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Understanding
Environmental
Site Assessments
Webinar
By Claudel Babineau-Boulé
Project Officer 1
FNQLSDI
Why follow this webinar?
1. To understand what consultants do;
2. To understand the main steps of environmental site assessments
(ESAs);
3. To refresh and reinforce current knowledge or personal curiosity.
To whom is this addressed?
2
Webinar Plan
1. Managing Contaminated Sites in Quebec and Canada
2. Contaminants and Sources of Contamination
3. Environmental Site Assessments (Phase I, II, III) and Site
Remediation
4. Available Tools and Online Guides
3
Managing Contaminated Sites in
Quebec and Canada
1 4
Managing Contaminated Sites in
Quebec and Canada
VS
Crown lands and traditional territory: two approaches
5
Approaches
Federal Provincial
1999: Federal approach to 1988: Land Rehabilitation Policy
contaminated sites (10 steps)
1998: Soil protection and
2005-2020: Federal Contaminated Contaminated Sites Rehabilitation
Sites Action Plan (FCSAP). Policy
2016: Intervention guide on the Soil
Mostly based on the Canadian Protection and Contaminated Sites
Environmental Quality Guidelines of Rehabilitation Policy
the Canadian Council of Ministers
of the Environment. 2017-2021: 2017-2021 Action Plan
Mostly based on the generic criteria
of contaminated soils developed by
the Ministère Environnement et
Lutte contre les changements
climatiques 6
Federal Contaminated Sites Decision-making
Framework
• Identify Suspect Site
Step 1
• Historical Review (Phase I – Environmental Site Assessment (ESA))
Step 2
• Initial testing program (Phase II - ESA)
Step 3
• Classify contaminated site using the CCME national classification system
Step 4
• Detailed testing program (Phase III - ESA)
Step 5
• Reclassify the site using CCME national classification system
Step 6
• Develop remediation/risk management strategy (remediation/risk management)
Step 7
• Implement remediation/risk management strategy (remediation/risk management)
Step 8
• Confirmatory sampling and final report (remediation/risk management)
Step 9
• Long-term monitoring (remediation/risk management)
Step 10
7
Legal Application
Federal Provincial
• Canadian Environmental • Soil protection and
Protection Act, 1999 remediation of contaminated
• Fisheries Act land Policy
• Canadian Environmental • ENVIRONMENT QUALITY ACT
Assessment Act, 2012 Division IV.2.1);
• Nuclear Safety and Control Act • Land Protection and
(1997) Rehabilitation Regulation
• Mine site reclamation policies • Regulation respecting the
• Policy on Management of Real burial of contaminated soils
Property • Regulation respecting
• Storage Tank Systems for contaminated soil storage and
Petroleum Products and Allied contaminated soil transfer
Petroleum Products stations.
Regulations
8
Contaminants and Sources of Contamination 2 9
What are Contaminants?
Radioactive
Organic Inorganic
and Other
Hydrocarbons Metals Uranium
Viruses,
Pesticides bacteria and
other
Solvents
And more!
Image de dexystore.com
10Toxic Effects on Humans
Effects
Human Health Wildlife
Effects on reproduction,
Organics Inorganics growth, behavior
Bioaccumulation in vital
Carcinogens Carcinogens
organs (mercury, PCBs)
Liver and kidney problems
Problems to the nervous
Chloracne Mortality
system
Decrease in bone density
Source: The ABC of Contaminated Sites, Mario Cormier, Environment et
Climate Change Canada, July 2018
11Contamination Sources and Activities?
Industrial activities;
Commercial activities using chemical products;
Sudden or long-term leakage;
Accidental spillage, fire, etc.;
Disposal of different products;
Migration of contaminants from a neighboring site;
Intentional contaminant release; (illegal dumping)
Etc.
12Case example :
Trichloroethylene in Shannon
Groundwater contamination
In 2000, after the analysis of the city’s
groundwater, the municipality of
Shannon found that it was
contaminated by trichloroethylene.
This chemical product was used by
the forces on the military base in
Valcartier to clean the weaponry.
This contamination would later be
linked to an increase in cancer
diagnosis in the area all the way to Source: Reportages Enquête– Radio-Canada : 2009 and
Val-Bélair. 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6qkdq0rpuI
https://ici.radio-
The debate is ongoing… canada.ca/tele/enquete/site/episodes/395880/enquete-
shannon-eau-contamination-recherche
13Most Common Contaminants
Petroleum Hydrocarbons
Heating Oil Gasoline, Diesel
(La presse.ca)
Incomplete Combustion Used Oils
14Most Common Contaminants
Organochlorines (solvents)
Salesforce.com Journal de Montréal
Use of perchloroethylene in dry-cleaning
Old transformer with
circuits
Polychloronated Byphenils
(PCBs)
15Most Common Contaminants
Metals
Naturascience.com
Lead in car batteries Electronic appliances and their components
Lead paint Metal processed by the industry 16Case study (heating oil contamination) :
Green quadruplex, Opitciwan
Groundwater contamination
The community is supplied by two wells that are respectively, 60 and 170 metres from
the contamination
2008: Abnormally low level in reservoir testifies to a spill estimated at 8000 L =
dismantling of the reservoir and piping
2008: Environmental characterization of soils and groundwater = 615 m³ of
contaminated soil to a depth of 6 metres = closure of well 1-85
2009: Attempt to relocate the drinking water well = inconclusive.
17Case study:
Suite
Groundwater contamination
Fall 2010: Groundwater sampling = downstream migration of contamination,
contaminated soils estimated at 1,875 m³ and 8 m depth
Fall 2011: Environmental remediation = relocation of the quadruplex
Spring 2014: Installation of a charcoal filtration system on well 1–85 (trace amounts
of benzene) since well 1–96 is no longer sufficient by itself
2011 to 2014: Biannual monitoring of groundwater quality = concentration levels well
below the recommended criteria
18Environmental Site Assessments
(ESA)
3 19Environmental Site Assesment
What is environmental site assessment?
“A systematic process with which an assessor investigates if there is a risk of
potentiel or actual contamination on a property.
The assessor analyses the past and current activities which have occurred at the
site in order to measure if thoses activities have an environmental impact on the
site.
When needed, the environmental assessor will sample the soil, the groundwater
and other elements (such as air, isolating material, etc.) in order to conclude if the
site and/or the building is contaminated or not.
The ESA consists of four steps: phase I, phase II, phase III et remediation.”
Free translation from the Association québécoise de vérification environnementale
(AQVE)
20Phase I - ESA: Historial Review
Goal: Detecting signs of actual or potential site
pollution.
Based on the CSA—Z768-01 (R2016)
Components:
1. Study and historical review;
2. Site visit;
3. Interview;
4. Data analysis and report.
To determine if there is an activity at the site or around the site that
represents a risk of contamination to the property under study.
To target the area potentially contaminated and the different sources
of contamination.
21Phase I - ESA: Historical Review
Study and historical review
Researching the following:
• Title deeds to establish a list of previous owners or
tenants
• Aerial photographs
• Request for access to information from various
Ministries
• Inventory of Contaminated Sites, Inventory of Soil
and Industrial Waste Disposal Sites, and Federal
Contaminated Site Inventory
• Urgency-Environnement Response Registry
• Groundwater Information System (SIH)
• Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ)
• Fire insurance plans
• Previous reports
• Topographic, geological, hydrogeological and soil
maps
22Phase I – ESA : Historical Review
Site investigation and interview
The interview and site inspection are conducted with someone familiar
with the site;
What is looked at:
Specific products on site (chemical, hazardous, etc.);
Storage on or near the site;
Spots on the floor;
Heating and cooling systems, current or former;
Drains and sumps;
The nature of activities on the site as well as neighboring sites;
The presence of backfill and the topography of the site and
surrounding area;
Any other element that might indicate the presence of potential or
actual contamination.
23Some indicators during the visit…
Spots on the
floor;
No concrete slab;
Vent and filling
pipes;
Two holes on the
wall;
Backfill;
Etc.
24Phase I - ESA: Historical Review
Data analysis and report
The Canadian Standard Association (CSA) recommends the following
sections in the report:
Table of content
Introduction
Description of the site
File review
Site visit
Interview
Results
Assessment of the results
Conclusion
Conclusion Recommendations
1. The study has revealed no evidence of no further environmental study
potential and/or actual risks of contamination in is recommended at this time.
connection with the site under study.
2. The study has revealed evidence of potential A phase II – ESA is
and/or actual risks of contamination. recommended
25Phase II - ESA: Preliminary Caracterization
(Initial testing program)
Goal: Determine the presence and degree of contamination in the
environment; follows the ESA—Phase I
Based on CSA—Z769-F00 (C2013)
Components:
1. Planning the sampling program;
2. Field work;
3. Analyzing samples;
4. Data interpretation and reporting.
26Phase II - ESA: Preliminary Caracterization
Planning the sampling program
Developing a sampling program
Determining which parameters to analyze
Choosing sampling and quality assurance techniques
27Phase II - ESA: Preliminary Caracterization
Field work
Locating potential underground
infrastructures
Sampling and identification
according to recommended
methodology
Cleaning of the instruments
Recording notes and taking photos
Source: Beconflluence.com
28Phase II - ESA: Preliminary Caracterization
Analyzing samples
Choosing an accredited
laboratory;
Sending the chosen
samples.
29Phase II - ESA: Preliminary caracterization
Data interpretation and reporting
Assessing the results
Reporting
Conclusions
Three potential conclusions:
No contamination found
Complementary Phase III recommended
Remediation-Risk Management
30Phase III- ESA
(Detailed testing program)
Goal: Obtaining more information in order to
complete information missing in phase II
The study enables to better define the nature, extent and specific
location of the contamination in order to establish the potential cost of
remediation/Risk Management.
Components: Similar to a phase II — ESA
1. Planning the sampling program;
2. Field work;
3. Analyzing samples;
4. Data interpretation and reporting.
31Remediation
Remediation or risk management
Goal: Reducing the risks related to contamination
Respecting the applicable regulations and
recommendations.
Remediating, confining and/or stabilizing the contamination.
Components:
1 Defining the goals of the remediation;
2 Selecting a technique;
3 Obtaining authorization if required;
4 Remediation, follow-up and reporting.
32Remediation
Techniques
off-site
in situ intervention ex situ intervention management
Solneuf.com
Source: Wikipedia.org
Source: Akifer.com 33Remediation
Different methods of treatment
Chemical/Physical: Represents the most diverse group of remediation
technologies, includes soil vapor extraction, solidification/stabilization,
oxidation, soil flushing, and electrokinetic separation.
Thermal: Thermal treatment generally involves the destruction or removal
of contaminants through exposure to high temperature in treatment cells,
combustion chambers or other means used to contain the contaminated
media during the remediation process. (source: Clu-in.org)
Biological: Bioremediation uses microorganisms to degrade organic
contaminants in soil, groundwater, sludge, and solids. The microorganisms
break down contaminants by using them as an energy source or
cometabolizing them with an energy source.
(source: Clu-in.org)
34Risk Management
An Alternative
Goal: Removing exposure to Last Century
contamination!
What are the receptors (human, wildlife
etc.)? Will they be impacted?
Toxicological and Ecotoxicological study.
When: -Prohibitive remediation costs
-Special exposure conditions Today
-Technical constraints to site
remediation
Why?
Allowing the use of the soil at the site;
Recovering contaminated sites.
35Available Tools and Online Guides 4 36
Available Tools and Online Guides
CCME Documents – GUIDANCE MANUAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SITE
CHARACTERIZATION IN SUPPORT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH RISK
ASSESSMENT
https://www.ccme.ca/en/resources/contaminated_site_management/assessment.html
Guide de caractérisation des terrains, Publications du Québec, 2003
http://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/sol/terrains/guide/guidecaracterisation.pdf
Guide d'échantillonnage à des fins d'analyses environnementales, Centre d'expertise
en analyse environnementale du Québec, Gouvernement du Québec
http://www.ceaeq.gouv.qc.ca/documents/publications/echantillonnage.htm
Guide d’intervention – Protection des sols et réhabilitation des terrains contaminés
http://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/sol/terrains/guide-intervention/guide-intervention-
protection-rehab.pdf
The CSA standards are available online, at a cost of approximately 100$.
https://store.csagroup.org/?cclcl=en_US
37Available Tools and Other Guides
Federal Contaminated Sites
Inventory;
https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/fcsi-
rscf/home-accueil-eng.aspx
Répertoire des terrains
contaminés (provincial);
http://www.environnement.gouv.qc
.ca/sol/terrains/terrains-
contamines/recherche.asp
38Questions?
Claudel Babineau-Boulé
Project Officer - Environment
FNQLSDI
250, Place Chef Michel-Laveau, suite 201
Wendake (Québec) G0A 4V0
Made possible thanks to the T : 418 843-9999 F : 418 843-3625
financial contribution of Cbabineau-boule@iddpnql.ca
Indigenous Services Canada www.iddpnql.ca
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