Alberta: Interim Pilots (Site Reductions/Reclaiming Peatlands) and Preparing Variance Justifications for Weeds and Problematic Species on Forested Land
Interim Directive: Pilot for Site Reductions on Well Sites
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas has released the Interim Directive: Pilot for Site Reductions on Well Sites. This pilot enables the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) to issue a reclamation certificate to eligible operators, certifying that a portion of a well site on private land meets government reclamation standards. For more information please see the Factsheet: Pilot for Site Reductions on Well Sites – Information for landowners about the pilot project
Interim Directive: Pilot for Reclaiming Peatlands – Decision Framework and Support Tools for Reclaiming Well Sites and Access Roads on Public Lands
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas has released the Interim Directive: Pilot for Reclaiming Peatlands – Decision Framework and Support Tools for Reclaiming Well Sites and Access Roads on Public Lands The pilot will use a decision framework and support tools to support the AER in considering requests to change land use from peatlands to forest lands, for eligible well sites and access roads on public lands.
Preparing Variance Justifications for Weeds and Problematic Species on Well Sites and Associated Facilities on Forested Land
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas is endorsing the Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada’s report on weed variances, “Preparing Variance Justifications for Weeds and Problematic Species on Well Sites and Associated Facilities on Forested Land.” This report will help qualified professionals prepare requests for weed variances for reclamation certification. Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/land-conservation-and-reclamation-guidelines-for-oil-and-gas for more information.
Alberta: Company pleads guilty to environmental charges
An Alberta company has pleaded guilty to contravening the Water Act.
Alberta’s Water Act supports and promotes responsible water conservation and responsible management across the province. As part of this, all gravel pit approval applications undergo a robust regulatory review before companies are authorized to divert or use water.
1686301 Alberta Ltd. operates a gravel pit between Edson and Hinton, and on June 14, 2021, it pumped water from the pit into a creek leading to the McLeod River. The pump was not at an authorized location in the pit and the discharge pipe was set too high, causing erosion to the bed and shore of the water body.
On December 19, 2023, 1686301 Alberta Ltd. pleaded guilty to one count under the Water Act for contravening a condition of its approval, which states that the approval holder shall prevent siltation and erosion of the McLeod River, Oxbow or any unnamed creek resulting from the activity. All remaining charges were withdrawn. The company was sentenced to a fine of $17,500.
BC: Red Chris Porphyry Copper-Gold Mine fined $25,000 for non-compliance
The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) issued an administrative penalty totalling $25,000 to Newmont Corporation (formerly Newcrest Red Chris Mining Limited) on Dec. 18, 2023.
The company was fined for not complying with an order in 2019 for Newcrest Red Chris Mining Limited to install and electrify fencing around the full perimeter of the workcamp for its Red Chris Porphyry Copper-Gold Mine in northeastern B.C., as required.
Electric fencing helps prevent dangerous interactions between people and wildlife, specifically in this case, grizzly bears, a blue-listed species of special concern in British Columbia. Project records show frequent grizzly bear activity in the area and at least two instances of problematic human/bear interactions in or around the camp.
Multiple inspections of the project by EAO compliance and enforcement officers, going back as far as 2018, found repeated non-compliance with fencing requirements, including incomplete, not electrified or not operational fencing. The EAO has issued multiple warnings and orders.
The deficiencies were rectified after the EAO ordered Newcrest again in July 2023 to have functioning electric fencing in place around the entire workcamp perimeter within 30 days or the workcamp would be shut down. An additional administrative penalty has been recommended related to the ongoing non-compliance and subsequent 2023 order, but a decision is still pending.
While urgent issues identified during inspections that pose an immediate risk are addressed right away through enforcement tools such as warnings and stop-work orders, project operators may also be subsequently subject to financial penalties.
The EAO takes compliance seriously. When a project receives an environmental assessment certificate, it contains legally binding requirements that must be followed for the life of the project. These requirements are intended to prevent negative environmental, social, cultural, health or economic impacts and impacts to First Nations.
As a neutral regulator, the EAO has a team of compliance and enforcement officers who monitor all certified projects, conducting both routine and spot inspections and taking enforcement action as necessary. This helps ensure that projects are built, operated and decommissioned in compliance with all requirements.
The EAO continues to actively monitor the Red Chris mine to make sure all requirements are being met.
Quick Facts:
- The Red Chris Porphyry Copper-Gold Mine is located 18 kilometres southeast of the Village of Iskut and approximately 80 kilometres south of Dease Lake.
- Newmont Corporation acquired Newcrest Red Chris Mining Limited in November 2023.
- The project received an environmental assessment certificate in 2005, one of the key authorizations required to build and operate the mine.
- The approval included a requirement to implement specific measures to prevent or reduce the potential for adverse impacts to bears at the site.
- Project construction began in 2012 and the mine opened and began extracting ore in 2015.
Learn More:
For information about the administrative penalty, go to:
https://www.projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/p/588510c4aaecd9001b8155e3/documents?keywords=RCDC-EF-2023&sortBy=-score¤tPage=1
For information about the Red Chris Porphyry Copper-Gold Mine project, go to: https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/projects-list and search “Red Chris”
For more information about the environmental assessment process, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/environmental-assessments/the-environmental-assessment-process
BC: Energy regulator rejects FortisBC’s $327M application for natural gas pipeline
(Source: CBC News) The B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) has rejected an application from FortisBC to build a natural gas pipeline worth $327 million in the Okanagan region.
The Okanagan Capacity Upgrade (OCU) project would have seen the installation of 30 kilometres of new pipeline, running north from Penticton to Chute Lake, along with two new power stations to help regulate the pipeline’s flow.
FortisBC, the main natural gas utility in the province, said the OCU project was needed to meet demand in the southern Interior over the next two decades.
It had told the BCUC that it would be unable to meet the demand for natural gas — which is primarily used to heat homes in B.C. — as early as the winter of 2026/27 with its existing pipeline infrastructure.
However, the BCUC — the province’s independent energy regulator — found that FortisBC did not account for a flattening, or even a downturn, of the demand for natural gas as the province moves away from fossil-fuel-based energy sources under its CleanBC plan.
“In conclusion, the panel finds that, if [FortisBC’s] application is denied in whole or in part, the forecast peak demand growth … is highly unlikely to occur,” a BCUC panel report released Friday stated.
The two-member panel found that the project was not “necessary for the public convenience and does not conserve the public interest” following an extensive consultation period which involved public feedback and the input of several stakeholders, including the Penticton Indian Band (PIB).
It stated that the province’s environmental plan encourages electrification of heating infrastructure, in particular, with the plan encouraging new homes to install technologies like heat pumps instead of traditional natural gas heaters.
In a statement, FortisBC said they were reviewing the BCUC’s decision.
“We are disappointed that our application to develop this important piece of infrastructure has been denied,” the company said. “FortisBC’s infrastructure is vital to the delivery of renewable and low-carbon gases, which are critical to the province’s ability to meet its CleanBC
targets.”
Under provincial regulations, FortisBC can file a reconsideration application with the BCUC or take the regulator to court over a decision. The utility did not indicate in
its statement if it was considering an appeal.
In total, the BCUC received 96 letters from the public commenting on the project.
The PIB, as well as five other stakeholders, served as interveners at the BCUC panel.
One of them, the industry group Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia, stated that FortisBC had demonstrated an “immediate need for capacity” and the push for more electrification would not significantly affect FortisBC’s short-term future.
On the other hand, climate non-profit First Things First Okanagan argued that recent climate action plans from the Okanagan cities of Vernon and Penticton recognized the need to reduce natural gas use in buildings.
The intervener argued that those plans would likely lessen natural gas demand in those areas in the years to come.
While the PIB indicated it would support the project in its final submission to the panel, an earlier report commissioned by the band stated that FortisBC had not demonstrated a clear need for it.
Ultimately, however, the PIB said its community had voted in support of FortisBC’s plans.
After its consultation process, the BCUC panel said that there was no certainty that the full scope of the project was required.
It has directed Fortis to examine other short-term solutions for anticipated natural gas demand and file a mitigation plan by the end of July 2024.
ECO EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS
Alberta coal policy changes trigger joint lawsuit from coal companies
(Source: CBC News) A trial date has been set for early 2025 to sort out whether Alberta is liable for billions in compensation due to policy changes for coal development in the province.
In four separate statements of claim, coal companies allege that Alberta’s decision in 2022 to change the rules around coal mining cost them financially and resulted in a “de facto expropriation” of their coal assets.
The companies involved in the action, which seeks a combined total in damages over $10 billion, are Cabin Ridge Holdings Ltd. and Cabin Ridge Project Ltd.; Atrum Coal Ltd., along with its subsidiary, Elan Coal Ltd.; Black Eagle Mining Corp.; and Montem Resources Ltd., which recently rebranded as Evolve Power Ltd.
In 2020, the Alberta government opened up mountains to more mining but reversed course on that decision two years later.
Claims from the individual coal companies have been filed in the months subsequent to the policy change, but the consolidation of four separate actions was ordered in early November, as first reported by the Globe and Mail. The cases are scheduled to be tried either at the same time or one after the other, starting on or after March 31, 2025.
The companies’ allegations have not been tested in court.
Peter Doyle, president and CEO of Montem’s Alberta operations, wrote in an email that his company was attracted to Alberta in 2016 to invest in the “valuable steelmaking coal resources” in the Crowsnest Pass, located in southwestern Alberta.
“We concentrated our investment on our assets where coal mining had occurred previously. We were confident we could responsibly restart and redevelop these old mines,” Doyle said.
In its claim, Montem said the government’s policy change and indefinite moratorium has resulted in the province acquiring “a benefit interest in or flowing from” the Montem properties.
“[It has] removed all reasonable uses of the Montem Properties by denying Montem the opportunity to continue the development of the Montem Projects and realize on those property rights,” the claim reads.
Atrum Coal has said policy changes caused its share price to plummet. In its statement of claim, the company wrote that the Elan Project had an estimated 486 million tonnes of metallurgical coal and an approximate 34-year mine life, and developing Isolation South alone would see a value exceeding $3.53 billion.
A spokesperson for Alberta Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean said the province was “committed to protecting the areas Albertans cherish, while allowing responsible resource development where appropriate.”
“We cannot comment on this, or any other matter, that is before the courts,” James Snell wrote in response to a request for comment.
Nigel Bankes, an emeritus professor of law at the University of Calgary, specializes in natural resources and energy law.
He says claims of de facto expropriation or “constructive taking” seek compensation on the claim the planned coal mines would have gone into production and produced profits over their lifespans.
But the law around such matters isn’t that clear in Canada yet, he said.
“In Canada, it’s clear that there is no constitutional protection of property rights. It’s clear, therefore, that if the Government of Alberta wishes not to pay compensation, it can stipulate that by statutes,” Bankes said.
“It can also say, ‘We will compensate on the basis of costs, rather than value.’ So I guess I’m saying it’s certainly not a clear case.”
Though the claims are seeking a combined total over $10 billion, they also suggest alternatives. For instance, in the case of Cabin Ridge Holdings Ltd. and Cabin Ridge Project Ltd., the claim suggests restitution in the amount of $56 million plus future and contingent remediation costs.
CBC News has reached out to representatives with Atrum, Black Eagle Mining Corp. and the Cabin Ridge project for comment.
Alberta’s oilsands cleanup piggy bank ‘unfit for purpose,’ researchers say
(Source: Yahoo.ca) The Alberta Energy Regulator’s (AER) plan for making sure taxpayers are not stuck with a multi-billion dollar cleanup bill from oilsands producers is “entirely unfit for purpose,” say researchers at the University of Calgary calling for a public inquiry on the issue.
The AER describes itself as Alberta’s full life-cycle energy regulator, tasked with ensuring safe, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of the province’s oil, natural gas, and coal.
Its Mine Financial Security Program (MFSP) is a liability management program designed to strike a responsible balance between protecting Albertans from oilsands and coal mine closure costs, and maximizing the industry’s opportunities.
In Alberta, companies are required to return mine sites to their previous condition after projects are no longer in service.
“The AER estimates over $45 billion in remediation and reclamation liabilities in the oilsands. This number may be a dramatic underestimate, with figures in leaked, official presentations suggesting as much as $130 billion in liabilities covered by less than $2 billion in security deposits,” University of Calgary School of Public Policy researchers Martin Olszynski, Andrew Leach, Drew Yewchuk wrote in a recent paper.
Their report alleges the MFSP allows mine owners to overestimate asset values, while remaining “deliberately blinkered to potential structural changes in oil markets and prices caused by international and domestic climate change policies.”
“The structural issues with MFSP are as significant as they are plain,” the authors wrote. “Fundamentally, the entire MFSP regime rests on an incredibly uncertain foundation.”
The AER did not respond to a request for comment.
The researchers say international efforts to transition away from fossil fuels underscore the importance of ensuring the oil and gas industry puts enough money aside for future cleanup costs.
“Especially when [oil] prices are expected to decline or costs are expected to increase . . . security represented by those assets will not be there when that security is needed most,” they wrote.
Canada regulator denies Trans Mountain variance due to pipeline integrity, environmental concerns
(ThePrint and Reuters) -The Canada Energy Regulator said on Wednesday it denied a variance request from the Trans Mountain expansion project because the application did not adequately address concerns about pipeline integrity and environmental protection impacts.
Trans Mountain had asked to be allowed to install smaller-diameter pipe in a 1.4-mile (2.3 km) section of the oil pipeline’s route after encountering “very challenging” drilling conditions due to the hardness of the rock in a mountainous area between Hope and Chilliwack in the province of British Columbia.
The CER denied that request on Dec. 5.
In a statement outlining reasons for its decision, the CER said it had concerns about the quality of materials Trans Mountain planned to use, and that Trans Mountain did not demonstrate how it would conduct in-line inspections or adequately address potential environmental impacts.
“These concerns outweighed the benefits for earlier completion of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP),” the regulator said.
Trans Mountain, which originally said granting the variance would save 59 days of construction time, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Last week the Canadian government-owned corporation asked the regulator to reverse its variance decision on the grounds that it could cause a “catastrophic” two-year delay and billions of dollars in losses.
Trans Mountain asked the CER to make a decision no later than Jan. 9 to allow the project to stick to its current construction schedule.
The expanded pipeline is meant to start shipping crude by the end of the first quarter of 2024. The risk of further delays is weighing on Canadian crude prices.
The CER decision was yet another setback for the long-delayed project, intended to triple shipments of crude from Alberta to Canada’s Pacific coast to 890,000 barrels per day once it starts operating.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government bought the troubled project in 2018 to ensure the expansion went ahead, but costs have ballooned to C$30.9 billion ($23.11 billion), more than four times the original budget.
Asked what a two-year delay might mean for the federal government’s plans to sell the pipeline once it is complete, Canada’s deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, told reporters in Calgary the government was “absolutely committed” to getting the project done.
The Government of Canada is seeking feedback on developing a federal plastics registry to help tackle plastic pollution
January 2, 2024 – Gatineau, Quebec
Plastic pollution litters our beaches, parks, streets, shorelines, and other places Canadians value. Its harmful impacts on nature and wildlife must be addressed. That is why the Government of Canada is taking action to reduce plastic pollution and move toward a circular economy addressing the entire lifecycle of plastics, keeping it in the economy and out of the environment.
On December 30, 2023, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, launched a consultation on the creation of the Federal Plastics Registry, which will be used as a tool to monitor and track plastic from the time it is produced to its end of life. This is another step to deliver on Canada’s comprehensive plan to reduce plastic pollution and waste.
The Registry would require producers to report annually on the quantity and types of plastic they place on the Canadian market, how that plastic moves through the economy, and how it is managed at end of life. The Registry would collect information to help monitor plastic in the economy over time. The Government would use this information to measure progress toward zero plastic waste and inform actions to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
The Registry would:
- complement existing reporting requirements such as those under provincial and territorial extended producer responsibility programs,
- harmonize plastics data across the country, and
- make this information openly accessible to all Canadians and businesses through a new and modern reporting platform.
This consultation is open to Canadians and all interested parties until February 13, 2024.
The Government of Canada will continue to work collaboratively with its partners to advance its comprehensive zero plastic waste agenda at home and abroad. This includes continued work with provinces and territories through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) to implement the Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste and Action Plan. The Registry would support the Action Plan commitment to develop and maintain national plastics economy data.
The Government of Canada will continue to consult with Canadians as it takes important actions to keep the environment free from plastic pollution.
Quick facts
In 2019, Canadians threw away 4.4 million tonnes of plastic waste, only 9 percent of which was recycled.
The Government of Canada is implementing an evidence-based and comprehensive plan to reduce plastic pollution and move toward a circular plastics economy through a range of complementary actions across the plastics lifecycle.
Section 46 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) allows the Minister to collect information for the purpose of conducting research, creating an inventory of data, formulating objectives, issuing guidelines, or assessing or reporting on the state of the environment.
The proposed Federal Plastics Registry would collect and report data on major categories of products that contain plastic, covering most plastics placed on the Canadian market. These categories include packaging, single-use and disposable products, construction, transportation, white goods (e.g., home appliances), electronics and electrical equipment, tires, textiles, fishing and aquaculture, and agriculture and horticulture.
The Government of Canada published a consultation paper in July 2022, and a technical paper in April 2023, on the approach and technical details of the Registry for public consultation. The feedback received during these consultations was considered in the development of the notice of intent to publish a notice under section 46 of CEPA.
Canada recognizes that plastic pollution knows no borders and is continuing to work with international partners to develop an effective legally binding global instrument on plastic pollution.
Associated links
Proposed Regulations Amending the PCB Regulations and the Regulations Designating Regulatory Provisions for Purposes of Enforcement
On December 23, 2023, proposed Regulations Amending the PCB Regulations and the Regulations Designating Regulatory Provisions for Purposes of Enforcement (Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999) were published in Canada Gazette, Part I. Regulations Amending the PCB Regulations and the Regulations Designating Regulatory Provisions for Purposes of Enforcement (Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999)
This publication initiates a 60-day public consultation period during which stakeholders and interested parties are invited to submit comments to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) on the proposed Regulations.
The proposed amendments are intended to provide flexibility for the use and storage of PCB-containing equipment under unique circumstances that were neither foreseen when the Regulations came into force in 2008 nor in subsequent amendments.
ECCC invites you to review the proposed Regulations and provide your comments, by Wednesday, February 21st, 2024, using the new online commenting system available for Canada Gazette, Part I publications.
Please note the Government of Canada has launched a new online commenting system that allows stakeholders and interested parties to submit comments on proposed regulations published in the Canada Gazette, Part I directly online and to view all comments posted after the comment period closes. The online commenting system has been designed to be easy to use and we encourage you to use it to submit your comments.
For more information, including instructions on how to comment, please see the Comment on proposed regulations page on the Canada Gazette website. Examples of regulations that have used the online commenting system are available here. All stakeholder comments that conform to the terms of use will be posted online after the comment period for the proposed regulation ends.
We welcome the further distribution of this notice.
ESAA Member News
KBL Acquires Canadian Environmental Service Assets from a Major Waste Management and Environmental Infrastructure Company
LEDUC, AB, Dec. 20, 2023
/CNW/ – KBL Corporation Ltd. (“KBL”), a leading environmental solutions and sustainability initiatives company, today announced that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries has completed the acquisition of the Project Management division of a Canadian publicly traded corporation. This strategic acquisition strengthens KBL’s geographic reach across Western Canada by enhancing its commitment to delivering safe and exceptional service to regions of Canada.
Strategic Expansion
The transaction represents a significant milestone in KBL’s growth. With this expansion, KBL offers a broader range of services and solutions to its clients throughout Northern and Western Canada, solidifying its standing as a leader in the environmental industry. This transformative acquisition enhances KBL through the addition of:
- Technical staff skilled in executing complex environmental projects;
- More than 1,400 service assets;
- Five bioremediation facilities;
- One hazardous waste transfer facility; and
- Three new regions throughout Western Canada including British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Our new team of experienced professionals have executed on some of the largest and ost complex environmental projects across Canada. Our expanded project offering now includes:
- Demolition and Decommissioning: Large and small building and
facility decommissioning, including the removal of hazardous materials,
asset recovery and recycling. - Remediation and Reclamation: Removal and clean-up of contaminants on site.
- Water Management Services: Water/sludge treatment and
management for major infrastructure upgrade projects including LNG early
works, facility expansions, dam construction and upgrades and large
tunneling projects. - Dredging and Dewatering: Municipal and industrial dredging
and dewatering management to save companies significant time and energy
by reducing waste disposal needs. - Sulphur Services: Sulphur block pouring operations at numerous large gas plants.
- Pipeline Services: Integrity digs, maintenance, HDD program construction, HSE, geotechnical evaluation, abandonments and decommissioning.
- Watercourse Crossings and Realignments: Various projects in
or near a body of water with the goal to minimize impacts on critical
riparian, upland wildlife habitats, and sensitive/rare plant and animal
species (including species at risk). - Environmental Management – Municipal solid waste, industrial
and hazardous waste landfill construction, leachate collection system
installation and methane recovery systems installation. Pond
construction, liner installation and bentonite slurry wall construction.
KBL’s commitment to fostering positive relationships extends to the Indigenous communities it serves. Through this acquisition, the company looks forward to deepening its relationships with our current and future Indigenous partners.
For more information about KBL, please visit www.kbl.ca
Waste Connections acquiring 30 waste treatment, disposal sites in Canada
Ontario-based Waste Connections of Canada Inc. has agreed to acquire a portfolio of 30 energy waste treatment and disposal facilities for $1.08 billion from Calgary-based SECURE Energy Services Inc.
The Western Canada-based facilities include 18 treatment, recovery and disposal facilities, six landfills, four saltwater disposal injection wells, and two disposal caverns.
The facilities were previously owned by Tervita Corporation, which merged with SECURE Energy Services Inc. in 2021. All of the facilities represent the complete required divestitures as mandated by the Canadian Competition Tribunal following the merger, the companies stated.
The oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) waste treatment and disposal facilities are in key geographic Canadian oil and gas basins and serve a diverse customer base, Waste Connections of Canada announced in a statement.
The combined annual revenue of the facilities being acquired is currently estimated at $300 million.
“This acquisition represents a unique opportunity for outsized value creation from the expansion of our presence in Canada through a network of E&P waste treatment and disposal assets located in the most attractive and growing basins,” said Ronald Mittelstaedt, Waste Connections president and CEO.
More than 250 SECURE Energy Services Inc. operational and support staff are expected to join the Waste Connections team when the agreement is finalized.
SECURE Energy Services Inc. CEO Rene Amirault said that once the transaction closes — potentially during the first quarter of 2024 — it is expected to “materially improve” the company’s financial position and capital allocation flexibility.
“Despite the challenging circumstances leading to and associated with completing this sales process, we believe the transaction, including the counterparty, are beginning to highlight the underlying value of SECURE’s businesses and represent another meaningful step forward in pursuit of our strategy as one of Canada’s sector leading waste management and energy infrastructure organizations,” Amirault announced in a statement.
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 Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) Identification Framework – January 25, 2024, 1:00PM-3:00PM EST (18:00-20:00 GMT). In 2023, the ITRC Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) Framework (see below) was published to help environmental regulatory agencies and other stakeholders identify, evaluate, and manage CEC’s while acknowledging uncertainties in their environmental fate and transport, receptor exposure, and/or toxicity. Such an approach can be conducive to improved allocation of regulatory response resources and provide a foundation for communicating potential risk to stakeholders. For more information and to register, see https://www.itrcweb.org
ITRC: Pump & Treat Optimization – January 30, 2024, 1:00PM-3:15PM EST (18:00-20:15 GMT). This training aims to summarize existing information and best practices while also developing a systemic and adaptive optimization framework specifically for P&T well-network design and management. P&T systems have been one of the most commonly used methods for hydraulic containment and treatment of contaminated groundwater at sites with large groundwater plumes. This method cleans up groundwater contaminated with dissolved chemicals by pumping groundwater from wells to an above-ground treatment system that removes the contaminants. The primary audience for this training is environmental project decision-makers, which may include federal, state, tribal, and various local agency employees; contractors to these agencies; and potentially liable parties and their engineers and consultants as well as involved stakeholders. Generally, those involved in designing, building and operating, and optimizing pump & treat systems would benefit. For more information and to register, see https://www.itrcweb.org
New Documents and Web Resources
ITRC Contaminants of Emerging Concern Framework (CEC). CEC are defined in this resource as: “substances and microorganisms including physical, chemical, biological, or radiological materials known or anticipated in the environment, that may pose newly identified risks to human health or the environment.” CEC require a clear technical approach on how to identify and evaluate them while acknowledging uncertainties in their environmental fate and transport, receptor exposure, and/or toxicity. Such an approach can be conducive to improved allocation of regulatory response resources and provide a foundation for communicating potential risk to stakeholders. For more information, please visit https://cec-1.itrcweb.org/
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://www.clu-in.org/products/tins/. The following resources were included in recent issues:
- Conducting Climate Vulnerability Assessments at Superfund Sites
- Benefits of the Environment, Revitalization, and Environmental Cleanup Webinar
- Using Surface-Area Weighted Average Concentrations (SWACS) to Optimize Sediment and Soil Remedies
- Best Practices for PFAS Sampling and Data Evaluation
- Subsurface Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Distribution at Two Contaminated Sites
- Evaluating and Applying Site-Specific NAPL Dissolution Rates During Remediation
- Development of Scalable Reactive Transport Framework for PFAS
NAVFAC Fact Sheet on Electrokinetic (EK)-Enhanced In Situ Remediation (September 2023). EK-enhanced in situ remediation offers a promising approach to treating source zones at complex sites. An EK-enhanced delivery method can achieve a more uniform distribution of amendments into the target treatment zone at low-permeability sites compared to hydraulic-based methods. EK can be used to implement in situ bioremediation, in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO), and in situ chemical reduction. This fact sheet discusses how EK delivery methods work and explores two EK case studies for bioremediation and ISCO. Lessons learned and key considerations for applying and implementing EK technologies are also summarized. To view or download, please visit https://exwc.navfac.navy.mil/Portals/88/Documents/EXWC/Restoration/er_pdfs/e/NAVFAC%20EK_FactSheet__9_27_23.pdf?ver=cQkrUYX7EWNDKcQOkKcdqQ%3d%3d
New ESAA Member
ESAA welcomes the following new member. If you are not a member of ESAA you can join now via: https://esaa.org/join-esaa/
Western Tank & Lining Ltd.
105 Stockton Point
Box 296
Okotoks, AB T1S 1A5
Phone: (403) 829-0628
https://www.wtl.ca/
Kevin Cojocar, Sales/Project Manager
[email protected]
Western Tank & Lining (WTL), is an industry leader in containment solutions. Specializing in the supply and installation of geomembrane lining systems and epoxy coated bolted steel tanks, WTL stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of environmental solutions. Our expertise extends across diverse applications, ranging from solid waste containment and wastewater management to remediation solutions and the storage of potable water and firewater. With operational bases strategically located in Okotoks, AB, and Delta, BC, Western Tank & Lining is positioned to cater to a broad spectrum of needs across different regions. At WTL, we don’t just provide solutions; we deliver peace of mind. Our comprehensive suite of offerings includes prefabricated geomembrane liners, geotextiles, geogrids, and erosion control products. Committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility, we empower our clients with reliable and durable solutions that meet the highest industry standards.
Upcoming Industry Events
RemTech 2024
October 16-18, 2024
Fairmont Banff Springs
Call for Abstracts / 80 Super Early Bird Passes Remaining
RemTech 2024 will feature technical talks, 2 receptions, 55 exhibits, networking opportunities and three great keynotes.
Professor of Health Law and Science Policy, University of Alberta
Bill Weir
Chief Climate Correspondent, CNN
The Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould
Former Member of Parliament, Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada,
Bestselling Author
Registration
New this year: 100 passes are available at a Super Early Bird Price. (80 passes remaining at this price) $850 Members and $1,250 Non-Members. When the 100 passes are sold, regular early bird rates will be in effect and available until May 31st. Registration details at: https://esaa.org/remtech/
Call for Abstracts
Complete details for the 2024 call for abstracts is available at: https://esaa.org/remtech/call-
Sponsors / Exhibitors
Previous sponsors and exhibitors will be contacted in early February to secure your previous sponsorship level and exhibit space. Once their deadline to respond passes, remaining spots will be offered to companies on the waiting list.
Hotel Reservations
The Fairmont Banff Springs will be accepting reservations shortly. Accommodations for RemTech™ 2024 delegates start at $265 per night plus $16 resort fee (tipping of bell and housekeeping not required) per night depending on the type and occupancy of the room. Rates do not include taxes and surcharges. Rate also includes 2 free drinks (per room) at any Fairmont Banff Springs bar (valid during RemTech, October 16-18, 2024). Full details available soon along with the reservation link.
Full RemTech 2024 details can be found at: https://esaa.org/remtech/
ESAAs 11 Week On-line Yoga Class – You can still join!
ESAAs 11 Week On-Line Yoga
We just finished our first week and it was AMAZING.
Thank you to everyone who signed up and made it out this week it was great to see you!
If you missed registering and still wanted to join you still can – there’s 10 weeks left!
Melany James from Soul Strength Yoga & Fitness will lead our weekly on-line Vinyasa class. The beautiful part of Yoga is all classes are customizable to your level of fitness. Don’t be discouraged if you are a beginner and don’t miss out because you are a seasoned Yogi.
Classes run January 16, 2024 to March 21, 2024
- Tuesday/Thursday.
- Times are 12:05 – 12:55pm & 8 – 9pm MST
** All classes are Vinyasa Flow except Thursday 12:05-12:55 will be gentle flow**
Registration;
- $5.00 per class
- $45.00 for the remaining 10 classes (Reduced rate)
Weekly Sponsorship Opportunities are Available;
- $99.00 Weekly Sponsorship
** Each Sponsorship comes with a full 11 week class pass for 1 member **
Canadian Environmental and Engineering Executives Conference (CE3C)
January 24-25, 2024
Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Vancouver
The Canadian Environmental and Engineering Executives Conference (CE3C) was specifically created as an exclusive forum for executives at the highest level of the environmental engineering and consulting industry in Canada. Since the inaugural conference in October 2018 demand has been high for this event; Presidents, CEOs, COOs, CFOs, senior executives, and owners from across the country have attended.
The panel discussions provide a comprehensive overview of the current trends and challenges within the environmental and engineering consulting domain, strategic business development, and the evolving landscape of Human Resources, particularly in enhancing employee engagement. These sessions are designed to equip attendees with practical insights and strategies to effectively navigate the intricacies of the industry.
On the second day, the conference agenda highlights the “Keynote Forum” where notable figures, Michael Campbell and Nik Nanos, will examine the economic, political, and international factors impacting Canadian business, with a specific focus on the environmental and engineering consulting industry.
CE3C is not merely a congregation of professionals, but rather a catalyst for industry evolution, and an incredible platform for networking and collaboration. Witness the confluence of ideas, strategies, and professional camaraderie, all set against the serene backdrop of Vancouver. Join us and be part of the narrative driving the future of the Environmental and Engineering Consulting sector in Canada.
Detailed program at: https://ce3c.ca/program/.
Contact [email protected] for information or visit https://ce3c.ca/.
Spring SST Training Course
Equilibrium Environmental has scheduled a full 4-day SST Version 3.0 certification course for the dates shown below. It is not mandatory for practitioners who are already certified in a previous version of the tool to retake the full certification course / exam, though it is highly recommended to have taken at least a 2-day update course or audit the full course as a refresher (but with no exam) if certified prior to Version 3.0.
Full 4 day certification course
This 4 day course includes over three days of instruction on theory, software tool operation, and case studies, with the exam on the fourth day (four-hour comprehensive exam). Students achieving a passing mark (80%) will obtain AEPA certification and a certificate number registered at AEPA for submitting SST assessments. The course will include instruction on the newest Version 3.0 including the subsoil SAR/sodium module, along with some comparisons to the previous version to provide context for the numerous updates/upgrades in Version 3.0.
Dates: Tue April 9 – Friday April 12, 2024
Location: Online
For further information, please email [email protected] or contact Equilibrium Environmental at 403-286-9374 or visit www.eqm.ca for a copy of the registration form. Please do not respond to this email.
January 2024 Wetland Knowledge Exchange Webinar
Jan 23, 2024
Taking the permafrost’s pulse – Insights from seven years of a simulated permafrost thaw resource pulse.
Dr. Catherine Dieleman, University of Guelph
Northern peatland soils are important long-term stores of both carbon and nitrogen resources, particularly in permafrost underlain systems where cool belowground temperatures can hold soils in stasis for centuries. However, climate change is warming permafrost globally, rendering these vast stores vulnerable to enhanced decomposition. Nitrogen is a limiting nutrient concomitantly released during permafrost thaw events that can stimulate plant and microbial metabolism to either mitigate or intensify carbon release from thawing permafrost soils. Models predict nitrogen release will be both temporally and spatially asynchronous with peak biological productivity, limiting the impact of this permafrost resource pulse on carbon dynamics. We tested these model predictions in situ by injecting 4 g of solid phase urea fertilizer at two soil depths (rooting zone, permafrost thaw front), two seasonal time points (peak biological activity, peak permafrost thaw), and two permafrost thaw conditions (intact permafrost, actively thawing permafrost) from 2017 – 2023 in a northern peatland system in interior Alaska, USA. Over this seven-year period we monitored vegetation community composition, porewater chemistry, and greenhouse gas production to characterize shifts in community structure and function driven by a thaw induced resource pulse. Despite the large nutrient addition we found minimal shifts in ground vegetation composition, porewater carbon and nitrogen content as well as N2O and CO2 cycling, regardless of treatment timing, or depth. Instead, permafrost thaw stage overshadowed resource addition treatments. We did observe a significant initial increase in CH4 fluxes at actively thawing sites with resource pulse treatments, increasing methane production by up to seven-fold. Combined our research demonstrates that lowland microbial communities can overcome temporal and spatial asynchronies in permafrost resource pulses. However, changes in local environmental conditions prompted by thaw are generally a stronger determinant of both ecosystem structure and function in lowland permafrost systems.
This webinar is free of charge and log in information will be provided on your ticket via email following registration. If you are unable to attend this day, please note the webinars are recorded and will be available for viewing shortly after the webinar concludes at https://vimeo.com/
Website Link To Register: https://events.teams.
ESAA Job Board
Check out the new improved ESAA Job Board. Members can post ads for free.
Current Listings:
- Energy Conservation Engineer,City of Lethbridge
- Hydrogeologist, Environmental Engineer or Environmental Scientist
- Terex Environmental Group
- Summer Students and Seasonal Staff, North Shore Environmental Consultants Inc.
- Intermediate Environmental Scientist, Arletta Environmental Consulting Corp
- Emissions Technologist, North Shore Environmental Consultants Inc.
- Intermediate Wildlife Biologist, Ecoventure Inc.
- Intermediate Vegetation and Wetland Ecologist, Ecoventure Inc.
- Environmental Construction Monitor, Ecoventure Inc.