What Atlantic PIRI Does

[Atlantic PIRI Objectives] [Non-Technical] [Technical] [Communications]

Atlantic PIRI Objectives

1. Maintain and enhance consistency between the Atlantic Provinces in the remediation of petroleum contaminated sites.
2. To maintain and enhance consistency between the four Atlantic Provinces in the redevelopment of brownfield properties.
3. To provide continued technical support to each provincial environmental regulator in the application of Atlantic RBCA and brownfield redevelopment.
4. To monitor, evaluate and integrate into the Atlantic RBCA process appropriate advances in risk assessment and risk management techniques for contaminated sites. Specific to this objective is to ensure that the Atlantic RBCA process provides equivalent, or better protection than the CCME Canada Wide Standard for Petroleum Hydrocarbons in soil.
5. To provide a forum to encourage harmonized regulatory and legislative changes necessary to implement a harmonized brownfield redevelopment policy throughout Atlantic Canada.
6. To enhance communication with stakeholders to further their knowledge of, and participation in, brownfield redevelopment.
7. To work within each jurisdiction and involve provincial agencies with economic, social and environmental development mandates to further brownfield redevelopment opportunities.

Working Groups and Task Groups

Much of Atlantic PIRI’s work is accomplished through three Working Groups and issue-specific ad hoc Task Groups.

Harmonisation Working Group

Each province in Atlantic Canada retains the responsibility for developing policy and implementing its’ own programs. The forum Atlantic PIRI provides helps regulators identify issues, harmonise their approaches and share best practices.

Current Activities

• Policy & Technical Harmonisation
• Discussion of issues related development of regulations,
  such as Third Party Notification and Liability
• Identify Regulatory Discretionary areas in the User Guidance Documentation
• Prepare a harmonised Site Closure Report template

Technical Working Group

Atlantic PIRI is responsible for technical support to the provinces and for ensuring the Atlantic RBCA process is updated as new requirements develop. This includes technical training and continuous improvement of the Atlantic RBCA technical tool.

Current Activities

• Enhance Atlantic ecological screening method
• Technical harmonisation of the Atlantic RBCA technical tool with CCME Canada-Wide Standards
• Consider inclusion of non-petroleum COCs in the software model
• Subject Matter Expert support to e-learning initiative

  An Ecological Screening Task Group was struck in May 2006, including the following members:

  • Rita Mroz, Environment Canada / Atlantic PIRI, Task Group Leader
  • Brian Drover, Environment Canada
  • Peter Miasek, Esso/CPPI
  • Rob Willis, Cantox
  • Ulysses Klee, Dillon
  • Rein Jaagumagi, Dillon
  • Malcolm Stephenson, JWEL
  • Dan Hemsworth, NSDEL
  • Doug Spry, Environment Canada
  • Tom Parkerton, Exxon Mobil, New Jersey
  • Kelly Potter, Environment Canada-Ottawa

Stakeholders Working Group

Central to Atlantic PIRI is communications to ensur that people have the information they require about Atlantic RBCA and Provincial policy and regulations. By providing clear understandable information to site professionals, government departments and the public, Atlantic PIRI will increase community confidence in how contaminated properties are managed.

• Atlantic RBCA web site
• Annual Report
• Liaison with CCME and other government organizations
• Presentations to national organizations
• Facilitate communication between Atlantic PIRI members

Page updated February 2009