Management of Contaminated Sites

Sameh Elsayed, M.Sc.,M.A.Sc., P.Eng.

Senior Environmental Engineer

Environmental Management Services

Alberta Transportation

Contents

Contamination Classification and Transport

Management of Contaminated Sites Contaminants Release & Reporting

Contaminants Classification and Transport

Contaminants Classification

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

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)

Non-Metals

• Chloride (Cl)• Cyanides (CNs)• Fluoride (F)• Phosphate (P)• Sulphur (S)

Organic Compounds

• Hydrocarbons (HC)• Poly-aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)• Halogenated Hydrocarbons• Dioxins• PCB’s• Phenols• Solvents

Combustible Materials

• Cereal dust• Coal dust• Oils

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

Transportation by Liquids

• Industrial waste discharges• Spills and leakage of sewage • Spills from Tanks or pipelines.• Waste lagoons release into soil and

groundwater.

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

Management of Contaminated Sites

Natural/Pristine Sites

Contaminated Sites

Contaminated Sites

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.

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.

Phase I, ESA

• Scope of work,

• Definition of terms,

• Principles of the Phase 1 assessment, and

• Roles and responsibilities of both the consultant and the client.

The CSA Z768-01 Standards outlines the generic steps to consider when dealing with a consultant such as:

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.

Phase I, ESA Components

• Records review.

• Site visit.

• Interviews.

• Evaluation of existing information and

reports.

• Recommendations to address identified

issues.

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.

Phase II, ESA

• 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.

A decision may be made to proceed with a Phase 2 ESA as a result of the following activities:

Phase II, ESAActivities

• 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

EM Survey

EM Survey/Typical Cross-section

Phase II, ESAGeneric 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.

Phase II, ESALand Use

CCME Remediation criteria are presented in the context of four types of land use:

• Residential/Parkland

• Agricultural

• Commercial, and

• Industrial.

Phase II, ESAThe 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.

Phase II, ESAThe 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.

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

Contamination Management PrinciplesSource control• Prevent pollution• Identify source if contamination present• Source removalContamination delineation• If contamination present above Tier 1 or 2• Horizontal and vertical extent identified• All applicable exposure pathways and receptors

addressedContamination management, including remediation

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)

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

• 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)

Remediation Certificate Program

Phase III, ESA Components

• Risk Management OR Remediation

Action Plan (RMP/RAP) Development.

• RMP Implementation/Site Remediation.

• Monitoring.

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.

Phase IIIObjectives

1. Conduct sampling to satisfy stakeholders.2. Complete outstanding delineation.3. Define, in details, the site related risks

including receptors and pathways.4. Identify receptors and develop risk

assessment strategies.5. Develop information that support

remedial activities.

Risk Management Approach

• Site-specific objectives developed from a risk

assessment.

• Estimated cost of remediation is

unreasonable.

• Site conditions differ significantly from

criteria.

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

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.

Questions ??