RemTech 2024
Silent Auction NOW OPEN
Still Accepting Items
Auction Opens – October 7th at 10 am
Auctions Closes – October 17th at 6:30 pm
BID NOW
RemTech 2024 will not only be a great learning and networking event, it will also be one of the largest charity fundraisers supported by the environment industry. Since its inception 22 years ago, RemTech delegates have raised over $960,000 for charity. In fact, ESAA events and member activities have raised over $1.96 million for a variety of charities.
Our goal this year is to crack the $1,000,000 mark for RemTech fundraising.
Proceeds raised from the auction will be donated to the following organizations: Ilsa Mae Research Fund at Muscular Dystrophy Canada, Jane Goodall Institute Canada – Roots and Shoots Program, The Wilder Institute – Burrowing Owl Conservation Program and Joe Chowaniec Scholarship Fund at ESAA.
The RemTech Silent Auction is now open and closes at 6:30 pm on October 17th. To view the auction site and bid on the amazing items that have already been donated, visit: https://app.galabid.com/remtech2024/items
You don’t need to be in attendance to participate.
Still Accepting Items
At this time ESAA is requesting items for the silent auction being held during RemTech. The auction will be held via an online auction platform / app and will be open to all delegates and anyone else interested in supporting the 2024 charities. All auction interactions will be electronic, no paper bid sheets.
Suggested donations include, sporting event tickets, hotel stays, electronics, golfing, spa packages, gift cards for local business, unique experiences, etc. Be creative! ESAA may combine items into packages.
All donors will be highlighted on the conference website, on site and on the auction app.
To donate an item, contact Joe Chowaniec at the ESAA Office, chowaniec@esaa.org
The RemTech 2024 auction is sponsored by McLennan Ross LLP.
Visit our sponsors at: https://esaa.org/remtech/sponsors/
WISEST Industry Alliance Launched.
Are you an inclusive-minded employer in a STEM-related industry? Partner with WISEST to empower those who face barriers to pursuing STEM education and careers.
Together, let’s strengthen the STEM Workforce.
Alberta selects Ghost Dam relocation site for new Bow River reservoir
(Source: esemag.com) Alberta is moving forward with the relocated Ghost Dam option as the new reservoir for the Bow River because it has a smaller project footprint and fewer overall impacts to the environment, property and infrastructure, provincial officials announced.
Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Rebecca Schulz, said moving to the new Ghost Dam site will increase water storage capacity that is critical to protecting Calgary and other communities along the Bow River from future floods such as the one that occurred in 2013.
The province will now move to Phase 3 of the Ghost Dam relocation project to focus on the engineering and regulatory approval phase, as the dam and reservoir will be moving downstream to the east.
The Glenbow East option for relocating the Bow River reservoir posed higher risks to downstream communities during construction, including Calgary, provincial officials announced. Its earthfill dam would also be more susceptible to erosion and failure during large flood events compared to the relocated Ghost Dam, which is a concrete gravity dam.
Quebec law firm launches PFAS class action over water contamination
(Source: esemag.com) A Quebec law firm is looking to widen a class action lawsuit against some nine manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances for contaminating private wells in the province with chemicals they produced in spite of mounting warning signs about their products’ risk to health.
Slater Vecchio LLP says it seeks “compensation for both past and future costs” associated with removing PFAS from Quebec’s water supply and invites well owners and municipalities to join the class action launched in late September.
The law firm, which also has an office in British Columbia, initiated the class action based on PFAS contamination claims of a private well owner based in Sainte-Cécile-de-Milton, some 85 kilometres east of Montreal. The lawsuit alleges the well contamination is “a direct result of the defendants’ negligent practices in the production, use, transportation, processing, distribution and disposal of these persistent chemical compounds.”
Named in the lawsuit as defendants to date are companies such as 3M, DuPont, Tyco, BASF, Arkema, Archroma, Chubb, Amerex, and Dynax.
The lawsuit suggests PFAS manufacturers had decades to take action when scientific evidence of risks began to accumulate. Instead, the lawsuit notes there was a “striking contrast” between the mounting evidence of risk and the continued production and use of PFAS products.
At the municipal level, the lawsuit suggests that distribution system operators will have to invest significant amounts of money to integrate PFAS treatment technologies.
The company Avjet Holding inc. fined $200,000 for violating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
Canadians know the value of a healthy and safe environment. Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers strive to ensure that businesses and individuals comply with laws and regulations that protect Canada’s natural environment.
On October 1, 2024, Avjet Holding inc., a company specializing in aviation fuel distribution, was fined $200,000 by the Court of Québec. The company pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The conviction is the result of a petroleum product spill that occurred between January 17 and 18, 2023. The fine will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund to support projects that have a positive impact on Canada’s natural environment.
Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers launched an investigation after being informed of a petroleum product spill at the Natashquan Airport in Quebec. The investigation proved that while delivering fuel, a quantity of approximately 4,900 litres of the product was spilled into the environment. Two valves left open by an Avjet Holding inc. employee, as well as another defective valve in the storage system’s filling cabinet, were the cause of the release.
Releasing a petroleum product into the environment as a result of a leak in, or spill from, a tank is an offence under the Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
As a result of this conviction, the company’s name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry. The Registry contains information on convictions of corporations registered for offences committed under federal environmental laws.
The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report shows deliberate conservation efforts are having a positive impact
Birds are the most accessible and effective indicators of the health of the air, water, and land. When bird populations and their habitats are thriving, we know that people also benefit.
Today, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Birds Canada released The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report. Findings indicate that while many of Canada’s bird populations continue to decline, others have increased due to deliberate and informed conservation efforts. Specifically, the report shows how 463 bird species that regularly occur in Canada have changed since 1970. For each species, the report includes population status, distribution, trends, goals, threats, and conservation actions to protect them.
For the first time, the report includes long-term population goals for all native bird species found in Canada that have sufficient data. These goals will help measure progress in maintaining and restoring bird species across the country, and in halting and reversing biodiversity loss.
The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report is a key tool for Canada to report on Target 21 of the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to ensure that the best available biodiversity data, information, and knowledge are accessible to decision-makers, practitioners, and the public. In a few weeks, Canada and thousands of delegates from around the world will be gathered to take action on protecting nature during the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) at the 2024 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which will be held in Columbia from October 21 to November 1, 2024.
“Birds are at the heart of Canada’s biodiversity. Open-access data supports scientific decision-making and leads to a deeper understanding of our environment. Where deliberate conservation action has been taken, birds have recovered. Together with communities, citizen scientists, and organizations such as Birds Canada, we are working to build a nature-positive future. Canada is committed to halting and reversing nature loss by 2030 and achieving full recovery for nature by 2050.”
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
“Through birds, we find beauty and solace in the natural world. Birds are also an important indicator of the health of our planet. And what they are telling us is that humans are having an impact on bird populations. Both positively, through the conservation of wetlands and the resulting impact on wetland birds, but also negatively, through the drastic decline of grassland birds from habitat loss. For our imperiled grassland birds, the time to act is now.”
– Patrick Nadeau, President and Chief Executive Officer, Birds Canada
Quick facts
The State of Canada’s Birds 2024 report is hosted on the NatureCounts website by Birds Canada. This user-friendly, authoritative, and dynamic platform is frequently updated to incorporate the best available data, offering detailed overviews of each bird species regularly occurring in Canada. NatureCounts is one of the world’s largest biodiversity databases and helps inform many conservation efforts in Canada.
The report focuses on 10 groups of birds: waterfowl, birds of prey, wetland birds, marine birds, forest birds, Arctic birds, long-distance migrants, shorebirds, aerial insectivores, and grassland birds.
The main threats to birds include habitat loss, climate change, outdoor cats, window collisions, and pollution.
Overall results of the report indicate that 36 percent of species has decreased in population, while 31 percent of Canada’s bird species has increased since 1970, with some of strongest recoveries seen in waterfowl, birds of prey, and wetland birds. The data shows us that when deliberate and informed action for conservation is taken, declines in bird populations can be halted and reversed.
This is the third comprehensive assessment of the population status of all bird species that occur in Canada. Previous reports were published in 2019 and 2012, and since then, data has been added and the methods for analysis and assessment have improved. Two new groups have also been analyzed for the first time: long-distance migrants and Arctic birds.
Related products
‘Very’ serious issue: federal transport minister on contamination in northern Alberta town
(Source: CTV News) The renewed pleas of people in Fort Chipewyan, Alta. for government to take action cleaning up contamination in their community have reached the ears of federal Transport Minister Anita Anand.
The community of about 1,200 on the tip of Lake Athabasca is dealing with potentially carcinogenic contamination around its dock. Local leaders are speaking out after they became aware of a 2017 government report identifying the contamination, which they believe was deliberately hidden from locals, who continued to fish and swim in the area.
(Esri Canada)
Allan Adam, chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, alleges a cover-up. “I think it was probably pushed aside, because they didn’t want to gain the media attention it would get. Somebody’s got to be held accountable,” he said.
Anand, who took over the Transport portfolio three weeks ago, responded Monday in Ottawa, addressing concerns over the 2017 report. “My understanding is that the severe health risks that we’re seeing now were not evident at that time, but of course having been in the role for just two weeks, I want to stress on the go forward, I take this issue very seriously.”
A spokesperson from Transport Canada told CTV News the 2017 study into contamination in Fort Chipewyan determined the site was “not likely to pose any risks to human health.”
The site is listed as a ‘medium’ priority on a federal contaminated sites database. The 2017 report cited historical industrial activity and creosote-treated infrastructure as potential sources of contamination. The town’s drinking water is sourced nearby, and suspicion is rampant in the community it isn’t safe for consumption.
“To drink the water, to eat the fish, knowing it’s killing us, but yet we still gotta do it because we don’t have a choice,” April Mercredi, who grew up in the area, told CTV News. “And we don’t want to move. Where we gonna go?”
Locals maintain their health is being compromised.
“I live in this community, I see the people dying of rare cancers,” said Kendrick Cardinal, President of the Fort Chipewyan Metis Nation. An Alberta government report released a decade ago did confirm higher rates of three kinds of cancer. Lily Marcel, an Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation elder, believes cancer has been disproportionately affecting the community for decades. “Come and see our situation. And live it. Drink the water. When they come to our meetings they bring in the bottled water. Why do they do that?” said Marcel.
Fort Chipewyan is downstream from the oil sands, another factor that stokes suspicion, especially after multiple tailings pond spills in Northern Alberta two years ago. The spills led local leaders to demand change in Ottawa. In August, the federal government announced a $12 million, 10-year community-led health study into oil sands impact.
Community leaders are calling for Fort Chipewyan’s drinking water intake to be moved, and the Transport Canada dock area to be cleaned up and dredged. “Don’t forget about us on the corner of northern Alberta. We’re fighting for our lives every day,” Mercredi said.
Researcher says it might be better to leave some old N.S. mine tailings undisturbed
(Source: CBC News) The Montague Gold Mine on the outskirts of Dartmouth, N.S., is full of toxic waste from historical mining that ended in the 1940s.
The mine produced more than two tonnes of gold in its day, but high levels of mercury and arsenic were the result.
With growing environmental concern, Build Nova Scotia promised to start to clean up 60 historical mine sites next year, which will cost at least $148 million.
But one researcher says the best approach to remediation might be to leave some wetland tailings alone.
Montague was classified as high risk along with Goldenville Mine in Guysborough County due to its proximity to people and high levels of arsenic, which are well above the province’s soil quality guideline for human health.
Michael Parsons, a research geologist at Natural Resources Canada, said cleaning up these mine sites is more complicated that it might seem.
In a study, Parsons’s team collected different types of tailings and exposed them to rainwater and oxygen. They determined that while the two types of tailings in this particular mine have the potential to generate acid, the ones that had vegetation growing on them, such as horsetail and ferns, were mostly unreactive.
To Parsons, this means that wetland tailings are more stable under those conditions and should not be disturbed unless it is necessary.
“Mother Nature, over the last eight decades, has re-established that wetland on top of the tailings and the advantage of that is it actually has removed direct contact between the old mine waste and oxygen,” he said.
Linda Campbell, a professor of environmental science at Saint Mary’s University, said this does not mean the species there are thriving.
“If you look closely, you can actually look at the species variation and it’s very limited. It’s to just tolerant species,” she said, speaking through a sign language interpreter.
“And not only that, when they do grow, they’re very stunted in their growth compared to when they’re growing in a healthier area”
Parsons said the other type of mining waste found at the site, known as hardpan tailing, contains high levels of arsenic and is dusty, allowing it to travel through the air when it gets windy.
But the wind is not the only thing blowing the toxic dust. Off-road vehicles using the Montague site as a race track are part of the problem.
Parsons said the hardpan tailings could be contained to avoid erosion but the province must then control access to the site to avoid human interference.
“There are a lot of excellent solutions to try and encapsulate waste and cover them with various engineered covers, but you also need to make sure that people are not actively running over those mine waste landforms with off-road vehicles and that,” he said.
Campbell said the dust can be bad for the health of local communities, calling mercury and arsenic a “double whammy” of toxins.
Donnie Burke, the senior environmental director with Build Nova Scotia, said the in an email that it is aware of the study and plans a cleanup that is supported by research.
“The conclusions [of the study] align with how our geochemists anticipate treating the two bigger sites, Montague and Goldenville where we have thoroughly delineated and validated the wetland areas to limit disturbance of tailings,” he wrote.
The province will begin to clean up dozens of historical mine sites around the province next year. But a recent study shows the process is complicated. Giuliana Grillo reports.
ESAA Member News
Cement maker Lafarge opens low-carbon fuel facility at Alberta plant
(Source: Canadian Press) Cement producer Lafarge Canada Inc. says it has installed a new facility at its Exshaw, Alta., plant that will use construction waste to reduce the plant’s reliance on fossil fuels.
The company, which held a ribbon-cutting for the $38-million facility Thursday, says it will use discarded wood that would otherwise end up emitting methane in landfills to instead produce power for use in its cement production.
It says it expects the use of this alternative fuel source to replace up to 50 per cent of the natural gas typically used for one of the plant’s cement-making kilns.
Lafarge has a dedicated commercial company, Geocycle Canada, that specializes in alternative fuels and raw materials. Geocycle is responsible for processing the construction demolition waste into low-carbon fuels and transporting them by truck to the plant.
Lafarge says the technology is expected to divert 120,000 tonnes of construction waste from landfills each year, and cut the Exshaw plant’s carbon dioxide emissions by up to 30,000 tonnes annually — the equivalent of taking about 9,200 passenger vehicles off the road.
The Exshaw cement plant is one of Larfarge’s biggest plants in North America. It is a major supplier of cement for Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Upcoming Events
AER OneStop Record of Site Condition (RoSC) Information Sessions
As part of AERs ongoing engagement activities, a series of 90 minute live online sessions have been scheduled that will focus on OneStop RoSC submissions under the new Notice of Contamination intent, which supports Release Reporting and is scheduled for release on Wednesday October 16, 2024.
This new submission intent is to fulfil release reporting requirements (under EPEA S.111 and Release Reporting Regulation S.4) and may be used for unreported lower-risk situations where there is no ongoing incident resulting in substances being released to the environment. For all other situations, release reporting must continue to be carried out via the 24-hour Energy & Environmental Response Line at 1-800-222-6514.
These four sessions will be delivered through Microsoft Teams:
- Monday October 21 (10:00-11:30),
- Thursday October 24 (13:00-14:30)
- Monday October 28 (13:00-14:30) and
- Wednesday October 30 (13:00-14:30)
Attendees are expected to be familiar with the RoSC OneStop Submission module.
Topics covered will include:
- Overview of the RoSC intents of submission
- Demonstration of the new “Notice of Contamination” intent of submission
- New RoSC mapping component
- Other recent updates to the OneStop RoSC
- General observations and advice on RoSC Submissions
- Public access to information
There will be opportunity to ask questions and familiarize yourself with requirements, expectations and process.
To register, sign up through Eventbrite here.
Further information is available on the AER website, in Manual 021: Contamination Management and in the OneStop Contamination Management Quick Reference Guides
2024 Alberta Acoustics Conference: A Must-Attend for Environmental Professionals
Join us on November 8th in Calgary for the 2024 Alberta Acoustics Conference, an event designed to bring together environmental practitioners, regulatory experts, and acoustics professionals. This conference offers a unique opportunity for those in the environmental field to expand their knowledge of acoustics, engage with industry leaders, and participate in discussions that are shaping the future of sound management.
Why Attend?
- Introductory Acoustics Course: Perfect for those new to the field, this hands-on course covers the fundamentals of acoustics and noise management.
- Panel Discussions: Learn from experts during sessions on Indigenous Knowledge in Environmental Acoustics Assessments, Artificial Intelligence in Acoustics, and Sustainable Architecture.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals from a wide range of industries, expanding your network and learning from peers.
- Evening Social Event: Unwind with colleagues and enjoy food, drinks, and entertainment at our evening event, offering a relaxed atmosphere to continue conversations and make new connections.
With engaging presentations, insightful panel discussions, and a focus on practical applications, this is a can’t-miss event for those looking to integrate acoustic principles into environmental assessments and regulatory practices.
The full itinerary is here: https://aanvis.ca/2024-
Register today to secure your spot and take part in shaping the future of acoustics in Alberta.Website Link To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
Canadian Environmental and Engineering Executives Conference (CE3C) 2025 Conference
Save the Date! January 29-30, 2025 | Vancouver, BC
This year’s conference features insightful panel discussions covering the latest industry trends, strategic business development, and innovative approaches to the challenges facing environmental and engineering firms. Topics include Purposeful Planning and Business Transitions, Optimizing Efficiency in Accounting & Project Management Systems, and the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence in the industry. These discussions are crafted to provide practical strategies that executives can take back to their organizations.
On Day 2, don’t miss the Keynote Forum, where renowned speaker Nik Nanos, one of Canada’s top data scientists, will share his insights on the role of Artificial Intelligence in business and productivity. Nik will delve into AI’s potential, opportunities, and challenges, providing a unique perspective on how this technology is reshaping industries.
CE3C isn’t just about attending—it’s about actively shaping the future of the industry. Whether it’s networking with peers, gaining actionable insights, or benchmarking your organization against the best in the industry, this conference provides the tools and connections to drive your business forward. Join us on January 29-30, 2025, and be part of the conversation that’s shaping the future of environmental and engineering consulting in Canada. Learn more and register at ce3c.ca, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay updated with the latest news and announcements.
Training – Alberta Tier 2 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines
Interactive, hands-on training workshops on the use of the Alberta Tier 2 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines will be held on the following dates:
November 27-28, 2024 – Calgary
December 11-12, 2024 – Edmonton
To register, please go to Fall 2024 – Tier 2 Training Course Dates Announced | Millennium EMS Solutions Ltd.
The workshops will be taught by Millennium EMS Solutions Ltd. Enrolment is limited due to the hands-on nature of the workshops.
Should you be interested but unable to attend on those dates, the link also includes contact information to indicate your interest in future sessions. Additional dates may be scheduled to accommodate demand.
ESAA Job Board
Check out the new improved ESAA Job Board. Members can post ads for free.
Current Listings:
- Senior Environmental Planner –Stantec
- Site Investigation & Remediation (SIR) Team Lead –Stantec Consulting Services Inc.
- Environmental Risk Assessment & Technical Reporting – Arletta Environmental Consulting Corp
- Senior Hydrogeologist, Contaminant Modelling – Alberta Energy Regulator