You’ve just discovered that your underground storage tank (UST) and/or associated underground piping has been leaking petroleum products into the environment. The difference between this becoming an expensive nightmare and “just” a response activity may depend on your measured response. Certainly, you need to make sure you are doing everything you can to minimize your release and the subsequent impact to human health and the environment while maintaining compliance....
Read MoreKeystone XL Pipeline – Good for the Environment?
The recent train derailment in West Virginia that was, reportedly, carrying Bakken crude from North Dakota’s shale fields may very well put the Tar Sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline … and the politics thereof … back into the top of the news cycle. It was just last month The Globe and Mail reported that the current US Legislative “revolt” over the Keystone XL Pipeline is just a delay and that, “The revolt will likely be a temporary setback to the legislation.” In other...
Read MoreThis is Why You Choose Your Environmental Experts Carefully
In our August 29, 2014, blog, we outlined a favourable outcome in a case in which we were environmental experts. In the end, our client was awarded over $4.5 million. In this case, the environmental expert for the opposing side lacked a disciplined approach to understanding the environmental contaminants. In an environmental case and subsequent ruling in British Columbia (BC), lacking a disciplined approach was the least of the problems. Environmental Appeals Board Ruling...
Read MoreNew NPRI Data Published
One textbook definition of pollution is, “A substance present in greater than natural concentration as a result of human activity that has a net detrimental effect upon its environment or upon something of value in that environment” (Environmental Chemistry, Ninth Edition). Not bad, but even this definition is loaded with qualifiers. For those of us who have environmental management responsibilities, we need to clearly understand not only the textbook definition of...
Read MoreFive Environmental Resolutions for 2015
It’s that time of year again, time to make some resolutions for the New Year. Here are some potential environmental resolutions for you to consider as you begin to plan your 2015. Resolve to Reassess Long-Term Remediation We begin here because, for many companies, this can be a major expense and headache. The operations and maintenance on your groundwater remediation system and the quarterly or semi-annual monitoring costs add up pretty fast. A good starting point is to...
Read MoreDragun Associates Earn Professional Designations
Congratulations to Dragun Associates, Katherine Rey, Andrew Tymec, and Khaled Chekiri, who have earned professional designations in 2014. Environmental Professional Katherine Rey was recently awarded the “Environmental Professional” Certification from the Canadian Environmental Certification Approvals Board (CECAB). The CECAB is responsible for overseeing the administration, evaluation, and approval of the Environmental Careers Organization (ECO), Canada’s certification...
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