environment and Parks.
The order further directs us to suspend approvals, and to not accept new applications, for coal exploration and development on Category 3 and 4 lands, except those that are related to an advanced coal project or an active approval for a coal mine (defined below). This direction will also remain in place until written notice is given by the minister of Energy or the minister of Environment and Parks.
The order defines “advanced coal projects” and “active approvals for coal mines” as follows:
- Advanced coal project – Proposed coal projects where applicants have submitted a project summary to the AER to determine whether an environmental impact assessment is required for the proposed project.
- Active approval for a coal mine – Existing coal projects that have been granted a licence to operate under the Coal Conservation Act.
This means that advanced coal projects will continue to be reviewed by the AER to ensure any proposed exploration or development is safe, environmentally responsible, and meets all requirements, and that active coal mines can continue to operate on Category 3 and 4 lands within all AER requirements.
The order does not restrict abandonment and reclamation, security, or safety activities on Category 2, 3, and 4 lands. Operators are permitted to proceed with abandonment and reclamation activities and to enter these sites to
- monitor and ensure the site is left in a state that is safe to the environment, wildlife and public, and
- perform routine checks and maintenance at the site to ensure all property and equipment is secure from wildlife access, vandalism, and weather events.
Under the 1976 Coal Development Policy for Alberta, which is currently in effect, provincial lands are classified into four numbered categories with respect to coal exploration and development. The coal land classification map shows these categories. Under the policy, no coal exploration or development activities are permitted on Category 1 lands.
We will continue to implement future policy direction as it is received from the Government of Alberta. If you have any questions, contact our Customer Contact Centre by phone at 403-297-8311 (1-855-297-8311 toll free) or by email at inquiries@aer.ca.
BC: Changes to Environmental Assessment Certificate for Trans Mountain
Changes to the Environmental Assessment Certificate for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, and recommendations to other agencies, have been made by George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, for the pipeline project that runs between Edmonton and Burnaby.
This provincial reconsideration process was a result of a federal Court of Appeal decision in 2018, and associated decisions by the B.C. Court of Appeal in 2019. Following the 2018 federal Court of Appeal determination that the National Energy Board (NEB) excluded project-related marine shipping from aspects of its review, the NEB undertook a reconsideration process and released a reconsideration report. The federal government then used this 2019 reconsideration report to inform its decision to approve the project again. In September 2019, the B.C. Court of Appeal, in two cases, decided that because the ministers who issued the provincial certificate relied on the NEB’s assessment, they should have the opportunity to consider the changes in the NEB’s reconsideration report and determine if any changes to the certificate conditions, or the addition of new ones, are necessary, within the limits of provincial jurisdiction.
Upon direction from the ministers in March 2020, the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) undertook a review of the changes in the 2019 NEB reconsideration report on aspects of the project related to marine shipping. The EAO considered the portions of the 2019 reconsideration report that differ from the initial 2016 report to determine if any changes to the certificate conditions previously approved by ministers in 2017, or the addition of new ones, were required (within the scope of the provincial reconsideration process and the limits of provincial jurisdiction). More details are available in the ministers’ reasons for decision, below.
As part of the provincial reconsideration process, the EAO invited Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) and the City of Vancouver to participate in the process and formed a provincial advisory group to provide technical expertise and support the EAO’s understanding of key issues. The EAO also engaged marine Indigenous Nations, federal government departments, Trans Mountain and other parties, and held a 45-day public comment period prior to making recommendations to ministers.
The EAO set clear criteria to analyze the NEB reports and submissions received through the reconsideration process to determine what changes should be made to the Environmental Assessment Certificate, in particular:
- whether the issues raised pertained to differences between the two NEB reports;
- whether the Province had jurisdiction to make changes to EAC conditions or add new ones; and
- avoiding unnecessary duplication with respect to existing Environmental Assessment Certificate or NEB conditions, regulatory mechanisms, NEB recommendations to Governor in Council, and/or federal government accommodation measures and initiatives.
As a result of the reconsideration process, the Province is making the following changes to the provincial Environmental Assessment Certificate:
- Amending Condition 35 (Fate and Behaviour of Bitumen Research), requiring Trans Mountain to provide research updates every five years, and add local coastal governments to the parties requiring consultation on the research
- A new condition requiring a human health risk report that includes:
- identifying exposure pathways in the event of a marine spill
- identifying roles and responsibilities of local, provincial and federal authorities in the event of a marine spill
- consulting with Indigenous Nations, local governments and relevant agencies to develop the report that will provide important information as the federal government and its agencies prepare plans that address the potential impact to human health from spills
- A new condition requiring Trans Mountain to develop a shoreline baseline data report, developed in consultation with various parties, that consolidates data at hypothetical incident locations along the shipping route that will strengthen restoration and recovery in the event of a ship-source marine spill
- Adding Snuneymuxw First Nation to the list of Aboriginal Groups – Marine Shipping
- Adding a definition for Potentially Affected Coastal Local Governments
In addition, Heyman and Ralston have provided advice to the federal government to consider and take action on concerns raised by participants during the reconsideration process that were outside of the B.C. Court of Appeal’s direction.
Learn More:
A record of the factors that the ministers considered in making their decision and the final reconsideration report can be found on the EAO’s Project Information Centre: https://www.projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/p/5885121eaaecd9001b82b274/project-details
EAO public comment period What We Heard Report: https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/api/public/document/60902fab70b71f0022189a18/download/TMX_Provincial_Reconsideration_Process_WWH_Report_final.pdf
Detailed history of how the Province arrived at the reconsideration process: https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/api/public/document/6001bc80654536002065ccfe/download/TMX_Reconsdieration_Detailed_History_V1.pdf
Information on B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Process: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/environmental-assessments/the-environmental-assessment-process/2018-act-environmental-assessment-process
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect
A cleaner Hamilton Harbour: All contaminated sediment removed or capped at Randle Reef
The Great Lakes are essential to the health and well-being of Canadians, ecosystems, and the economy. As one of the largest surface freshwater systems in the world, they provide water for forty million people and are an economic driver for Canada. Protecting and restoring them is vital.
Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, along with the Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Honourable David Piccini, and the Deputy Mayor of Hamilton, Jason Farr, announced the successful completion of Stage 2 of the Randle Reef Remediation Project. This is a significant step to remove toxic substances and restore water quality and ecosystem health in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.
During Stage 2, over 615,000 cubic metres of contaminated sediment was managed, enough to fill a hockey rink nearly three times over. The sediment was primarily dredged and placed into an Engineered Containment Facility (ECF) constructed during the first stage, while the remaining contaminated sediment was capped in place. As part of the third and final stage of the project, scheduled to begin in fall 2022 and be completed by 2024, a multi-layered environmental top will be placed on the ECF as a final step to isolate contaminants. Once complete, the area will provide valuable new port land that will be managed by the Hamilton–Oshawa Port Authority, contributing to economic growth for the community.
The Randle Reef Remediation Project is a joint initiative involving the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, the City of Hamilton, Halton Region, the City of Burlington, Hamilton–Oshawa Port Authority, and Stelco. The $138.9-million cleanup is funded through a public‑private approach, with the federal government and the Province of Ontario each contributing a third of the funding and the remaining third collectively funded by local partners. The multi-year remediation plan, led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, focuses on removing and containing toxic sediment in the Reef area of the harbour, a legacy of the intense industrial and urban development around its shores dating back to the 1800s.
The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario are collaborating and coordinating efforts to restore, protect, and conserve the Great Lakes through the Canada–Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (COA). Canada and Ontario have committed to completing all remedial actions in six Great Lakes Areas of Concern by 2026. The Government of Canada is also implementing a strengthened Freshwater Action Plan with a historic investment to protect and restore large lakes and river systems, starting with the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River System. The remediation of Randle Reef is one of many actions taken by the Government of Canada to restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes and other waterways, while building a sustainable economy and creating jobs.
Quick facts
Randle Reef is located in the southwest corner of Hamilton Harbour and covers approximately sixty hectares.
In 1987, Hamilton Harbour was identified as an Area of Concern, as described under the Canada–US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
Areas of Concern are locations within the Great Lakes identified as having experienced high levels of environmental harm.
Under the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States, forty-three Areas of Concern were identified: twelve were Canadian and five were shared binationally.
The resulting port lands on the Randle Reef remediated site could generate an estimated $167 million in economic benefits for the local community by creating good jobs, growing business development, and generating tourism.
Cross-border Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations
On October 31, 2021, the Cross-border Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations (XBR) came into force.
The XBR, as published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on March 12, 2021, repeal and replace the following regulations:
- Export and Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations (EIHWHRMR);
- PCB Waste Export Regulations, 1996; and
- Interprovincial Movement of Hazardous Waste Regulations.
Existing permits under these former regulations continue to be valid until their expiration date. In accordance with the XBR, all new permit requests must be submitted using the Canadian Notification and Movement Tracking System (CNMTS). Movement documents also have to be generated through the CNMTS.
Further information on the XBR, including permitting requirements, fact sheets, and access to news bulletins, are available online at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/cross-border-movement-hazardous-waste-recyclable-material-regulations.html
NRCAN Oil Spill Response Challenge
Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) $10 Million Oil Spill Response Challenge has launched! Help us advance innovative and rapidly deployable solutions to effectively detect oil spills and decrease response times or increase oil spill recovery rates.
The Challenge is now accepting applications for two streams; the Detection stream, aimed at improving data availability and accuracy to inform oil spill response measures, and the Recovery stream, which seeks to increase the oil recovery rate when compared against conventional technologies within diverse aquatic environments. Applicants from both streams will compete for a chance to win:
- Up to 10 semi-finalist prizes of $300,000
- Up to 5 finalist Prizes of $1M
- The Grand Prize of $2M
To learn more, visit the Oil Spill Response Challenge homepage. Applications are due June 1, 2022.
You are also invited to attend an informational webinar presented by OSR Challenge leads at NRCan to hear more about the process of applying to the Challenge, instructions on submitting to the Impact Canada application portal, as well as presentations on current Canadian research in oil spill science. The webinar will take place March 23rd in English and March 24th in French.
You are also invited to join the Oil Spill Response community on NRCan’s collaboration community. This informal forum is a place to connect with other innovators, seek collaborators, and ask questions to Challenge leads. To register, request access and approval will shortly follow. The forum will be actively monitored by NRCan staff.
ESAA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of the Members of the Association will be held at the Hyatt Regency Calgary, on April 20th, 2022, at the hour of 3:00 pm for the following purposes:
- to approve the minutes of Members dated April 7th, 2021;
- to receive the report of the President;
- to receive the report of ESAA Management;
- to receive the report of the Treasurer;
- to vote on a special resolution to amend the Associations Bylaws (as attached)
- to appoint Auditors;
- to appoint/elect Directors; and
- the transaction of such further and other matters as may properly be brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Full members have the right to appoint a proxy, who needs not to be a member, to exercise the same voting rights that the member appointing such proxy would be entitled to exercise if present at the meeting.
The location of the meeting is Hyatt Regency Calgary
Dated at the City of Edmonton, in the Province of Alberta, this _24th___ day of _February_, 2022.
Full details can be found at: https://esaa.org/2022-esaa-agm/
ESAA Board of Directors – Call for Nominations
The ESAA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the initial slate of candidates for the upcoming Board of Directors election to be held at the ESAA AGM on April 20th, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Calgary.
There will be two (2) positions open for the ESAA Board of Directors, each for a three (3) year term.
If you would like to be included on the list of candidates for the ESAA Board of Directors and are a representative of a full ESAA Member, please submit 6 letters of support* by no later than March 18th, 2022, to the ESAA Office via e-mail: chowaniec@esaa.org.
Proposed List of Candidates
- Tyler Barkhouse, Dillon Consulting (I)
- Adam Dunn, Earthmaster Environmental Strategies
- Scott Purves, Matrix Solutions
- Cory Sommer, Millennium EMS Solutions
(I) Incumbent
(*) Letters of support must be from ESAA Members and only one letter per member.
The ESAA photo contest has returned.
Do you work for an ESAA Member company? If so, they you are eligible to enter the 2022 ESAA Photo Contest.
The theme for 2022 is ‘Canadian Wildlife.’ No matter how big or small all of Canada’s wildlife is simply amazing. Just remember to give wildlife space, don’t stress animals and don’t submit photos of any nesting wildlife. Full details below. Submission deadline – August 1st, 2022.
Prizes:
- 1st Place – $250 Posterjack Gift Certificate
- 2nd Place – $100 Posterjack Gift Certificate
- The top 12 photos will be included in the first annual ESAA calendar.
Full contest details, rules, submission upload link and more can be found at: https://esaa.org/
New Direction for Coal Activity in the Eastern Slopes of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains
On March 4, the Government of Alberta released a report from a coal policy committee it formed in early 2021 to gather feedback on future policy as it relates to coal development in Alberta.
In response to the report, the Government of Alberta, through Ministerial Order 002/2022, has directed the AER to continue its suspension of all approvals, and to not accept any new applications, for coal exploration activities on Category 2 lands. This suspension is consistent with previous direction that was provided to the AER last year and will remain in place until written notice is given by the minister of Energy or the minister of Environment and Parks.
The order further directs us to suspend approvals, and to not accept new applications, for coal exploration and development on Category 3 and 4 lands, except those that are related to an advanced coal project or an active approval for a coal mine (defined below). This direction will also remain in place until written notice is given by the minister of Energy or the minister of Environment and Parks.
The order defines “advanced coal projects” and “active approvals for coal mines” as follows:
- Advanced coal project – Proposed coal projects where applicants have submitted a project summary to the AER to determine whether an environmental impact assessment is required for the proposed project.
- Active approval for a coal mine – Existing coal projects that have been granted a licence to operate under the Coal Conservation Act.
This means that advanced coal projects will continue to be reviewed by the AER to ensure any proposed exploration or development is safe, environmentally responsible, and meets all requirements, and that active coal mines can continue to operate on Category 3 and 4 lands within all AER requirements.
The order does not restrict abandonment and reclamation, security, or safety activities on Category 2, 3, and 4 lands. Operators are permitted to proceed with abandonment and reclamation activities and to enter these sites to
- monitor and ensure the site is left in a state that is safe to the environment, wildlife and public, and
- perform routine checks and maintenance at the site to ensure all property and equipment is secure from wildlife access, vandalism, and weather events.
Under the 1976 Coal Development Policy for Alberta, which is currently in effect, provincial lands are classified into four numbered categories with respect to coal exploration and development. The coal land classification map shows these categories. Under the policy, no coal exploration or development activities are permitted on Category 1 lands.
We will continue to implement future policy direction as it is received from the Government of Alberta. If you have any questions, contact our Customer Contact Centre by phone at 403-297-8311 (1-855-297-8311 toll free) or by email at inquiries@aer.ca.
BC: Changes to Environmental Assessment Certificate for Trans Mountain
Changes to the Environmental Assessment Certificate for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, and recommendations to other agencies, have been made by George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, for the pipeline project that runs between Edmonton and Burnaby.
This provincial reconsideration process was a result of a federal Court of Appeal decision in 2018, and associated decisions by the B.C. Court of Appeal in 2019. Following the 2018 federal Court of Appeal determination that the National Energy Board (NEB) excluded project-related marine shipping from aspects of its review, the NEB undertook a reconsideration process and released a reconsideration report. The federal government then used this 2019 reconsideration report to inform its decision to approve the project again. In September 2019, the B.C. Court of Appeal, in two cases, decided that because the ministers who issued the provincial certificate relied on the NEB’s assessment, they should have the opportunity to consider the changes in the NEB’s reconsideration report and determine if any changes to the certificate conditions, or the addition of new ones, are necessary, within the limits of provincial jurisdiction.
Upon direction from the ministers in March 2020, the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) undertook a review of the changes in the 2019 NEB reconsideration report on aspects of the project related to marine shipping. The EAO considered the portions of the 2019 reconsideration report that differ from the initial 2016 report to determine if any changes to the certificate conditions previously approved by ministers in 2017, or the addition of new ones, were required (within the scope of the provincial reconsideration process and the limits of provincial jurisdiction). More details are available in the ministers’ reasons for decision, below.
As part of the provincial reconsideration process, the EAO invited Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) and the City of Vancouver to participate in the process and formed a provincial advisory group to provide technical expertise and support the EAO’s understanding of key issues. The EAO also engaged marine Indigenous Nations, federal government departments, Trans Mountain and other parties, and held a 45-day public comment period prior to making recommendations to ministers.
The EAO set clear criteria to analyze the NEB reports and submissions received through the reconsideration process to determine what changes should be made to the Environmental Assessment Certificate, in particular:
- whether the issues raised pertained to differences between the two NEB reports;
- whether the Province had jurisdiction to make changes to EAC conditions or add new ones; and
- avoiding unnecessary duplication with respect to existing Environmental Assessment Certificate or NEB conditions, regulatory mechanisms, NEB recommendations to Governor in Council, and/or federal government accommodation measures and initiatives.
As a result of the reconsideration process, the Province is making the following changes to the provincial Environmental Assessment Certificate:
- Amending Condition 35 (Fate and Behaviour of Bitumen Research), requiring Trans Mountain to provide research updates every five years, and add local coastal governments to the parties requiring consultation on the research
- A new condition requiring a human health risk report that includes:
- identifying exposure pathways in the event of a marine spill
- identifying roles and responsibilities of local, provincial and federal authorities in the event of a marine spill
- consulting with Indigenous Nations, local governments and relevant agencies to develop the report that will provide important information as the federal government and its agencies prepare plans that address the potential impact to human health from spills
- A new condition requiring Trans Mountain to develop a shoreline baseline data report, developed in consultation with various parties, that consolidates data at hypothetical incident locations along the shipping route that will strengthen restoration and recovery in the event of a ship-source marine spill
- Adding Snuneymuxw First Nation to the list of Aboriginal Groups – Marine Shipping
- Adding a definition for Potentially Affected Coastal Local Governments
In addition, Heyman and Ralston have provided advice to the federal government to consider and take action on concerns raised by participants during the reconsideration process that were outside of the B.C. Court of Appeal’s direction.
Learn More:
A record of the factors that the ministers considered in making their decision and the final reconsideration report can be found on the EAO’s Project Information Centre: https://www.projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/p/5885121eaaecd9001b82b274/project-details
EAO public comment period What We Heard Report: https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/api/public/document/60902fab70b71f0022189a18/download/TMX_Provincial_Reconsideration_Process_WWH_Report_final.pdf
Detailed history of how the Province arrived at the reconsideration process: https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/api/public/document/6001bc80654536002065ccfe/download/TMX_Reconsdieration_Detailed_History_V1.pdf
Information on B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Process: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/environmental-assessments/the-environmental-assessment-process/2018-act-environmental-assessment-process
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect
A cleaner Hamilton Harbour: All contaminated sediment removed or capped at Randle Reef
The Great Lakes are essential to the health and well-being of Canadians, ecosystems, and the economy. As one of the largest surface freshwater systems in the world, they provide water for forty million people and are an economic driver for Canada. Protecting and restoring them is vital.
Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, along with the Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Honourable David Piccini, and the Deputy Mayor of Hamilton, Jason Farr, announced the successful completion of Stage 2 of the Randle Reef Remediation Project. This is a significant step to remove toxic substances and restore water quality and ecosystem health in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.
During Stage 2, over 615,000 cubic metres of contaminated sediment was managed, enough to fill a hockey rink nearly three times over. The sediment was primarily dredged and placed into an Engineered Containment Facility (ECF) constructed during the first stage, while the remaining contaminated sediment was capped in place. As part of the third and final stage of the project, scheduled to begin in fall 2022 and be completed by 2024, a multi-layered environmental top will be placed on the ECF as a final step to isolate contaminants. Once complete, the area will provide valuable new port land that will be managed by the Hamilton–Oshawa Port Authority, contributing to economic growth for the community.
The Randle Reef Remediation Project is a joint initiative involving the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, the City of Hamilton, Halton Region, the City of Burlington, Hamilton–Oshawa Port Authority, and Stelco. The $138.9-million cleanup is funded through a public‑private approach, with the federal government and the Province of Ontario each contributing a third of the funding and the remaining third collectively funded by local partners. The multi-year remediation plan, led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, focuses on removing and containing toxic sediment in the Reef area of the harbour, a legacy of the intense industrial and urban development around its shores dating back to the 1800s.
The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario are collaborating and coordinating efforts to restore, protect, and conserve the Great Lakes through the Canada–Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (COA). Canada and Ontario have committed to completing all remedial actions in six Great Lakes Areas of Concern by 2026. The Government of Canada is also implementing a strengthened Freshwater Action Plan with a historic investment to protect and restore large lakes and river systems, starting with the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River System. The remediation of Randle Reef is one of many actions taken by the Government of Canada to restore, protect and conserve the Great Lakes and other waterways, while building a sustainable economy and creating jobs.
Quick facts
Randle Reef is located in the southwest corner of Hamilton Harbour and covers approximately sixty hectares.
In 1987, Hamilton Harbour was identified as an Area of Concern, as described under the Canada–US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
Areas of Concern are locations within the Great Lakes identified as having experienced high levels of environmental harm.
Under the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States, forty-three Areas of Concern were identified: twelve were Canadian and five were shared binationally.
The resulting port lands on the Randle Reef remediated site could generate an estimated $167 million in economic benefits for the local community by creating good jobs, growing business development, and generating tourism.
Cross-border Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations
On October 31, 2021, the Cross-border Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations (XBR) came into force.
The XBR, as published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on March 12, 2021, repeal and replace the following regulations:
- Export and Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations (EIHWHRMR);
- PCB Waste Export Regulations, 1996; and
- Interprovincial Movement of Hazardous Waste Regulations.
Existing permits under these former regulations continue to be valid until their expiration date. In accordance with the XBR, all new permit requests must be submitted using the Canadian Notification and Movement Tracking System (CNMTS). Movement documents also have to be generated through the CNMTS.
Further information on the XBR, including permitting requirements, fact sheets, and access to news bulletins, are available online at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/cross-border-movement-hazardous-waste-recyclable-material-regulations.html
NRCAN Oil Spill Response Challenge
Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) $10 Million Oil Spill Response Challenge has launched! Help us advance innovative and rapidly deployable solutions to effectively detect oil spills and decrease response times or increase oil spill recovery rates.
The Challenge is now accepting applications for two streams; the Detection stream, aimed at improving data availability and accuracy to inform oil spill response measures, and the Recovery stream, which seeks to increase the oil recovery rate when compared against conventional technologies within diverse aquatic environments. Applicants from both streams will compete for a chance to win:
- Up to 10 semi-finalist prizes of $300,000
- Up to 5 finalist Prizes of $1M
- The Grand Prize of $2M
To learn more, visit the Oil Spill Response Challenge homepage. Applications are due June 1, 2022.
You are also invited to attend an informational webinar presented by OSR Challenge leads at NRCan to hear more about the process of applying to the Challenge, instructions on submitting to the Impact Canada application portal, as well as presentations on current Canadian research in oil spill science. The webinar will take place March 23rd in English and March 24th in French.
You are also invited to join the Oil Spill Response community on NRCan’s collaboration community. This informal forum is a place to connect with other innovators, seek collaborators, and ask questions to Challenge leads. To register, request access and approval will shortly follow. The forum will be actively monitored by NRCan staff.
Remediation Technology News and Resource
(The following are selected items from the US EPA’s Tech Direct – http://clu-in.org/techdirect/)
Upcoming Live Internet Seminars
ITRC Sustainable Resilient Remediation (SRR) – Mar 15, 2022, 1:00PM-3:15PM EDT (17:00-19:15 GMT). Extreme weather events and wildfires are increasing and impacting hazardous waste sites. The primary goal of cleanups, which is protecting human health and the environment, is undermined. Confronted with these risks, environmental professionals should assess, and design remedies that are sustainable and resilient. Sustainable resilient remediation (SRR) is an optimized solution to cleaning up and reusing a hazardous waste site that limits negative environmental impacts, maximizes social and economic benefits, and creates resilience against increasing threats. The objective of the ITRC Sustainable Resilient Remediation (SRR-1) is to provide resources and tools for regulators, stakeholders, consultants, and responsible parties to help integrate sustainable and resilient practices into remediation projects. This guidance updates the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council’s (ITRC) Technical and Regulatory Guidance: Green and Sustainable Remediation: A Practical Framework (ITRC 2011a) and includes a strong resilience component to address the increasing threat of extreme weather events and wildfires. Recommendations for careful and continuous consideration of the social and economic costs and benefits of a cleanup project are included. For more information and to register, see https://www.itrcweb.org or https://clu-in.org/live.
ITRC TPH Risk Evaluation at Petroleum-Contaminated Sites – Mar 17, 2022, 1:00PM-3:15PM EDT (17:00-19:15 GMT). The basis for this training course is the ITRC guidance: TPH Risk Evaluation at Petroleum-Contaminated Sites (TPHRisk-1, 2018). The guidance builds on long-standing and current research and experience, and presents the current science for evaluating TPH risk at petroleum-contaminated sites. As a participant in this training you should learn to: recognize the ITRC document as a go-to resource for evaluating TPH risk at petroleum-contaminated sites, recognize how TPH-impacted media interacts with the environment and changes over time, select appropriate analytic method(s) to match site objectives, and apply the decision framework to determine when a site-specific target level may be more appropriate than a generic screening level for TPH. For more information and to register, see https://www.itrcweb.org or https://clu-in.org/live.
New Documents and Web Resources
Green Remediation Best Management Practices: Pump and Treat Systems (EPA 542-F-21-029). In line with the renewed Agency emphasis on sustainability and climate change resilience and mitigation, the Superfund Program is proceeding to update the very popular green remediation best management practice (BMP) fact sheets for the most common remedies in the Superfund program. The goal of these fact sheets is to share technical information on best practices that build sustainability into contaminated site cleanup operations across the portfolio of remediation approaches. The green remediation (GR) fact sheet on pump and treat systems has been one of the most popular “GR factsheets,” with over 10,000 downloads since it was first released. The updated fact sheet includes new BMPs gathered from projects across the country and describes how climate resilience is being built into our sites to ensure continued remedy protectiveness. The fact sheet also highlights synergies between green remediation and climate adaptation practices, where one action provides both greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and climate resilience. Examples are BMPs involving use of renewable energy, green infrastructure or carbon sequestering vegetation that mitigate GHG emissions and add resilience to ongoing climate change. The fact sheet also highlights how advanced practices gleaned from Superfund’s optimization and technical support work, such as reclaiming and reusing treated water for beneficial purposes, help reduce the environmental footprint of remedies. To view or download, please visit https://clu-in.org/greenremediation/docs/GR_fact_sheet_pump_treat.pdf.
ITRC PFAS Technical and Regulatory Guidance Document. This updated guidance document is designed specifically to support state and federal environmental staff, as well as others (including stakeholders, project managers, and decision makers), to gain a working knowledge of the current state of PFAS science and practice. Developed by a team of over 400 environmental practitioners drawn from state and federal government, academia, industry, environmental consulting, and public interest groups, it also provides a summary of the current understanding of all aspects of PFAS from a broad perspective. For more information and to view the updated guidance document, please visit https://pfas-1.itrcweb.org/#1_7.
Technology Innovation News Survey Corner. The Technology Innovation News Survey contains market/commercialization information; reports on demonstrations, feasibility studies and research; and other news relevant to the hazardous waste community interested in technology development. Recent issues, complete archives, and subscription information is available at https://clu-in.org/products/tins/. The following resources were included in recent issues:
- Pilot Test Results for Ion Exchange Resin and Granular Activated Carbon to Treat Groundwater Impacted with Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances La Habra Heights County Water District Water Supply Well #10
- Single-Laboratory Validation Study of PFAS by Isotope Dilution LC-MS/MS
- Combining Mass Balance Modeling with Passive Sampling at Contaminated Sediment Sites to Evaluate Continuing Inputs and Food Web Responses to Remedial Actions
- Update on the Benefits of PCB Congener-Specific Analyses
- Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Decision Tool
- Pinellas County, Florida, Site Environmental Restoration Project Environmental Monitoring Annual Progress Report for the Building 100 Area at the Young – Rainey Star Center June 2020 Through May 2021
- Interim Corrective Measure Work Plan Deep Zone of Upper Surficial Aquifer – Anaerobic Biobarrier Hercules LLC/Pinova Inc. Brunwick Facility Brunswick, Georgia
- Evaluation of a Potential Groundwater Tracer Test in the Ringold Upper Mud Aquifer at the 100-H Area of the Hanford Site
- Florida Statewide PFAS Pilot Study at Drycleaning Sites
Upcoming Events
|
Element 23rd Annual Environmental Seminar
ESAA Job Board
Check out the new improved ESAA Job Board. Members can post ads for free.
Current Listings:
- Principal Risk Assessor – Advisian (Worley Group)
- SENIOR WETLANDS SPECIALIST – Matrix Solutions Inc.
- SENIOR WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST – Matrix Solutions Inc.
- INTERMEDIATE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST (SALT SPECIALIST) – Matrix Solutions Inc.
- INTERMEDIATE AQUATIC SCIENTIST – Matrix Solutions Inc.
- Reclamation Coordinator – Arletta Environmental Consulting Corp.
- Senior Technical & Reporting Lead – Arletta Environmental Consulting Corp.
- Labourer – Summit, An Earth Services Company
- Field Lead – Environmental Technologist/Scientist/Engineer – Advisian (Worley Group)
- Environmental Project Supervisor, Assessment, Remediation & Reclamation – EARTHMASTER ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES INC
- PRACTICE LEAD – ENGINEERING – Matrix Solutions Inc.
- Junior Environmental Consultant – Reclamation and Remediation – North Shore Environmental Consultants Inc.
- Project Administrator / Support – Summit, An Earth Services Company
- Environmental Scientist (Biology/Biologist) – Summit, An Earth Services Company
- Data Specialist – Solstice Environmental Management
- Remediation Specialist/Environmental Engineer – SUMMIT, An Earth Services Company
- INTERMEDIATE TO SENIOR HYDROGEOLOGST, HYDROGEOCHEMIST OR ENGINEER – Waterline Resources Inc.
- Environmental Analyst (#22-02-0507) – Summit, An Earth Services Company
- Environmental Scientist/Engineer/Geoscientist II – Advisian (Worley Canada Services Ltd.)
- Contract Environmental Inspectors – Trace Associates Inc.
- Intermediate Environmental Scientist – Trace Associates Inc.
- Intermediate Reclamation Practitioner – Trace Associates Inc
- Junior Environmental Engineer – Trace Associates Inc
- Junior Environmental Scientist – Trace Associates Inc.
- Junior Geoscientist – Trace Associates Inc.
- Project Manager – Trace Associates Inc
- Word Processor/Document Administrator – Trace Associates Inc.
- Division Administrator – Trace Associates Inc.
- Vegetation Ecologist – Paragon Soil & Environmental Consulting Inc.
- Soil Handling Monitor – Paragon Soil & Environmental Consulting Inc.
- Soil Specialist – Paragon Soil & Environmental Consulting Inc.
- Intermediate/Senior Environmental Specialist (Spill Response) – Summit, An Earth Services Company
- Project Technologist, Environmental Due Diligence & Remediation –Pinchin Ltd.
- Senior Technical Specialist – Summit, An Earth Services Company