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Keystone 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 words, politics as usual. Political positioning aside, is the Keystone...
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 The ruling came last September (2014), and the attention it received...
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 pollution, but the regulatory definition and what the public may view as...
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 have a meeting with your consultant and ask them for an update on when...
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 of Environmental Professionals (EP). Katherine’s EP designation by ECO...
read moreWater Discharge Results in Significant Fine
Here’s a riddle: You can drink it, you can bathe in it, and you can brew your coffee or tea in it – but if you discharge it to a river, you can get fined – a lot! Answer: Water Here’s the background: Environment Canada fined Norellco Contractors $185,000 after it pleaded guilty to one count under the Fisheries Act. There were two separate releases of “chlorinated water” that resulted in the fine. Discharge Events The first record of a release was on June 26, 2012, when Environment Canada received notice that a contractor had broken a...
read moreVapour Intrusion from TCE – The Politics and the Science
One of my colleagues in our US office recently completed presenting a series of five environmental seminars that spanned several months. The seminars were part of continuing education classes for a group of real estate professionals. His role was to provide an update on some of the more recent environmental regulatory developments. One of the main points he focused on was vapour intrusion (VI). My colleague said, “The group had some lively dialogue at these seminars about VI.” It seems anytime we do a seminar that involves VI, the...
read moreEnvironmental Site Assessment Essentials for Remediation Success
As a geologist with more than two decades of environmental experience, I am admittedly biased, but I will tell you, without hesitation, that if you have any hope of succeeding in your environmental remediation efforts, you must spend the necessary time up front in assessing your site. In fact, if you have ever been to any of our seminars or webinars or have read any of our articles, you know that the Dragun culture is one based on being very meticulous. While it may seem somewhat extreme, if you assume everything you do during site...
read moreChemicals Management Plan Approaches the Third Phase
Triclosan, mentioned in our July 17th blog, is just one of thousands of existing chemicals and compounds that are being assessed under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). CEPA has been called the “catch all legislation” because it is meant to address chemicals and compounds that were already in use in Canada that may not have been assessed. These 23,000 existing chemicals and substances are found on the Domestic Substance List. Substances not on this list would be considered “new” and must be reported prior to importation or...
read moreEnvironmental Enforcement at Dry Cleaners
On July 8, 2014, Environment Canada announced that a Vancouver-based dry cleaner had plead guilty and was fined $9,500 under the Tetrachloroethylene Regulations (SOR/2003-79). The offences included two open containers of wastewater, one open container of sludge waste, and the absence of proper secondary containment around these three containers. Dry Cleaners Will be Inspected If you have dry-cleaning operations in Canada, you would do well to pay attention to this and other recent actions by Environment Canada. Several months ago, my...
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