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Managing Excess Soils at Aggregates and Quarries in Ontario
Funded, but not endorsed by the Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP), was a recent report “Best Management Practices for Aggregate Pit and Quarry Rehabilitation in Ontario.” The document was developed in March 2021 by the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. BMP for Excess Soils The purpose of the document is stated as “The BMPs are intended to assist Qualified Persons (QPs), municipalities, aggregate licensees, and operators in evaluating options for using excess soils to rehabilitate pits and quarries in a safe,...
read morePFAS Contamination and Release to Lake Ontario
In their 1971 song, “Don’t Go Near the Water” the Beach Boys decided to get more political. This was nothing like their other offerings as it tackled the issue of water pollution. Water, clean water in particular is essential for every aspect of human existence. While we have advanced tremendously in environmental protection since 1971, we cannot rest on our accomplishments. PFAS Found Near Canadian Military Base PFAS or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance have been a little under the radar in Canada. My colleagues in Michigan have been...
read moreEnvironmental Progress at Lake Simcoe
Tracing the roots of environmental protection, we can point to early efforts in the 1800s and early 1900s such as establishing the Canadian Forestry Association in 1900,.but it was in the 1960s and 1970s when the framework for our current environmental protection was established. Environment and Climate Change Canada was founded in 1971 then referred to as the Department of the Environment. Since this time, we have seen an increased focus on environmental protection. It is easy to lose sight of the progress we have made over the past 50...
read more“Weakened Environmental Rules,” COVID, and a Strengthening Economy
2020 was a year like no other. COVID led to changes in just about every aspect of our lives, including how regulators enforced environmental rules. Not that enforcement is currently on holiday, but we do expect more attention on environmental matters as the economy recovers. “Weakened Environmental Rules” A recent study from the University of Calgary looked at “weakened environmental rules” under the pandemic. The author noted that “across Canada, the most common moves were to defer fees or extend timelines for reporting requirements. Few...
read moreProposed updates to Records of Site Condition – Part 2
On January 4, 2021, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) posted three proposals on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (for Records of Site Condition). The proposals were posted for comments from Qualified Persons (QPs), municipalities, and stakeholders. The comment period for these documents is open until April 4, 2021. We are again looking at just a portion of the 82-page document. For details, see Records of Site Condition: A Guide on Site Assessment, the Cleanup of Brownfield Sites. On March 10, 2021, we...
read moreProposed updates to Records of Site Condition Part 1: Excess Soils
On January 4, 2021, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) posted three proposals on the Environmental Registry of Ontario. The proposals are open for comments from Qualified Persons (QPs), municipalities, and stakeholders until April 4, 2021. The three documents, listed below, provide guidance to support the brownfields program. Proposed updates to Records of Site Condition: A Guide on Site Assessment, the Cleanup of Brownfield Sites and the Filing of Records of Site Condition (RSC Guide) Proposed updates to the...
read moreEnvironmental Policies and Pipelines
Environmental issues affect just about every aspect of our lives and our economy. And when your largest trading partner lives next door, their environmental policies can significantly impact your life – some more than others. While the relations between Canada and the US have their ups and downs, in general we are friendly neighbours and trading partners. One area where there has been some recent strife involves pipelines, including Keystone XL Pipeline. On his first day in office, US President, Joseph Biden signed an Executive Order (EO)...
read more2021 Environmental Enforcement News in Canada is Underway
Environmental Enforcement news in Canada has kicked off 2021 with a significant penalty. The events that led to the settlements below occurred a few years ago, but the settlements happened in 2021. $675,000 Settlement Environment and Climate Change Canada reports, “On January 21, 2021, the Compagnie d’Arrimage de Québec Ltée pleaded guilty in the Court of Quebec in the District of Québec to one count of contravening the Fisheries Act. The company was fined $100,000. In addition to the fine, the Court ordered the company to pay an amount of...
read moreEnvironmental Release to Air and Issues with Odours
An article from last summer discusses why environmental management is a great educational/career path this way, “You can change the world for the better.” That’s a nice sound bite for university recruiting, but perhaps a bit idealistic. Nowhere in university recruiting material are you likely to find them promoting the often mundane reporting requirements, limited budgets with increased responsibilities, or the headaches when, despite your best efforts, you have to deal with an issue that has unfortunately, grabbed the community’s attention....
read moreEnvironmental Contaminants Measured in Canadians
In our environmental site assessments, we evaluate chemicals (in soil, water, and air) based on regulatory standards established by the provincial or federal government. These limits are established based on what is protective of human health and the environment. Canadian Health Measures Survey Looking, specifically, at the human health aspect is the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). This survey, among other things, tests humans (blood and urine) for certain environmental contaminants. The CHMS is a national survey that is led by...
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