Contaminated Properties Conference |
PIRI Newsletter #3 October 2002
The first regional conference on Contaminated Properties in Atlantic Canada will take place in Moncton, N.B. from October 28-30. The PIRI Committee is developing the conference in partnership with the NBEIA, whose expertise has been invaluable.
As the first of what the PIRI Committee hopes will be an annual event, this conference is designed for anyone who deals with contaminated properties. By discussing the principles of risk-based corrective action, how contaminated sites are managed and the roles of different players, conference participants should come away from the two days with a better understanding of the process. The presenters include bankers, lawyers, insurers and researchers, as well as environmental professionals.
The conference is drawing high-caliber speakers from across the region and from Quebec, Ontario, Washington DC and Houston, Texas. The full program is available at www.atlanticrbca.com and from the NBEIA at www.nbeia.nb.ca. To register, contact the NBEIA at 506-455-0212.
The Atlantic PIRI Committee is looking to partner with the Environmental Industry Associations in the region to work on similar conferences in the future.
The software that site professionals use to develop a risk-based clean-up of a contaminated site is being upgraded. Version 2.0 of the Atlantic RBCA software tool is undergoing the final steps in testing and should be available in the fall of 2002. The software upgrade incorporates changes that harmonize the Atlantic regional approach with the Canada-wide standards for petroleum hydrocarbons in soil (PHC-CWS), adopted in November 2001. Version 2.0 of the software is also easier to use.
The updated software should be available in the fall from Groundwater Services Inc. for $795 (US). Current users of Atlantic RBCA will be able to update their program for $295 (US).
As the finishing touches are put on the new version of the software, the PIRI Committee is revising and improving its' User Guidance Documentation. All documentation for Atlantic RBCA, including the new User Guidance document when it is completed this fall, is available for download from www.atlanticrbca.com.
A renewed Memorandum of Understanding for the development and promotion of Atlantic Risk-Based Corrective Action in the Atlantic Provinces was signed by all four Deputy Ministers responsible for environment in February 2002.
The MOU requires the Atlantic PIRI Committee, with representatives from all four provinces and industry, to continue working together to encourage people to understand and work with the concepts and tools of Atlantic RBCA.
In accordance with the new MOU, the Atlantic PIRI Committee will be reporting to the Council of Atlantic Premiers, in November 2002 on the progress in remediating contaminated sites using Atlantic RBCA in each of the Provinces.
All provinces are working on the problems of home fuel-oil spills. In Prince Edward Island, implementation of regulations for home heat tanks is well underway and is getting a positive reception. Incidences of leaks in the winter of 2002 were down compared to 2001.
Nova Scotia has circulated its Domestic Fuel Oil Spill Policy for public review and Newfoundland has started implementation of its home heating Tank regulations, with some support from the PEI experience.
New Brunswick is reviewing its Guideline for the Management of Contaminated Sites, and has solicited input from stakeholders. The Dept. of the Environment and Local Government will be holding a seminar for site professionals in November to clarify the Limited Remedial Action process in its Guideline.
Newfoundland is developing a new set of Guidelines for the Management of Contaminated Sites
With a renewed mandate and the update to the software, the Atlantic PIRI committee expects to be busy. Upcoming issues include:
Evaluating the use of the fuel additive MtBE in Atlantic Canada.
Review of the Minimum Site Assessment Guidelines
Working with Limited Remedial Action
Identifying stakeholder issues
Training with the new software
For more information
about the Atlantic PIRI Committee and Atlantic RBCA documentation, visit the
Atlantic RBCA web site www.atlanticrbca.com
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