1. Management of Contaminated Sites
Sameh Elsayed, M.Sc.,M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Senior Environmental Engineer
Environmental Management Services
Alberta Transportation

2. Contents Contamination Classification and Transport
Management of Contaminated Sites
Contaminants Release & Reporting

3. Contaminants Classification and Transport

4. Contaminants Classification
Metals and Heavy Metals
Non-metal Contaminants
Organic Contaminants
Combustible Materials
Liquids and gases
Asbestos
Bio-hazardous waste
Radioactive Materials

5. Metals and Heavy Metals
Arsenic (As)
Boron (B)
Cadmium (Cd)
Chromium (Cr)
(III or VI)
Cobalt (Co)
Copper (Cu)
Iron (Fe)
Lead (Pb)
Manganese (Mn)
Mercury (Mg
Nickel (Ni)
Selenium (Se)
Zinc (Z)

6. Non-Metals Chloride (Cl) Cyanides (CNs) Fluoride (F) Phosphate (P)
Sulphur (S)

7. Organic Compounds Hydrocarbons (HC) Poly-aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)
Halogenated Hydrocarbons
Dioxins
PCB’s
Phenols
Solvents

8. Combustible Materials
Cereal dust
Coal dust
Oils

9. Contaminants Transport
Atmospheric Fallout
Oxide fume emissions from coal power stations.
Hydrocarbon emissions from vehicles and other means of transport.
Acidic precipitation from chemical and petrochemical plant

10. Transportation by Liquids
Industrial waste discharges
Spills and leakage of sewage
Spills from Tanks or pipelines.
Waste lagoons release into soil and groundwater.

11. Solid Waste Disposal Residual solids in mine tailing lagoons.
Sewage sludge transport to settling lagoon.
Chemical and industrial wastes disposal.
Uncontrolled disposal of waste materials

12. Management of Contaminated Sites

13. Natural/Pristine Sites

14. Contaminated Sites

15. Contaminated Sites

16. Contaminated Sites Management
A “Three-Phased” developed based on the guidelines stated by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME)
Recognized by Alberta Environment & Sustainable Resources Development (AESRD), and environmental consultants in Alberta.

17. Phase I, ESA
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is basically a checklist for project managers to consider when engaging an environmental consultant to conduct a Phase I environmental site assessment.

18. Phase I, ESA
The CSA Z Standards outlines the generic steps to consider when dealing with a consultant such as:
Scope of work,
Definition of terms,
Principles of the Phase 1 assessment, and
Roles and responsibilities of both the consultant and the client.

19. Phase I, ESA Objectives & Purposes
Regulatory request, order or direction.
Liability assessment for the proposed acquisition or potential sale of land.
Due diligence investigation in support of a sale or financial agreement.
Baseline liability assessment for a tenancy.
Due diligence investigation in compliance with an existing Environmental Policy.

20. Phase I, ESA Components Records review. Site visit. Interviews.
Evaluation of existing information and reports.
Recommendations to address identified issues.

21. ESA I
It is important to note that the scope of work is not limited by the CSA process.
The purpose of a Phase 1 ESA is usually to determine whether a particular site is or may have been subject to contamination.
In some cases, sufficient information exists to justify proceeding directly with a Phase 2 ESA.

22. Phase II, ESA
A decision may be made to proceed with a Phase 2 ESA as a result of the following activities:
Confirmatory intrusive testing is recommended in a Phase 1 ESA.
Environmental impacts are strongly suspected from known and historical activities.
Delineation of a known contamination is required to be defined and compared to site generic criteria.

23. Phase II, ESA Activities
Electromagnetic (EM) Survey.
Development of Site Sampling Protocol.
Monitoring wells and Boreholes.
Sample collection and analyses.
Review of local groundwater records.
Field Survey, if required.
The results of the Phase 2 ESA will determine the need for further activities

24. EM Survey

25. EM Survey/Typical Cross-section

26. Phase II, ESA Generic Criteria
Alberta Tier 1 & Tier 2 Soil & Groundwater Remediation Guidelines, December 2010.
Salt Contamination Assessment and Remediation Guidelines, May 2001.
Guidelines can be found on AESRD’s website.

27. Phase II, ESA Land Use
CCME Remediation criteria are presented in the context of four types of land use:
Residential/Parkland
Agricultural
Commercial, and
Industrial.

28. Phase II, ESA The CCME criteria
The CCME criteria are considered generally protective of human and environmental health for specified uses of soil at contaminated sites.
It is important to understand that the intended future land use governs the decision on the level of remediation performed at a site.

29. Phase II, ESA The CCME criteria
Identifying the type of land use will help assess the extent of human and ecological exposure to contaminants in the soil.
Consideration must be given to adjacent land use to the contaminated site as it might affect the remediation criteria.
These two factors are essential for planning a practical remediation programs.

30. AESRD Policy
Pollution prevention
Avoid impairment of or damage to environment, human health, safety or property
Health protection
Action commensurate with risk to human health or environment
Productive use
Encourage remediation to enable productive land use

31. Contamination Management Principles
Source control
Prevent pollution
Identify source if contamination present
Source removal
Contamination delineation
If contamination present above Tier 1 or 2
Horizontal and vertical extent identified
All applicable exposure pathways and receptors addressed
Contamination management, including remediation

32. Tier 1 and 2 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines
New guidelines to supersede existing guidelines;
Alberta Tier I Criteria (1994)
Alberta Soil & Water Quality Guidelines for Hydrocarbons at Upstream Oil and Gas Facilities (2001)
Risk Management Guidelines for Petroleum Storage Tank Sites (2001)

33. Remediation Certificate Program
Voluntary certificate program
Incentive to remediate
Provides certainty for proponent if standards change
Provides closure of liability after 10 years
Regulations being developed

34. Remediation Certificate Program
Closure based on compliance with Tier 1 or Tier 2 Guidelines
Cannot use Alberta Soil and Water Quality Guidelines for Hydrocarbons at Upstream Oil and Gas Facilities (2001)
Certificate issued for remediated area only, not site
Surveyed coordinates
Depth or zone of remediation
Certificate issued for remediated substance(s)

35. Phase III, ESA Components
Risk Management OR Remediation Action Plan (RMP/RAP) Development.
RMP Implementation/Site Remediation.
Monitoring.

36. RMP/RAP Development
Further study and/or testing may be required to assess the risk to receptors.
Once full delineation is achieved a site specific Risk Management Plan (RMP) or a Remediation Action Plan acceptable to stakeholders can be developed.

37. Phase III Objectives Conduct sampling to satisfy stakeholders.
Complete outstanding delineation.
Define, in details, the site related risks including receptors and pathways.
Identify receptors and develop risk assessment strategies.
Develop information that support remedial activities.

38. Risk Management Approach
Site-specific objectives developed from a risk assessment.
Estimated cost of remediation is unreasonable.
Site conditions differ significantly from criteria.

39. Site Remediation Approach
Determine most applicable/feasible technology for the site
Design selected process components.
Award Contract
Implement site remediation
Final report by consultant
Regulatory endorsement

40. Monitoring
Once the RAP/RMP has been implemented and accepted by the stakeholders, monitoring may be required.
Results of monitoring program are evaluated following each event and the frequency of testing is adjusted accordingly, if needed.

41. Questions ??