BEST 2026 Presentations
Listed alphabetically by presenter last name
Groundwater and soil may become impacted by salt through several sources including road salts, agricultural impacts, produced water exposure, brine releases or natural salt deposits in the ground. All sources contribute to elevated levels of chloride in the groundwater, but differentiating between the sources can become challenging. Often the chloride must be remediated to meet regulatory standards.
Bureau Veritas has developed a methodology using inductively-coupled plasma with mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine concentrations for chloride, bromide and iodide in water and soil samples. Using this method, key diagnostic ratios from environmental literature can be calculated and plotted, and the region of occupied space in the plot provides details on the potential source of chloride contamination.
Brody Andersen
Brody Andersen is a highly accomplished professional with extensive expertise in environmental sciences, analytical chemistry, and research. He holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both Chemistry and Physics and brings over a decade of experience spanning government, academic, and private research in environmental chemistry and biochemistry. Since joining Bureau Veritas in 2019, Brody has played a key role in supporting our Western Canadian laboratories, where he leads business development and provides environmental chemistry expertise to both staff and clients. In his role as Technical Account Manager, he is responsible for building and maintaining strong client relationships while ensuring the successful delivery of Bureau Veritas’ services.
6PPD-quinone, a degradation product of the widely used tire rubber antioxidant 6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-dione (6PPD), has recently garnered significant attention due to its environmental prevalence and toxicity. 6PPD reacts with ozone and other oxidative agents, leading to formation of 6PPD-quinone. Toxicity studies have revealed that 6PPD-quinone poses significant risks to aquatic organisms. It is highly toxic to coho salmon (O. kisutch), causing acute mortality at low concentrations (LC50= 0.8 µg/L). The toxicity level has raised substantial concerns about the broader ecological impacts on other fish species and aquatic life. 6PPD-quinone is relatively stable in aqueous environments, leading to its persistence in water bodies. Particulate matter and sediments can adsorb it, potentially leading to long-term environmental contamination and bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms. Preliminary findings led to recognition of 6PPD-quinone as a ubiquitous pollutant in aquatic ecosystems and identification of its link with “urban runoff mortality syndrome”. To assess the environmental occurrence, fate, and transportation of 6PPD-quinone, we developed an analytical method with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in 2021 long before publication of USEPA draft method 1634 in December 2023. Our method allows precise quantification of 6PPD-quinone at concentrations 400x lower than its LC50 value in environmental waters while meeting with QA/QC acceptance criteria of USEPA method. Here, we present this sensitive, robust, and quick measurement method along with its application to monitor urban runoff. Our preliminary results and occurrence data in the literature indicate that the concentration of 6PPD-quinone may reach at levels higher than its LC50 value for coho salmon especially in regions with high vehicular traffic.
Egemen Aydin
Egemen Aydin is an interdisciplinary scientist with extensive expertise in analytical chemistry and environmental science. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering, he specializes in quantitative and non-targeted analysis of organic pollutants, method development, advanced statistical analysis, and data interpretation. He has a proven track record of developing innovative analytical methods for complex environmental and biological matrices, managing significant research contracts, and contributing to multiple peer-reviewed publications. His professional experience spans academic and industry roles, showcasing exceptional skills in high-resolution mass spectrometry, laboratory standards compliance, and technical consulting across environmental and chemical analysis domains.
Traditional environmental monitoring programs have focused on parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to assess petroleum contamination and risk. However, petroleum products typically contain far greater concentrations of alkylated PAHs, which are often overlooked in standard analytical programs. Excluding these compounds can result in incomplete site characterization and reduced confidence in contamination source identification.
Alkylated PAHs provide valuable insight into petroleum composition, weathering processes, and differentiation between petrogenic and pyrogenic contamination sources. In complex or historically impacted sites, alkylated PAH profiles can significantly enhance forensic interpretation and improve understanding of contaminant distribution. Incorporating these compounds into monitoring programs can refine site conceptual models and support more accurate risk assessments.
This presentation will explore the scientific and practical value of alkylated PAH analysis through real-world environmental assessment scenarios. Attendees will gain an understanding of when alkylated PAHs provide meaningful benefit, how results can be interpreted, and how expanded hydrocarbon data can strengthen remediation strategies and liability evaluations.
Permveer Bains, P.Chem.
Permveer Bains, P.Chem., is a Business Development Manager and Emerging Contaminants Subject Matter Expert with extensive experience supporting environmental monitoring and site assessment projects across Canada and the United States. With a background spanning laboratory analysis, technical consulting, and client advisory roles, Permveer specializes in translating complex analytical data into practical, defensible environmental decisions.
Consultants often envision their careers involving large high-profile projects; but in reality, much of our work consists of smaller, routine projects. These more seemingly mundane projects still hold significant technical learning opportunities. Revisiting the same sites over multiple years can reveal unexpected complexities and deepen understanding for a more comprehensive perspective.
Pulling examples from a downstream oil and gas portfolio that Stantec has been leading across western Canada for the past four years, we will explore some underlying nuances that can appear with continued involvement and long-term temporal analysis. On one site, identified contaminants seemingly behaved in contradiction to their physical properties, a result of the comingling of two identified plumes. Co-dissolution was hypothesized and subsequently observed over multiple years with sinking hydrocarbons mixing with solvent contamination. At another site, the proximity of a dam-controlled river caused variability of groundwater flow patterns, which was proven based on multi-year assessment and development of the understanding of the site conceptual model, allowing for strategic timing to measure conditions on-site.
Supportive clients who value consistency allow us to re-visit these sites year-over-year and posit, and then prove, hypotheses over time. The repetition allows for a deeper understanding of the Site conditions and provides data to build models on long-term results. While many of these sites are not making headlines, we argue that if approached with curiosity and open minds, they can be some of the more rewarding projects to work on as scientists. Overall, we find that often it is the attitude that we approach projects with rather than the scale of the project that can lead to the most rewarding results.
Kelsey Baker
Kelsey Baker is a registered professional engineer with almost 10 years of experience in contaminated sites work. She has worked on projects from a variety of industries over her career from large industrial developments to spill response. Recently, Kelsey has led oil and gas portfolio work for Stantec’s BC Site Investigation and Remediation group.
Tracey L’Espérance
A registered professional biologist with over 20 years of experience in environmental consulting and ecotoxicology projects, Tracey L’Espérance is a Risk-Based Standards Approved Professional and a subject matter expert at Stantec in environmental risk assessment. With a background in contaminated site investigation and remediation, she brings a holistic view to risk assessment.
Millstream Meadows, located in the District of Highlands, served as a septage and solid waste disposal facility from the 1940s through 1984. Waste deposited at the unlined site with exposed bedrock resulted in petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, phenols, and metals contamination in soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water at concentrations exceeding applicable regulatory standards. The Capital Regional District assumed ownership of the site in 1984, ceased operations in 1985, and capped the facility between 1985 and 1990. Site investigations carried out in the 2000s led to the excavation of a large portion of contaminated soil in 2008. In subsequent years, site investigators determined that a risk-based management approach would be best suited for the site due to the depth and complexity of deep groundwater contamination in bedrock.
Delineation and modelling of complex groundwater contamination was achieved through a detailed site investigation using a system of multi-level wells, specifically using the “Golden Spike” approach to develop a conceptual site model for investigating chlorinated solvents in the bedrock. With technical guidance from G360 Institute for Groundwater Research, the “Golden Spike” approach comprised the collection of high-resolution data using innovative technology at one borehole location to identify hydraulically active fracture zones. The knowledge and information gathered was then used for the installation of accurately placed monitoring well screens across these fracture zones in other areas, thereby limiting boreholes and well installations needed to investigate deep contamination in bedrock. Four requests for various Protocol 6 preapprovals for relief from standard detailed site investigation requirements were submitted to BC Ministry of Environment and accepted. Despite not being a high-risk site under the BC Contaminated Site Regulation, the project team provided BC Ministry of Environment staff with yearly in-person presentations between 2016 and 2020. In July 2025, risk-based certificates of compliance were issued for the site and five off-site properties, concluding the multi-decade remediation project.
Steven Barrett
Steven Barrett, MET, RPBio, is an Environmental Assessment Officer with the Capital Regional District with over 10 years of experience in environmental monitoring, site investigation, and risk assessment.
Corey Miller
Corey Miller, P. Ag., is a Senior Risk Assessor with AtkinsRéalis with 20 years of experience in the investigation, remediation and risk-management of contaminated sites with complex mixtures of contaminants in soil, groundwater, sediment, vapour and surface water.
There is broad consensus among CSAP professionals, practitioners, and regulators that naturally elevated metals concentrations are being identified during site investigations, often exceeding Contaminated Sites Regulation (CSR) standards, resulting in unnecessary remediation, increased costs, and numerous requests for local background determinations. A study was undertaken commissioned by CSAP to review the current BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) Protocol 4. Specifically, this looked at the following: (1) identification of metals that pose challenges across BC regions, (2) review of background soil assessment practices in other jurisdictions, (3) determine potential areas for refinement of Protocol 4, and (4) identification of data requirements to scientifically support updates to regional background values.
This presentation provides a comprehensive review of the study undertaken, including the findings of the jurisdictional review encompassing background studies in Alberta, U.S. states including Oregon and Washington, arsenic specific studies, and an in-depth examination of Dutch methods that incorporate soil type corrections based on clay and organic matter content. In addition, a deep dive into problematic metals based on current ENV data was completed to assess to trends and evaluate the current data set used to define regional background values.
Notably, the study also incorporated insights from an expansive data set of federally regulated Disposal at Sea (DAS) data, which contains a large volume of undisturbed soil samples with detailed grain‑size and surficial geology information. Analysis of these data provided a clearer understanding of how grain size and soil type influence naturally occurring metal concentrations and highlighted variability across surficial geology classes.
Overall, the study helped characterize current data limitations, identify parameters that frequently challenge existing background values, and highlight key factors influencing regional soil chemistry across BC. These findings support ongoing discussions about potential future enhancements to background soil evaluation practices under Protocol 4.
Thomas Boerman, M.Sc., M.ASc.
Thomas Boerman, M.Sc., M.ASc. is a Hydrogeologist with 6 years of experience in hydrogeologic modelling, and statistical evaluations / sensitivity analysis for large hydrogeological data sets. Through his M.ASc. research projects and work experience, Thomas has developed an expertise in managing large data sets, qualitative and quantitative data analysis utilizing machine learning, and data presentation techniques. He has carried out hydrogeological field programs in various locations around BC, including collecting and analyzing hydrogeological data sets. He provides assessment and data evaluation on the fate and transport of contamination in groundwater for contaminated site assessment projects
Meredith Guest, P.Eng.
Meredith Guest, P.Eng., CSAP is a professional engineer with extensive experience in the contaminated sites industry spanning 25 years. She is a project management professional (PMP) with management experience providing direction on full service environmental projects from assessment (i.e., Stage 1 and 2 PSIs and DSIs) through remedial planning (i.e., remedial options analyses and remedial action planning) and execution of site remediation. She has worked with a variety of clients ranging from federal, provincial and municipal government clients to those in both the public and private sector.
Anyone who works with Brownfield sites knows that they come with significant environmental risk and potential liabilities. These can range from the assessment and management of historical contamination to concerns about long-term liability. The same often holds true for infrastructure projects, especially when they take place in an already developed urban setting. Environmental Insurance has been shown to be a useful tool that can help manage environmental risk and liabilities associated with these types of projects. This presentation will provide an overview of currently available environmental insurance tools and will use case studies to show how they can be used as part of an overall environmental risk management strategy.
Fixed Site Environmental (FSE) insurance can provide coverage for both first and third party, claims of bodily injury, property damage and cleanup costs related to both historic and new pollution conditions at Brownfield sites. FSE policies for brownfield sites are tailored to the circumstances and the needs of the Insured(s). Typically known pollution conditions (ie impacts above applicable regulatory standards) are excluded. That said, under certain circumstances (eg when the pollution conditions are localized and/or have been risk assessed), coverage can be provided for third party claims.
Contractors Pollution Protection (CPP) insurance can provide coverage for claims related to pollution conditions caused by a contractor’s operations related to the work they do on behalf of their clients. For larger projects (eg infrastructure), it is common for proponents (and/or their financial partners) to require project specific policies. A project-specific CPP can be purchased by the general contractor or their owner/project proponent. Coverage is typically provided to the GC and all of their subs.
We will use two case studies to illustrate how FSE and CPP policies can be an important component in your overall risk management strategy. We will discuss how environmental insurance played a part in 1) a recent brownfield redevelopment project, as well as 2) a recent transportation infrastructure project, both located in the Greater Vancouver area.
George Boire
George is a recognized specialist in environmental risk management with over 40 years’ experience. He began his career as an environmental specialist and officer at a provincial regulator. George then worked with a specialty contractor and was involved with the remediation of sites in sectors ranging from automotive manufacturing to petrochemicals to metal processing. He has also worked with several environmental consulting firms at different stages in his career. George was also responsible for the environmental risk management programs at two large Canadian financial institutions. During the second half of his career, George has focused his environmental risk management experience on helping clients assess their exposures and tailoring effective insurance solutions. He is currently working with Berkley Canada, a specialty insurance company that provides a variety environmental insurance products to clients in a wide range of business sectors.
Geo-Solutions and Canada Geo-Solutions offers a unique large-diameter (up to three meters) soil-mixing thermal destructive/removal technology most effective for large and/or concentrated plumes of impacted groundwater/soils. This is a very dynamic destructive/removal technology using steam and/or heated air or oxidizers. The vacuum extraction phase of treatment includes several off-gas treatment options. The residual effect of using this system includes bioremediation due to the large pore volumes of air injected and removed. The unique aspect of this technology is the real-time observations of the quantitative/qualitative removal efficiencies to determine when to halt each treatment unit. These analyses assure the maximum efficiency for system implementation. On the upstroke of the final mixing pass we have injected oxidizers, bio-nutrients, or bentonite slurry to lock everything in place. This technology has demonstrated success with many waste streams including removing volatile organic compounds from mixed nuclear wastes.
Jim Brannigan
Mr. Jim Brannigan is presently a senior business development specialist at Geo-Solutions Inc. in New Kensington, Pennsylvania and Canada Geo-Solutions in Toronto, Ontario.
His most recent education is a Master of Science degree in Hazardous Waste Management from Wayne State University Graduate Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science in Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Brannigan has over 40 years of experience working on foundation construction and environmental restoration projects. His primary efforts have included insitu soil-mixing equipment. These machines include mechanical and hydraulic drill rigs, jet-grout rigs, One-Pass Trenchers, and specialty rotational machinery. Geo-Solutions and Canada Geo-Solutions offers a wide array of services including all these machines. Insitu remedies include solidification/stabilization, chemical oxidation/reduction, bioremediation, ground improvement, reductive dechlorination, bio-geochemical reduction, and thermal destruction/removal technology.
Protocol 4 Background Soil Determinations (P4s) are a valuable tool for navigating naturally elevated metal concentrations during Ministry Certification processes. However, as demonstrated through the Town of Smithers (ToS) experience, their utility during certification can mask significant challenges during redevelopment. This case study explores how a P4 that enabled a streamlined risk‑based Certificate of
Compliance (CofC) later became a costly obstacle once construction began.
In 2024, the ToS pursued a risk‑based CofC for a former highway maintenance yard slated for high‑density residential use. Prior to certification, the ToS and their consultant, WSP, completed a P4 for naturally occurring arsenic and iron. The P4 raised the applicable arsenic limit from 10 µg/g to over 17 µg/g, enabling full delineation of arsenic impacts and supporting a detailed risk assessment as part of the submission.
What functioned as a regulatory “silver bullet” during certification became a significant constraint during redevelopment. Geotechnical and civil design required substantial soil removal for the building foundation, parking areas, and laneway construction. The project team did not anticipate that the P4 applied only to soils left in place. As excavation progressed, more than 10,000 m³ of soil exceeded CSR Schedule 3.1 standards. Soil previously treated as “background” instantly reverted to “contaminated soil” once removed from the property.
Compounding the problem, recent changes to landfill operational certificates in the Regional District of Bulkley‑Nechako meant no local permitted facility could accept soils with naturally elevated arsenic, turning routine excavation into a major unbudgeted cost.
McElhanney worked with the ToS to identify a parcel with known elevated arsenic as a potential receiving location. However, this option came with regulatory nuances: arsenic at the receiving site was not formally recognized through its own P4, and questions arose regarding soil unit matching. Ultimately, the receiving site could accept the material through specific pathways, and matching soil units was not required.
This case underscores an often overlooked reality: during certification, attention typically focuses on obtaining an Approval‑in‑Principle or CofC, while early coordination with geotechnical, civil, and soil management teams is limited. This can create major risks later in redevelopment, especially in northern or rural areas with limited disposal options.
This presentation highlights the Smithers example and the importance of early soil management planning when using P4 determinations.
Sean Carlson, P.Eng.
Sean is a Division Manager with McElhanney based in Prince Rupert, BC, where he leads a team of environmental professionals and engineers across Northwest BC and Ontario. With more than 12 years of experience, Sean has built a strong reputation for delivering complex, multidisciplinary projects with significant brownfield and remediation components. Beyond his work at McElhanney, Sean contributes to community development through the Kaien Island Trail Enhancement and Recreation Society, helping advance major trail and recreation infrastructure initiatives through advocacy and multi partner collaboration. In 2024, Kaien Trails completed a $1M multi use pathway, marking a major milestone for the region.
Veronica Reid
Veronica is an Environmental Engineer in Training based in McElhanney’s Smithers, BC office. For the past five years, she’s been deepening her expertise with brownfield environmental work, building off of her multi-disciplinary educational background and project experience. She has contributed to projects involving field investigations, site assessments, legacy contamination, and regulatory approvals, helping address environmental constraints during redevelopment. Her experience includes coordinating technical requirements and supporting project teams through the assessment and redevelopment process. Veronica has worked in northern and remote settings, including the Faro Mine site, where access, climate, and logistics add practical challenges to fieldwork and project planning. Outside of work, she coaches youth swimming and volunteers with the local animal shelter.
Michael Dewar
Michael has over a decade of experience in a variety of roles in local government management in Northwest British Columbia. He currently serves as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the Town of Smithers, overseeing municipal operations and strategic initiatives. His educational background spans philosophy, political science, social geography, planning, and economic and community development, shaping his interdisciplinary approach to public service. In his spare time, Michael enjoys getting outdoors and taking advantage of the region’s natural beauty through a variety of recreational activities. Professionally, he has developed a growing familiarity with environmental issues—particularly contaminated soils—learning far more about them in the past two years than he ever expected or wanted.
Koppers International Canada Limited operated a wood preservation plant for over 50 years on land owned by Canadian National Railway Co. (CN) adjacent to the Fraser River. The plant treated railway ties and poles using creosote, chromated copper arsenate (CCA), and pentachlorophenol.
The Site became the subject of a Remediation Order imposed by the BC Ministry of Environment (ENV) in 1997 after initial remedial activities were completed and residual contamination was identified in the foreshore. The Ministry ordered responsible parties to undertake remediation using traditional cleanup approaches including excavation and sediment dredging in a tidally influenced river, removal of DNAPL from depth in foreshore areas, and collection of PAHs associated with creosote / hydraulic control through groundwater pump / treat. This program was projected to cost ~$70 million.
In 2000 an innovative solution was initiated, at half the cost. It combined site remediation, creating an industrial wharf, habitat enhancement, and contaminant risk management into a remediation plan that received regulatory approval. The remedial strategy included:
- Caisson dredging
- Containing the creosote plume and diverting groundwater flow with sealed sheet pile walls
- Reclaiming land area for a new industrial wharf
- Providing fish habitat enhancement with a vegetated low-permeability cap
- Construction monitoring plan
Remediation was completed in 2004, and a post-remediation performance monitoring plan (PMP) was approved by BC ENV.
BC ENV implemented Protocol 12 in March 2013 defining conditions to classify contaminated sites as “High Risk” (HR). HR sites are those that potentially pose serious risks to human health or the environment, and, as such, require ENV involvement in investigation and remediation. The Site was classified as Risk Managed High Risk (RMHR) as the conditions are managed through engineered control measures.
Post construction monitoring, DNAPL recovery and groundwater monitoring from 2004 – 2026 have demonstrated to BC ENV that the remediation technologies employed have addressed the concerns to human health and the environment.
The remediation and performance monitoring plans were approved under the Remediation Order. While remediation was completed in 2004, the Remediation Order remained in place. To remove the site from Remediation Order status, work was undertaken to apply for a Certificate of Compliance (CofC). Data were compiled into a DSI and an HHERA was undertaken to assess potential for unacceptable risks associated with residual contamination; unacceptable risks were not identified. Application for a Risk-based CofC was submitted in January 2021. ENV issued a CofC in January 2026 with the PMP becoming the performance verification plan (PVP) as part of CofC conditions. The Remediation Order was terminated.
In this presentation the successes and learning experiences will be shared on the path to receiving the CofC.
Jason Christensen, P.Eng.
Mr. Christensen has over 25 years of experience in the environmental field and provides engineering expertise in contaminated sites remediation, and site investigation. He is a registered professional engineer in BC and Alberta, is an Approved Professional with CSAP in BC, and is a member of the Performance Assessment Committee for CSAP BC.
Esquimalt Harbour is a large working harbor located on the southern end of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with a long history of impacts from shipbuilding, mills, canneries, and naval activities. Currently, it is the home of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Pacific Fleet, necessitating that remedial objectives align with operational considerations. It was identified as a Class 1 Contaminated Site (high priority for action) and is being remediated by DND through the FCSAP program. Harbor remediation has been completed at 13 areas in the last 9 years, with nine projects in nearshore areas with shallow bedrock.
The existence of shallow bedrock in remedial areas posed numerous challenges all phases of a project including site investigation, design, implementation of the remedy, and post-remediation monitoring. The approaches used to reduce uncertainty caused by these site subsurface conditions and to manage impacts to achieving remedial goals will be discussed. Lessons learned from implementing these nine nearshore projects will be shared.
Site investigation challenges included determining the vertical extent of contamination and estimated elevations of bedrock through sediment coring and jet probing. Design considerations included developing the dredge prism based on sediment thickness delineation and the variability of data, addressing uncertainties with dredge volumes in measurement and payment approaches, and specifying appropriate dredging equipment. Additionally, remedial strategies had to balance dredging versus capping risks in achieving remedial and future operational objectives. During implementation, active change management was required to adapt to actual conditions encountered by the contractor, which at times varied significantly from predicted bedrock surface delineations. Post-remediation performance monitoring plans were also designed to account for shallow bedrock during sampling. One project area additionally included bedrock blasting to support construction of a new jetty within a remedial action area, which required additional shallow bedrock considerations and adaptive management throughout the project phases to ensure remedial action objectives would be met.
Lessons learned from the completed remediation sites will be discussed including how accurate field measurements and predicted dredge volumes were compared to observations during construction, ways to mitigate uncertainty regarding bedrock elevation, strategies for managing residuals, and considerations when monitoring remedy effectiveness. Additionally, lessons learned from conducting bedrock blasting within a remedial area will be briefly discussed.
Amy Corp
Amy Corp has 19 years of experience in the chemistry and environmental fields, including environmental assessment and managing aquatic contaminated site remediation projects. Her consulting experience includes sediment, soil, surface water, stormwater, porewater, tissue, ebullition, and groundwater analysis; remedial action plan development; data interpretation; and remedial design.
The Cheakamus IR11 Moodyville Riverbank Remediation Project in Paradise Valley, BC, represents a unique integration of technical, ecological, and cultural reclamation practices. Led by KBL through its joint venture with indigenous contractor Atwell Environmental, the project was undertaken to re-establish access to Squamish Nation traditional fishing grounds that had been cut off when the Cheakamus River’s eroding bank severed a 12-meter spawning channel.
To restore connectivity, engineers and environmental specialists constructed a pilot channel to divert flows away from the failing bank and allow stabilization. Significant milestones included the installation of temporary bridges for equipment access, clearing and grading safe routes, construction of a 100-foot bridge and ford, and excavation of a 20-meter pilot channel to a depth of five meters in native material. An upstream diversion weir was also installed to redirect flows into the new channel. Once flows were successfully transitioned, reinforcement of the riverbank included rip-rap placement, native vegetation planting, and installation of vertical tree piles for long-term stabilization.
As completion neared, Fisheries and Oceans Canada requested additional habitat improvements within the spawning channel. This enhancement involved removing excess gravel deposits, stabilizing in-channel structures, and redistributing native material from a gravel bar to improve flow conditions and spawning substrate quality. These interventions not only restored traditional access but also created long-term ecological benefits through improved fish habitat.
Throughout the project, collaboration with Squamish Nation remained central. Work was completed as part of KBL’s Squamish joint venture, Atwell Environmental, ensuring that traditional knowledge guided ecological priorities while technical design ensured compliance with federal standards. The result is a case study in balancing engineering requirements, cultural priorities, and ecological restoration.
This presentation will outline design methods, construction challenges, and lessons learned, with a focus on replicable practices for similar watershed reclamation efforts across Canada.
Shane Culleton
Shane Culleton is a Project Coordinator with KBL, specializing in complex environmental remediation, demolition, and infrastructure projects across BC. He is a civil engineer with over seven years of professional experience spanning environmental construction, contaminated site remediation, heavy civil works, and utility infrastructure. Shane has supported and led the planning and execution of remediation and environmental projects ranging from small-scale works to programs exceeding $20M in value. Shane was the Project Manager for the Cheakamus River Diversion and Riverbank Restoration project in the Squamish Valley. Additional experience includes large-scale contaminated soil remediation at waterfront and industrial sites, complex demolition of reinforced concrete and steel structures, sludge handling and disposal at active mine treatment facilities, and soil management for major power infrastructure upgrades. Shane began his career in Ireland with Shareridge Civil Engineering, where he progressed from Graduate Engineer to Project Engineer on multi-million-euro water and wastewater infrastructure programs. He holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Limerick and a Bachelor of Engineering from University College Dublin, and is a Member of Engineers Ireland (MIEI).
We will select and provide an overview of the most interesting and important judicial decisions of the last year (May 2025 to May 2026), with a focus on how the key takeaways for the environmental industry, how those decisions may impact the environmental industry in BC and Canada as a whole, and what we see as the trends to keep an eye on moving forward.
Luke Dineley
Luke’s robust practice centres on civil litigation, focusing on a variety of related matters, including insurance and tort law and environmental law. Luke also frequently counsels clients on municipal and regulatory matters, including expropriation-related matters, municipal disputes, and hearings before regulatory tribunals. In the area of insurance and tort law, he represents and advises insurance companies, professionals, manufacturers, commercial businesses, and individuals. In the area of environmental law, he represents and advises clients in a wide variety of contaminated site issues relating to both commercial and residential properties — including cost-recovery actions on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants. He also provides legal advice and representation to companies on environmental regulatory compliance, emergency spill responses and environmental prosecutions.
Rick Williams
Rick represents and advises clients on commercial and regulatory aspects of project development, permitting and operations in the energy and natural resource sectors, including land, environmental and Indigenous issues. Rick also represents and advises clients on dispute resolution including regulatory proceedings, corporate/commercial litigation and arbitration, with a focus on energy, transportation, forestry and mining. Rick is the National Leader of BLG’s Environmental Law Group and the Regional Leader of the Regulatory and Oil and Gas Groups, and a member of the Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) leadership team. Rick has appeared at all levels of court in British Columbia, the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has represented clients before the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), the Surface Rights Board, the Oil and Gas Appeal Tribunal, the Safety Authority, the Environmental Appeal Board as well as the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) and the National Energy Board (NEB). Rick also has significant experience advising clients on their applications and dealings with the British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission.
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Distinguishing naturally occurring metals from anthropogenic contributions is a fundamental necessity and challenge in contaminated site management. In northeast British Columbia, naturally elevated soil metal concentrations are frequently encountered, yet regionally defensible background information remains limited, increasing the risk of misattribution and unwarranted remediation. In 2025, Petronas Energy Canada Ltd undertook a large Protocol 4 study across their oilfield in northeastern British Columbia to determine regional representative background soil metals concentrations. Presented is the first regionally focused dataset for background soil metals in the northeast British Columbia region that incorporates: (i) barium analyzed by both strong acid digestion and extractable methods; (ii) soil data extending below 60 cm to depths of up to 13.5 mbgs; (iii) organic soil data; (iv) a large mineral soil dataset (n = 326 from 53 locations); (v) datasets not dominated by non-detect results for select metals; and (vi) analytical detection limits reflective of those commonly achieved by Canadian commercial laboratories. Both quantitative and qualitative statistical analyses were applied to evaluate background metal concentrations and assess spatial and environmental variability.
Amy Gainer
Dr. Amy Gainer is a risk assessor, environmental toxicologist and soil scientist with 15 years of experience in environmental consulting and academia.
Carl Lammens
Carl Lammens is Manager of Environment for Petronas Energy Canada Ltd and an environmental geologist with over 20 years of experience. Carl specializes in full lifecycle upstream environmental management in northeastern British Columbia.
In July 2024, a lightning-ignited wildfire swept through Jasper National Park and the Town of Jasper, burning more than 32,000 hectares and destroying hundreds of structures across residential areas, visitor infrastructure, and protected parklands. The event marked the largest wildfire in the park’s recorded history and resulted in widespread structural instability, hazardous debris, contaminated soils, and significant risks to human health, ecosystems, and cultural resources. With over 25,000 people evacuated and critical infrastructure affected, an accelerated, environmentally sensitive cleanup program was required to enable recovery in one of Canada’s most iconic national parks.
This presentation presents lessons learned regarding the types of contamination generated by the wildfire and how these impacts were managed during demolition and remediation activities.
Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc. and WSP Canada, working on behalf of Parks Canada, removed debris and contaminated soil from more than 76 locations in Jasper National Park. The work was executed under extreme constraints, including unstable, fire-damaged structures; potential asbestos in debris and soil; various contaminants; restricted access in remote, steep terrain; wildlife re-entry; and heightened public safety requirements within an active community and tourism setting.
Cleanup activities commenced within weeks of the fire. A preliminary site assessment was conducted to evaluate damage, estimate the quantity of debris, and identify potential impacts. Indicator parameters were used to quantify the extent and depth of wildfire impacts.
Site remediation activities included hazardous materials abatement, debris segregation and disposal or recycling, and excavation and disposal of contaminated soils. Specialized equipment and site-specific work methods were deployed ..
Soil sampling was conducted to verify that wildfire impacts had been removed. Initially, analytical parameters were selected based on each site’s history and guidance from PCA. Over time, trends emerged enabling the number of analytical parameters at each location to be reduced. Trends were also noted regarding contaminants such as dioxins and furans and PFAS-type chemicals.
Despite the accelerated schedule and complex risk profile, the project achieved full regulatory compliance with zero environmental infractions. Post-remediation verification confirmed that human health and ecological risks were effectively mitigated, allowing sites to be safely backfilled, graded, and prepared for future use. A key component of the work was meaningful Indigenous engagement through an Indigenous Participation Plan (IPP), which exceeded its original target of 900 employment hours and ultimately delivered 6,950 hours of Indigenous participation, supporting economic recovery and integrating traditional knowledge into environmental safeguards.
The Jasper Wildfire Cleanup demonstrates that large-scale, rapid-response remediation can be delivered in a protected park setting without compromising environmental protection, cultural values, or public safety. This presentation will share practical lessons learned, adaptive management approaches, and technical strategies applicable to future wildfire recovery and post-disaster remediation projects across Canada.
Michael Grohmann
Michael Grohmann is a Project Manager with Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc., focused on the delivery of complex environmental remediation and demolition projects across Canada. He has experience managing contaminated site remediation, soil excavation, and debris removal works in environmentally sensitive and logistically constrained settings.
Kathryn Wilneff, P.Eng., PMP
Kathryn Wilneff, P.Eng., PMP – Senior Engineer, Earth and Environment, WSP Canada, has decades of experience managing decommissioning and demolishing projects at contaminated sites. This experience combined with her strong background in waste management enables her to help clients identify environmentally responsible solutions for decommissioning and remediation projects.
Developing a Long-Term Monitoring Strategy with Local First Nations
Tanner Kamila-Lindell, Anchor QEA
Victoria Harbour is a large working harbour located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with a long history of impacts from shipbuilding, mills, coal storage and gasification, and manufacturing. It was identified as a Class 1 Contaminated Site (high priority for action) by the Government of Canada and is being remediated by Transport Canada through the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan program. The programmatic remedial strategy identified for the site includes a phased approach of early actions for hazardous waste-level contamination, secondary remediation of shorelines with lower levels of contamination (above risk levels), and monitored natural recovery of most of the harbour. This overall approach considered the status of the site as a working harbour, realistic cleanup goals, and the long-term sustainability of the remedy given harbour uses. Additionally, Victoria Harbour is part of the traditional territory of the Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation, who have been engaged throughout the development of the remedial strategy and have indicated that timely monitoring data and associated health risk information is a high priority for their communities.
A comprehensive hour-wide monitoring plan was developed to prescribe sediment and sea life tissue sampling to collect data to verify conditions are improving and document progress made toward achieving project goals over the next 80 years. A monitoring strategy was developed to measure human health risk reduction for sediment and tissues in order to be directly quantified and shared with Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation, other governmental agencies, and project stakeholders. The monitoring will be completed in a series of cycles, each composed of three individual sampling events. Anticipated monitoring activities include sampling of sediments, sea life tissue, and caged bivalves and surface water. At the completion of each monitoring cycle, sufficient new information will be available to comprehensively update prior human health risk estimates. Adaptive management will be used to modify the monitoring requirements following each cycle based on remaining risks and emerging contaminants. The resulting data will be used to verify that risks to people or animals using the harbour floor are acceptable and to guide additional actions where necessary.
Tanner Kamila-Lindell
Tanner Kamila-Lindell is a Senior Scientist with Anchor QEA. In addition to other harbour work throughout southern Vancouver Island, Tanner supports TC and PSPC in support of the Victoria Harbour Floor Project.
Using Innovative technologies during contaminated sites investigations can improve project timelines and provide cost savings associated with logistics, turnaround time, and project delays due to the collection and laboratory analysis of soils. Keystone Environmental has been exploring the use of field-portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) as a novel field screening method for select metals in soil. The XRF allows for decision making in the field to support investigation sample selection, soil characterization, delineation and determining excavation limits.
A field-portable FP-XRF is a handheld, non-destructive instrument that can be used for on-site evaluation of metal concentrations in soil samples. We compared the field screen results to laboratory analytical results from over 1200 discrete soil samples, and our assessment indicates that there is excellent correlation between the field screening and laboratory results. Particularly, the correlation coefficients between the XRF and laboratory results for copper and zinc, the two primary metals of concern for the test samples, were 89% and 80%, respectively.
The technology allows on-site measurement of metal concentrations, which will enable field identification and mapping of heavy metal contamination hotspots. The field screening results using XRF can be used to guide the excavation limits to avoid delay associated with laboratory turnaround time. Remote sites also stand to benefit from this technology due to reduced wait time for laboratory results, reduced shipping, and reduced mobilization costs.
Ben Laird, P.Eng.
Ben Laird is a licensed Professional Engineer (EGBC and Yukon) with over 8 years of expertise in stormwater management and assessment, contaminated site assessment, remediation system design/operation, and regulatory compliance across British Columbia and Yukon. His work focuses on hydrocarbon, PFOS, and groundwater remediation at industrial, airport, and remote site locations, with a proven ability to manage multi-stakeholder projects involving federal agencies (PSPC, Transport Canada), Indigenous communities, and environmental regulators.
Adam Radlowski, R.P.Bio.
Adam Radlowski is a registered professional biologist with over 22 years of experience as an environmental risk assessor and consultant. He has conducted a range of human health and ecological level risk assessments for sites owned by private and government clients. Adam also provides expertise in geostatistical analysis for contaminated site investigations.
PFAS is an emerging contaminant often referred to as a “forever chemical” in the news and industry. Parsons has over a decade of experience investigating and managing PFAS contamination for various industries including the various US states, chemical manufacturers, airports and the military. In the past several years, we have focused research and acquisition dollars on the remediation and destruction of PFAS from soil, groundwater and mechanical systems. This presentation will briefly describe Parsons’ innovative approaches including: AFFF cleanout from mechanical systems using PerfluorADTM, Thermal desorption of PFAS (and other contaminants) by conductive heating, Catalytic Oxidation for PFAS Destruction (trademarked as HOT ISCO), and UV Catalytic destruction of PFAS . Parsons’ technologies are offering clients and consultants alternative solutions to PFAS contamination management.
Tom Li, P.Eng. (ON), M.A.Sc., M.B.A.
Tom Li, P.Eng. (ON), M.A.Sc., M.B.A. Principal Project Manager and Business Development, Energy and Environment. Tom Li currently leads the Energy and Environment team for Parsons in Ontario. He has 22 years of experience in remediation design and implementation and environmental site assessments. He is the Canada PFAS Strategic lead for Parsons in Canada. Tom is the co-chair of the Brownfield Committee at Ontario Environmental Industry Association (ONEIA), and is part of the Excess Soil and PFAS sub-committees. He was an elected council member of the newly formed Qualified Persons Community of Ontario (QPCO), and a contributing member of the Education Committee with the goal of “Raising the Bar” of QPs practicing in the Environmental Industry in Ontario.
Victoria Harbour is a large working harbour located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with a long history of impacts from shipbuilding, mills, coal storage and gasification, and manufacturing. It was identified as a Class 1 Contaminated Site (high priority for action) by the Government of Canada and is being remediated by Transport Canada through the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan program. The programmatic remedial strategy identified for the site includes a phased approach of early actions for hazardous waste-level contamination, secondary remediation of shorelines with lower levels of contamination (above risk levels) and monitored natural recovery of most of the harbour. This overall approach considered the status of the site as a working harbour, realistic cleanup goals, and the long-term sustainability of the remedy given harbour uses. Additionally, Victoria Harbour is part of the traditional territory of the Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation, who have been engaged throughout the development of the remedial strategy and have indicated that timely monitoring data and associated health risk information is a high priority for their communities.
Caged bivalves (oysters) were used to evaluate water quality alongside surface water data as part of monitoring activities in Victoria Harbour. Clean adult oysters were placed at 10 harbour stations and two reference areas. Sampling occurred in late fall to provide measurements of water quality that are both: 1) representative of the seasons during which oysters and other bivalves are typically harvested; and 2) representative of the season of greatest stormwater discharges. The cages stayed submerged for approximately 60 days and were monitored three times during the exposure period for survival and biofouling. Collocated surface water samples were collected from each caged bivalve location and trends between oyster concentrations and surface water samples will be discussed.
The combined results of caged oyster and water quality monitoring confirmed that pollutants in surface water remain elevated in comparison to reference areas and are contributing significantly to observed pollutant levels in tissue. Caged bivalve concentrations were also evaluated compared to previously reported harbour oysters and the pros and cons of this method compared to more traditional methods of oyster collection will be discussed. Additionally, the use of caged bivalves as a tool for monitoring long-term water quality will be discussed.
Jessica Low
Jessica Low is a Regional Environmental Advisor with Transport Canada. In addition to other work throughout the region, Jessica supports TC’s management of the Victoria Harbor Floor Project.
Ariel Blanc
Ariel Blanc is a Senior Managing Scientist with Anchor QEA. In addition to other harbour work throughout southern Vancouver Island, Ariel supports PSPC and TC in support of the Victoria Harbour Floor Project.
The Stswékstem Engineered Waste Management Facility, located in Kamloops, British Columbia, represents a successful collaboration between Grassland Organics and the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation. Established as a model public-private partnership, the facility provides essential waste management infrastructure through a 25-year joint-venture framework grounded in trust, transparency, and shared community values. The partnership integrates technical expertise from Grassland Organics with the stewardship principles and governance of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, ensuring that operations align with both environmental best practices and cultural priorities.
Regular inspections, joint committee meetings, community engagement and coordinated decision-making processes have fostered open communication and mutual accountability between stakeholders. This inclusive governance model not only enhances operational efficiency and regulatory compliance but also deepens community engagement and confidence in local waste management systems. By integrating traditional values, with modern engineering, the project demonstrates how collaboration can yield resilient, adaptive, and socially responsible infrastructure solutions. This presentation will explore key lessons learned, operational successes, and pathways for replicating such partnership frameworks across Canada’s environmental infrastructure sectors.
Robert Maciak
Robert Maciak is the Co-Founder and CEO of Grassland Organics Inc (GO). He graduated with a Master of Science in 2012, focusing on water resource management, environmental economics, as well as natural resource policy and sustainable development. Prior to founding GO, Mr. Maciak spent eight years working for several notable Canadian mining projects as an environmental management and project management professional, as well six years working for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture as a watershed research scientist and policy economist.
Erik Prytula
Erik Prytula is the Environmental Specialist for Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc in Kamloops, BC, a role he has held for the past four years. Prior to this position, he worked as a field biologist on large-scale projects. Erik earned a Master of Environmental Science in 2023, with a research focus on the migration patterns of Vaux’s and Chimney Swifts. Before completing his master’s degree, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biology as well as a Diploma in Business Administration. During his studies, Erik founded a First Nations business that he continues to operate today, creating and selling his own Haida art.
6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q), the tire-wear transformation product now recognized as the driver of urban runoff-induced coho salmon mortality, has spurred an exceptionally rapid regulatory response in Canada and the USA. In a span of only thirteen months, the U.S. EPA released Draft Method 1634 and published acute freshwater screening values, Washington State codified a 0.012 µg/L aquatic life toxics criterion, and British Columbia issued a 0.010 µg/L water quality guideline.
To support compliance and research, ALS Canada has validated an ISO 17025-accredited, isotope dilution LC-MS/MS method that mirrors Draft EPA Method 1634, achieving routine and low-level limits of reporting well below these thresholds and water quality guidelines. ALS has also extended testing beyond the scope of Method 1634 to include accredited testing for 6PPD, the precursor to 6PPD-Q, and developed an optimized antioxidant preservative extending the stability of 6PPD to 14 days. This enables the quantification of both 6PPD-Q and its parent compound 6PPD at trace concentrations. Ultra-trace analysis methods for 6PPD-Q, capable of detection to 0.0002 µg/L (0.2 ng/L) and lower, have also been developed to support research into background and chronic exposure levels. New method developments will also be discussed for the simultaneous measurement of 6PPD and 6PPD-Q in sediments, reflecting growing interest in tire particle capture, sediment-associated transport, and depositional reservoirs as potential sources to receiving waters.
Recent collaborative studies with the North Shore Streamkeepers (Wagg Creek, North Vancouver) demonstrated that 6PPD-Q concentrations during “first-flush” rainfall events reached 200–500 ng/L, exceeding acute guideline levels, while baseline (dry-weather) concentrations remained consistently measurable between 1–6 ng/L, suggesting potential chronic exposure even in the absence of active runoff. Follow-up rainwater sampling further confirmed 6PPD-Q detection at trace levels, highlighting rainfall and airborne particulates as potential secondary transport pathways that may sustain trace background levels in receiving waters.
In addition to detailing these analytical advances and recent regulatory updates, we will discuss possible next steps for monitoring and research, including the role of passive sampling for time-integrated exposure assessment, and the interest in tissue analysis for risk assessment studies.
Governments across Canada have identified that regulatory burden has become an impediment to Canadian growth, which is ever more important given the uncertain geopolitical landscape and tariff threats that have emerged in recent years. Different jurisdictions are taking different approaches to the issue – for instance, the federal government has created a “Major Projects Office”, the BC government has taken to exempting certain projects from environmental assessment, while the Alberta government has undertaken an aggressive red tape reduction campaign. In this presentation, Michael Manhas and Matthew Keen will outline these developments, describe some common themes, and outline considerations for navigating the shifting regulatory landscape.
Michael Manhas
Michael Manhas is a litigation, administrative law, and regulatory lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP. He focuses on matters relating to the environment, energy, natural resources, economic regulation, and Indigenous law. Michael regularly represents clients before courts in British Columbia and Alberta, and has extensive experience in administrative proceedings before tribunals, including the British Columbia and Alberta Utilities Commissions and the Environmental Appeal Board.
Matthew Keen
Matthew Keen is an energy regulatory lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP who practises in the inter-related areas of energy law, environmental assessment and permitting, tolls and tariffs, and issues concerning Indigenous peoples. He appears before the courts and tribunals such as the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Environmental Appeal Board, Alberta Utilities Commission, and the Canada Energy Regulator.
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Tucked away in a remote Inuit community, in Nunavut’s Kivalliq region, sits Salliq (Coral Harbour). For decades, the community lived under the shadowed history of the Cold War, between the 1940s and 1950s, when its land served as a staging site for a joint radar network developed by Canada and the U.S. This project tells a powerful story of community engagement in remediating a complex site in one of Canada’s most remote and ecologically fragile regions.
Decommissioned in the 1970s, the site was abandoned, leaving hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, fuel tanks, asbestos, lead materials, and deteriorating infrastructure. Addressing these environmental hazards became a multi-year remediation effort through the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP).
The remediation was led by Salumaq Environmental Contracting Inc., a majority Inuit-owned company formed through a partnership between Sudliq Developments Ltd. and Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc., with a mandate to build local Inuit capacity. Beyond standard cleanup activities – such as hazardous material abatement, soil treatment, and infrastructure demolition – Salumaq implemented the Coral Harbour Inuit Capacity Building Program, with a strong focus on community engagement and training local residents for the remedial work.
This became more than a remediation project – it became a catalyst for community empowerment with Inuit residents taking part in hands-on fieldwork and project management training deeply rooted in Inuit culture and community knowledge. Training didn’t happen behind classroom walls, instead, the community itself became the learning environment with local mentors and elders guiding learning, ensuring that the program was relatable, practical, and culturally resonant.
The results were transformative:
- Sixty-six Inuit residents contributed 34,987 work hours and received 5,138 hours of training, making up 75.8% of total project labour.
- Participants not only helped restore the land but gained skills and confidence that carried into four subsequent remediation projects across Nunavut, taking on leadership roles and expanding Inuit-led environmental stewardship.
Conclusion
This presentation goes beyond the cleanup and will highlight how the project fostered sustainable local expertise – blending remediation with community empowerment to transform a legacy site into a source of opportunity, pride, and long-term benefit for the Coral Harbour community.
Mike McGarragan
Mike McGarragan, the National Manager of Business Development at Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc., has more than 15 years of experience across the environmental, natural resources, waste management, and analytical services sectors. He is widely known for building meaningful relationships and bringing diverse partners together to achieve successful project outcomes.
The Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) has published the long‑awaited 2026 update to its industry‑leading vapor intrusion (VI) guidance. The new VI Toolkit is a full revision of all previous VI documents and represents a new standard for the industry. This update reflects the current state of VI science and aligns decades of collective experience. Its release will likely influence non‑U.S. organizations that rely on updated science and innovative approaches from U.S. researchers. ITRC is a U.S.‑based national coalition of state leaders and industry representatives that develops tools and strategies to reduce barriers to the adoption of innovative environmental technologies.
This presentation highlights the industry updates within the new ITRC VI Toolkit that are applicable to Canadian practitioners. Geosyntec VI leaders contributed significantly to the three historical ITRC documents: the 2007 VI Pathway Practical Guide, the 2014 Petroleum VI Guidance, and the 2021 Technical Resources for VI Mitigation. Several Geosyntec practitioners (including the author) supported the development of the new 2026 ITRC VI Toolkit.
The presentation will highlight select content from the 36 new fact sheets, including innovative approaches to VI investigations, preferential pathways, PFAS VI, and mass‑flux‑based screening. Expanded material on conceptual site model development, investigation strategies, modelling, and community engagement will be framed from a Canadian perspective.
Paul Nicholson
Paul Nicholson is an engineer and senior member of Geosyntec’s vapor intrusion practice. He has over 20 years of experience in vapor intrusion assessment, mitigation design, and construction. Paul has worked on VI sites across Canada, the United States, Mexico, Australia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Esquimalt Harbour is a large working harbor located on southern Vancouver Island, BC, with a long history of impacts from shipbuilding, mills, canneries, and naval activities. The harbour lies within the traditional territories of the Esquimalt Nation and the Songhees Nation, who live along the shores of Plumper Bay. Plumper Bay was historically used for log boom storage and had a plywood mill leading to metals, polychlorinated biphenyl, and wood waste contamination. Additionally, a diesel spill, which occurred in 2016, caused local beaches closures and seafood consumption closure.
Despite previous remedial efforts in the adjacent uplands and in offshore sediment, the shoreline areas have remaining contamination not previously addressed. The DND, through FCSAP, has engaged PSPC to deliver a project that seeks to address remaining shoreline contamination and nearshore wood waste, allowing beaches to be reopened and providing suitable habitats for target species through appropriate substrates. Through DND’s engagement with the Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation, the Plumper Bay Revitalization Project was initiated, and workshops were held with the First Nations’ marine teams to understand future shoreline uses, desired target species for habitat restoration, and areas of cultural significance for incorporation into the conceptual design. The design was completed with feedback from the First Nations chief and council and includes removal of contaminated shoreline soils, backfill (including habitat layers), and green shores soft armoring. Additional project enhancements aim to restore traditional functionality to the shoreline by laying shoreline slopes back, addressing invasive vegetation, completing riparian plantings, placing boulders in intertidal areas, constructing a bioretention area, and incorporating trails to the newly restored beaches to increase community access.
The team has undertaken sustained and meaningful coordination with representatives of both Nations, working closely with their communities to support a shared understanding of the project and to seek and consider feedback on an ongoing basis. Engagement with the First Nations has led to numerous project updates, including an increased focus on long-term project resiliency. The project has currently completed it’s first of two construction seasons and includes a required Indigenous Participation Plan to provide direct financial and employment opportunities to local First Nations.
Derek Ormerod
Derek Ormerod has more than 27 years of comprehensive experience as an environmental engineer involved in a broad range of project types with a focus on aquatic environments, specifically remediation and restoration of previously-impacted sites. Derek was the lead engineer on the Plumper Bay Revitalization Project.
Canada’s contaminated-sites sector is deep in a dramatic transition: senior practitioners are retiring, the mid-level thins, and early-career staff arrive with highly variable exposure to foundational knowledge. Worse, firms are under financial pressure: un-chargeable mentoring time and expensive external training are both under pressure. The resulting gap is structural: newer practitioners don’t know what they don’t know, but senior reviewers are not there to catch every bad assumption. The results are toxic: inconsistent conceptual site models, blown budgets, long timelines and – potentially – real harms to human health and the natural environment.
This talk presents a practical antidote: collaborative communities of practice where nominally competing firms can safely cooperate with small incremental effort to build up standards of excellence. Beyond the critical work of conferences like BEST, expanding other open, non-aligned bridges for instruction and shared experience creates strong, continuous support for practitioner development.
In the context of a “competency spine” (capacity development over a career vs. typical problems), we look at confidentiality-safe formats for cross-firm case-study and operational experience exchanges, mentorship circles, micro-credentials, and minimum-standard references that firms can adopt even under tight budget constraints. Using real examples from GeoEnviroPro, the SMART Remediation Seminar Series, and beyond, we highlight how collaborative fora develop both individual capacity development and the dissemination of best practice from existing expert groups spread across Canada and the globe.
Widening the exchange of expertise in our sector has compelling benefits at all levels – better careers for practitioners, more reliable delivery for clients, lower firm-level liability, and improved public outcomes – but it requires a shared vision, active collaboration and a commitment to applied science in the public interest from both private and public entities: Strong bridges can easily cross over deep gaps, but bridges without connecting roads are bridges to nowhere.
Guy Patrick, P.Eng.
Guy is a contaminant hydrogeologist and environmental engineer with over 40 years of experience across Canada and globally in the assessment and remediation of contaminated sites in soil, sediment and bedrock environments. A frequent host of the popular free “GeoEnviroPro GeoPro Talks” webinar series (http://geoenviropro.com/), he also provides technical training via in-class courses, workshops and webinars with a focus on effective use of conceptual site models in site characterization, risk assessment and remedial planning. As a Contaminated Sites Approved Professional in the Province of British Columbia (https://csapsociety.bc.ca/), Mr. Patrick’s expertise also includes strong technical review and project oversight, with a focus on the development of innovative approaches in the assessment and clean-up of contaminated sites.
Kevin French, P.Eng.
Kevin French is one of the driving forces behind the SMART Remediation technical learning seminar series, bringing together practitioners across Canada since 2011. He is also Vice President of VEI Contracting, and has over 35 years of practical experience and expertise in environmental engineering. He has been directly involved in the design and implementation of complex remediation programs around the world involving permeable reactive barriers, adsorptive and stabilization technologies, in-situ chemical oxidation and reduction, aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation, and beyond.
In the ever evolving space of Indigenous engagement and inclusion it’s important to understand what doing business with Indigenous communities and businesses looks like. Kear will share common challenges and opportunities of working with Indigenous People, businesses, and communities while also identifying some key changes that are affecting the way we all do business. Through the use of case studies, discussion, and scenarios, Kear will provide an engaging presentation that will allow participants to expand their knowledge on Indigenous engagement and be able to bring this back to their teams to apply on their projects, going forward.
Kear Porttris
Kear Porttris is a Métis-Chinese Professional who bridges the gap between the technical and non-technical. He weaves his personal and professional experience together in an innovative way that brings people, industry, and Community to the table to work toward a common goal. He has focused his career on connecting professionals and projects with the resources they need to move projects forward. He knows what it takes to connect with Indigenous community representatives and support their meaningful engagement and inclusion, being able to read between the lines and identify their values. He is able to balance the practical needs of a project with the often-complex needs of the community.
Kear has worked in the environmental industry as a co-op student through to being the Director of Indigenous Relations for one of Canada’s largest National environmental contractors. He now supports engineers, contractors, governments, NGOs, and proponents under the banner of Porttris Consulting Group, an Indigenous Engagement and Partnership consultancy.
Remediation of contaminated fractured bedrock remains one of the most persistent challenges in environmental restoration, particularly where conventional injection methods fail to achieve meaningful amendment distribution or contact with contaminant mass. Borehole instability, preferential flow pathways, and short-circuiting frequently undermine remedial effectiveness, leading to stalled projects and extended timelines. These limitations are especially pronounced at sites impacted by chlorinated solvents and petroleum hydrocarbons, where fractured bedrock serves as a continuing source of groundwater contamination.
This presentation introduces a delivery-focused approach designed to overcome these constructability barriers. Rather than relying on traditional injection techniques, the method employs targeted access points created through a pre-drill and backfill sequence. Boreholes are drilled precisely to the target bedrock interval, backfilled with hydrated bentonite to stabilize the column, and then advanced using direct-push tooling through the sealed borehole to place particulate amendments directly into transmissive fractures. This strategy reframes fractured bedrock remediation as an execution and delivery challenge rather than a chemistry problem, enabling practitioners to deploy proven amendments more effectively under complex geological conditions.
Three Canadian case studies illustrate the practical application and benefits of this approach:
Chlorinated Solvent PRB at a Former Steel Facility (Ontario): Initial packer-based injection attempts failed due to cave-ins in weathered shale. Converting boreholes to targeted access points enabled successful placement of approximately 90,000 L of amendment suspension across the full permeable reactive barrier alignment, completing a project previously stalled by constructability issues.
LNAPL and Dissolved PHCs at an Industrial Site (Gananoque, Ontario): Following multi-phase extraction that removed 75% of LNAPL mass, targeted injections of 2,200 kg of activated carbon-based amendment were completed in two days. Eight-month monitoring confirmed continued LNAPL destruction, no rebound, and significant reductions in dissolved PHCs at the till/bedrock interface.
Former dry cleaner in Surrey (BC): At a site underlain by dense till over heaving sands, Targeted Access Points were used to access depths that were not feasible with direct-push alone. BOS 100® was applied following a pilot-test program; full-scale injections (105 points over ~760 m²) were completed in 2021. PCE at the pilot target well was reduced by 99.99% (to 1.46 µg/L), and the legacy groundwater treatment system installed in 2015 was decommissioned in 2022, supporting risk-based closure objectives.
Collectively, these projects demonstrate how targeted access point injection improves amendment contact, reduces injection losses, and enhances predictability compared to conventional methods. The presentation synthesizes lessons learned to define practical decision criteria for when this approach provides measurable advantages, as well as scenarios where traditional methods remain appropriate. Key considerations include site characterization requirements, constructability constraints, and QA/QC practices necessary for defensible implementation.
By reframing fractured bedrock remediation as a delivery and execution challenge rather than a chemistry problem, this presentation provides practitioners with transferable insights into how remediation strategies can be more effectively implemented under challenging subsurface conditions common to Canadian sites.
Steve Reichheld, TAg, EP
Steve Reichheld is a Senior Project Manager with VEI Contracting Inc., bringing over 13 years of experience in environmental consulting and contracting. His work spans contaminated site investigation, large-scale remediation, and soil management across Federal, Provincial, and First Nations regulatory frameworks. He is passionate about using innovation and education to address complex environmental challenges, particularly those involving emerging contaminants and complex sites.
Over the past decade, “ESG” (i.e., Environmental, Social, and Governance frameworks) has become one of the most frequently invoked concepts in the business world. Companies across sectors are feeling pressure to demonstrate responsible governance, environmental performance, and social accountability, yet the term is often used without a shared understanding of what it truly encompasses. Beneath the buzzword lies a rapidly shifting legal and regulatory landscape that is creating risks and opportunities for organizations in Canada.
This presentation offers an accessible overview of what ESG actually means in Canada in 2026, focusing on the major developments shaping business decision-making. By cutting through the jargon and grounding the discussion in recent regulatory changes, emerging trends, and practical industry considerations, the session will highlight three ESG themes that business leaders should have on their radar.
- Supply Chain Accountability Under Bill S‑211
Canada’s Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (Bill S‑211) has introduced mandatory public reporting on risks of forced and child labour, signalling stronger expectations for visibility across global supply chains. The discussion will explore how businesses are responding to these new transparency demands and preparing for the expanding spotlight on ethical sourcing.
- Greenwashing and Canada’s Competition Act Amendments
Recent amendments to the federal Competition Act have increased scrutiny on environmental claims, with regulators focusing on the accuracy and authentication of statements such as “eco‑friendly” or “low‑carbon.” Although the government has recently adjusted aspects of the evidentiary requirements, the broader trend points toward greater transparency and precision in environmental marketing.
- Developments in Canadian Carbon Pricing
Canada’s carbon pricing framework is in transition, with federal attention increasingly centered on ensuring robust, industry-wide pricing systems across jurisdictions and continued alignment with the federal benchmark. The session will outline what industry can expect as benchmark expectations evolve and as governments adjust the balance between consumer-facing charges and industrial pricing mechanisms.
Across all themes, the session will highlight practical takeaways for industry by outlining what matters, what is changing, and how organizations can stay ahead of ESG‑related risk while meeting investor, regulatory, and public expectations.
Mark Youden
Mark Youden is a partner at Gowling WLG with a practice focused on environmental, energy, regulatory and Indigenous law matters in both an advocacy and advisory capacity. Mark assists a wide array of clients with projects across Canada, throughout the environmental assessment and permitting processes, including dispute resolution. Mark’s experience as an environmental consultant allows him to provide practical solutions to complex environmental, Indigenous and regulatory law issues. Mark is called to the bar in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Yukon.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a significant environmental and health challenge due to their chemical and thermal stability, making them resistant to conventional remediation methods. This study focuses on developing and validating a containerized thermal treatment system. The objective is to provide a sustainable, scalable, and efficient solution that eliminates the need for secondary waste treatment and reduces environmental risks.
The containerized thermal conductive heating system heats contaminated soil to temperatures between 350°C and 450°C, volatilizing PFAS into the vapor phase. These vapors are directed to individual high-temperature combustion chambers capable of exceeding 1,400°C, ensuring destruction of PFAS molecules through optimized residence time and turbulence. The energy released by the combustion chambers is used to heat the container through conductive heating. Circulating combustion gases transfers heat uniformly to the soil while minimizing energy losses. Integrated catalytic oxidation at the exhaust ensures emission compliance. The system eliminates secondary waste streams, reduces operational costs, and minimizes environmental impact.
By integrating extraction and destruction within a compact and portable design, this innovation addresses the limitations of traditional approaches. Its ability to adapt to various site conditions and contaminants, coupled with energy efficiency, makes it a transformative solution for managing PFAS contamination in soil globally.
Significant internal laboratory and system development was undertaken in 2024. A field demonstration project has been concluded at site in Denmark, verifying the methodology, through both targeted and non-targeted PFAS analyses, at all stages of the process. This is the closest possible way to insure actual PFAS destruction by breaking all C-F bonds. The demonstration began in February 2025 and concluded in July 2025.
Experimental validation will be presented, regarding the system’s capability to achieve greater than 99% destruction of PFAS, with rigorous gas-phase and post-treatment soil analysis.
John Sankey, P.Eng
John Sankey, P.Eng., is an engineer for True Blue Technologies. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He has been in the groundwater industry for more than 26 years and in 2003 started True Blue Technologies, a business dedicated to providing engineering, technical support and business development for technologies in groundwater remediation and characterization.
A follow up to the Meadow Ave presentation, leading into giving the regulators perspective on the site and then some more general discussion about some of the regulatory tools used orders vs certification docs, security etc.
Across Canada, contaminated and abandoned industrial sites continue to shape the lived realities of First Nations long after operations cease. While remediation efforts often focus on technical risk reduction and regulatory closure, the legacy effects on Indigenous communities extend far beyond environmental metrics. These impacts include disruption of land-based practices, intergenerational health concerns, loss of cultural continuity, economic displacement, and erosion of trust in regulatory systems.
This presentation examines case studies from northern and western Canada to explore how contaminated sites affect First Nations socially, culturally, economically, and spiritually not only during active remediation, but across decades. Drawing on experience the session will highlight gaps between regulatory frameworks and community-defined impacts.
The discussion will also explore practical approaches to reconciliation-based remediation: Indigenous-led monitoring, cumulative effects considerations, data sovereignty, consent-based governance structures, and long-term community well-being indicators.
Christina Smith
Christy Smith leads Falkirk’s Indigenous Interests and Community Well-Being practice and is a nationally recognized voice in reconciliation-based project development across Canada. A proud member of the K’ómoks First Nation, Christy brings more than 26 years of experience advancing Indigenous participation and leadership in major resource and infrastructure projects. Her work is grounded in the principles of decolonization, Indigenous sovereignty, and practical economic reconciliation. Christy has led the design and implementation of meaningful engagement and governance frameworks that foster long-term partnerships, inclusive decision-making, and shared economic outcomes. Her expertise spans environmental assessment, permitting and regulatory strategy, socio-economic planning, and the integration of Indigenous community priorities into project design and execution. Christy is the author of Weaving Two Worlds: Economic Reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and the Resource Sector, a book that explores pathways for aligning Indigenous governance and resource development in a manner that is principled, equitable, and forward-looking. Her leadership has been widely recognized. Christy is the recipient of the 2026 Influential Women in Business Award, the 2022 Women in Mining Indigenous Trailblazer Award, and the AMEBC Robert R. Hedley Award for Excellence in Social and Environmental Responsibility, which honours individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing social and environmental responsibility, including increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the resource sector. Widely respected for her ability to facilitate complex, high-stakes conversations, Christy works at the intersection of Indigenous governance, industry, and regulators to advance projects in ways that are practical, respectful, and durable. Her work is informed by decades of experience across northern and remote regions, where trust, clarity, and long-term relationships are essential to project success.
As an owner, or owners’ representative, you are saddled with the responsibility of managing the site work to meet the overall objectives of the owner … and on time … and on budget! As the best recipe for success is in the thoughtful planning of the work, a clear and structured procurement process is your best friend. After working so hard to produce a detailed specification, have you ever wondered why contractors ask so many questions during the bid period? Have you ever been frustrated with a contractors change order requests when you thought you communicated the scope of work so clearly? This presentation will unveil the remediation contractors’ biggest secrets. We will review basic contract types, cost structures, and the biggest Pitfalls of Procurement!!
Robert Stacey
Mr. Stacey is the Director of Civil Projects and Remediation for York1 Remediation. He has over 35 years of experience as both an environmental consultant and remediation contractor primarily in British Columbia and Ontario. His work often involves significant civil components with both private and public clients ranging in value from $thousands to $tens of millions of dollars. Having worked on both sides of the project team: as an owners representative and a contractor, he has a unique understanding of both perspectives.
The municipalities of Port Hope and Clarington, Ontario, contain widespread low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) contamination originating from historic radium and uranium refining activities conducted between the 1930s and 1980s by the former federal Crown corporation, Eldorado Nuclear. To address these legacy impacts, the Government of Canada established the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI), a large-scale, multi-year program focused on remediating radiological and industrial contamination across both communities. Within this program, the Highland Drive Landfill represents one of the most complex and significant remediation sites, both within the PHAI portfolio and across Canada.
The Highland Drive Landfill is located in the middle of a residential area of Port Hope and is a historical municipal solid waste landfill that operated between 1940s and 1991. During this time, approximately 250,000m3 of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) was deposited and became co-mingled with municipal solid waste (MSW). The LLRW was placed in the landfill overlaying MSW as cover material and for other regular landfill operations. The remediation strategy focused on safely isolating, excavating, and transporting all radiologically contaminated material while minimizing disruption to the community and preventing impacts to air quality, groundwater, and adjacent properties. Achieving this required a highly coordinated technical approach supported by strong field controls and continuous community engagement.
A comprehensive excavation and sorting process was employed to separate the LLRW from the MSW. Advanced radiological monitoring, including in-situ scanners, GPS-integrated exposure rate mapping, and laboratory confirmation sampling, guided the excavation and ensured that all contaminated material meeting PHAI criteria was identified and removed. Excavated LLRW and co-mingled soil/waste streams were packaged and transported to the Port Hope Long-Term Waste Management Facility (LTWMF), a federally licensed engineered disposal site. Stringent safety protocols, including air monitoring, vibration monitoring, and dust suppression measures, were implemented throughout the project, as the site is adjacent to other PHAI sites, residences, a recreation centre, a park, and a high school. Continuous community engagement and transparent communication ensured public awareness and addressed concerns.
To date, remediation activities have been completed without any lost-time incidents, reflecting the effectiveness of both safety planning and field execution. ECC has successfully excavated, loaded, transported, and disposed of over 540,000 tonnes of LLRW and co-mingled material, with work continuing toward an anticipated completion in summer 2027. The successful remediation of the Highland Drive Landfill demonstrates the feasibility of safely managing and removing LLRW from complex sites. This project highlights the importance of collaboration between stakeholders, the use of innovative technologies, and adherence to strict safety standards in achieving effective environmental remediation outcomes.
Ryan Tennant
Mr. Tennant has over 8 years of experience managing environmental remediation projects across Canada and has expertise executing complex, multi-disciplinary projects.
Vilija Mercer
Ms. Mercer brings 11 years of experience in the environmental remediation industry, where she has specialized in contaminated site remediation and regulatory compliance.
The Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) is a government-wide program led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, to reduce risks to human health and the environment and associated financial liabilities. In Budget 2024, FCSAP was renewed with funding of $1.6 billion from 2025-2030. This presentation will provide an overview of the FCSAP program nationally and regionally within Western Canada, along with current demand forecasts for private sector support beginning April 1, 2026. It will also outline various procurement approaches, including measures to encourage participation of Indigenous businesses and guidance on how companies can identify and pursue contracting opportunities to bid on Federal Contaminated Sites contracts.
Michele Thompson
Michele Thompson is a Professional Agrologist and Manager of Environmental Operations at Public Services and Procurement Canada based in Vancouver, BC. With over 15 years of experience in contaminated sites management, she has led numerous federal remediation projects across British Columbia and the Yukon.
Rising average temperatures and largely variable precipitation are globally recognized effects of climate change. Severe flooding, extended periods of drought, and longer periods of warmer temperatures all have significant impacts on water quality and level, particularly related to algal bloom and HAB development. Algal and cyanobacteria bloom impacts range from decreased tourism revenue to increased ecosystem and public health crises. With the advent of water monitoring technology comes the ability to continually visualize water quality and level of entire watersheds. By comparing current conditions to historical data, users of monitoring systems can more confidently predict water quality and level trends in the future. Fluorescence sensor technologies have been developed to monitor photosynthetically active algae and cyanobacteria. These sensors and those for parameters related to bloom growth can be installed on multiparameter instruments. Smart watersheds, or telemetered networks of water quality and level instrumentation, have been developed by many groups for increased responsiveness to events requiring further scientific analysis or protection of life and property. Climate change predictions indicate that warming and varying precipitation is to persist but by using monitoring technologies and the data they provide, localities can become more resilient, allowing for sustainable growth and ecosystem improvement into the future.
Ann Tony B.Sc.
Ann Tony B.Sc. currently working as a Business Development Representative at Rice Resource Technologies. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Simon Fraser University. Ann has experience in coordinating environmental projects and wastewater management, with a strong interest in mine closure and remediation projects. In her current role, she provides technical support for environmental and geotechnical monitoring projects.
In June 2020, a crude oil release occurred at a pipeline pump station in British Columbia (Site). Approximately 190 cubic metres of crude oil were released as a result of the Incident. Beginning in 2020, GHD implemented and completed various remedial programs that included: soil sampling, air monitoring, groundwater investigations, natural source zone depletion (NSZD) monitoring, and a comprehensive excavation program. While a significant remedial excavation was completed, complications surrounding maintaining the geotechnical integrity of the Site’s complex pipeline infrastructure resulted in residual impacts to soil and groundwater and the presence of residual light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPL) at the Site. A program has been implemented to monitor and enhance NSZD rates at the Site to address residual impacts.
In recent years, the significance and importance of petroleum NAPL NSZD and its potential for more sustainable remediation and management of petroleum-contaminated sites have become increasingly apparent, and the assessment of NSZD is becoming a more standard consideration in petroleum NAPL conceptual site model development and site management decision-making. While numerous (and growing) instances of NSZD case studies at LNAPL sites exist in the literature, there are few published demonstrations of efforts to enhance NSZD.
This presentation focuses on remediation efforts conducted to date, the current state of residual contamination on Site, methodology of NSZD, GHD’s NSZD monitoring program, implementation and operation of the eNSZD system, and next steps, such as those outlined below:
- Brief overview of the current state of residual impacts and LNAPL at the Site.
- Confirmation of NSZD and the estimation of rates a combination of soil gas gradients, biogenic heat, and CO2 efflux techniques.
- Monitoring events conducted during the initial cleanup of the pipeline release, before and after the installation of an impermeable barrier (cap), and prior to and following the installation of the enhanced NSZD (eNSZD) system.
- The challenges of establishing what the average pre-enhancement baseline NSZD rates are in a capped environment where the ‘chimney effect’ is evident and pronounced.
- Impact on NSZD rates of the eNSZD system based on low-temperature thermal/heating with the aim to increase treatment zone temperatures
Arden Wabisca
Arden is a project manager responsible for providing environmental consulting and spill response services across Western Canada for Class I railroad clients, oil and gas clients, insurance clients, and many others. She has managed, coordinated, and responded to numerous environmental emergencies including train derailments, pipeline spills, port and marine incidents, highway trucking incidents, chemical fires, and residential heating oil releases.
Managing contaminated sites presents a range of complex legal challenges for industry stakeholders, government agencies, and environmental consultants. The legal landscape is shaped by evolving environmental standards, overlapping regulatory regimes, and technical complexities inherent in site assessment and remediation. This presentation will examine some of the common legal issues encountered in contaminated site management and cost recovery claims, providing practical insights for those involved in these matters.
We will begin by considering the perspectives of the various stakeholders. For industry stakeholders, the primary concerns often include minimizing liability exposure, managing reputational risks, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Government agencies are tasked with enforcing environmental laws, protecting public health, and balancing the interests of affected communities. Environmental consultants play a critical role in site assessment, remediation planning, and navigating the technical aspects of compliance, often acting as intermediaries between regulators and responsible parties.
We will then discuss the common legal issues in more detail, focusing on the different phases of contaminated site management.
First, we will address the legal and practical issues that arise during site assessment and remediation, with a particular focus on matters relevant to environmental consultants. Key topics include the management of privilege over technical and environmental reports, the importance of maintaining proper documentation, and strategies for addressing potentially impacted property owners. These considerations are examined with a view to ensuring environmental compliance and setting the stage for future cost recovery.
Next, we will discuss topical litigation issues that arise in cost recovery claims, such as the allocation of liability and remediation costs among multiple responsible parties and some of the key exemptions to responsible person status. We will highlight some recent and relevant case law as well.
Finally, we will explore issues related to the resolution and recovery of remediation costs. This will include clarifying the distinction between remediation legal costs and litigation legal costs, assessing the reasonableness of claimed remediation expenses, and the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as mediation and arbitration, as effective tools for resolving contaminated site disputes and facilitating cost recovery.
Adam Way
Adam Way is a Partner at Harper Grey and Co-Chair of the Environmental Law Group. His environmental practice involves contaminated sites litigation and risk management including prosecuting and defending actions to recover remediation costs pursuant to the Environmental Management Act, as well as appeals before the Environmental Appeal Board.
Nicola Virk
Nicola Virk is an Associate at Harper Grey and a member of the firm’s Environmental Law Group. Her practice centers on risk management and cost recovery claims, with significant experience handling litigation involving the recovery of remediation costs under the Environmental Management Act.
Federal agencies face distinct challenges when managing properties with historic contamination, especially when navigating land transactions and waterlot divestitures. These challenges intensify when contaminated site assessment and remediation, often including human health and ecological risk assessment, must meet the requirements of a lease or property divestiture under the BC Contaminated Sites Regulation (CSR). Federal properties frequently involve longstanding commercial or industrial activities, offsite contaminant migration, beneficial use scenarios, and contaminant concentrations that exceed CSR Protocol 11 concentrations, potentially triggering a Protocol 12 “high‑risk” site classification. Coordinating remediation and regulatory compliance through a qualified team of consultants adds an additional layer of complexity.
Federal contaminated sites management frameworks provide standardized tools for site classification, prioritization, reporting, and risk assessment. These tools emphasize federal mandates such as protecting fish‑bearing waters, migratory birds, and federally managed lands. In situations where contamination crosses jurisdictional boundaries or where federal receptors may be affected, alignment with federal frameworks becomes essential to maintain eligibility for funding, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder acceptance.
Successfully navigating both federal and provincial requirement and recognizing the regulatory “roadblocks” that may arise, can be challenging. and at times, overwhelming. This presentation outlines common obstacles encountered during the divestiture process and provides a high‑level overview of the BC CSR regulatory triggers that should be considered at each project stage when divestiture is the ultimate objective. Key questions explored include: What should I consider if a certification document is required? When should consultation with the provincial authority or Nation begin? How does the process change if the site is classified as “high risk” under Protocol 12?
Although integrating the BC CSR, Protocol 11, Protocol 12, and the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) into contaminated site assessment and remediation can be demanding, awareness of the potential challenges enables project teams to navigate the process effectively, accountably, and with scientific rigour.
Joline (Jo) Widmeyer, Ph.D., RPBio.
Joline (Jo) Widmeyer, Ph.D., RPBio., CSAP (risk), SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., is a senior environmental toxicologist and risk assessor with over 19 years’ experience supporting successful contaminated sites projects in BC. She is recognized for her ability to design and direct risk-based field programs and effectively support multidisciplinary projects as a technical specialist and senior reviewer. Her expertise includes the application of provincial frameworks (BC CSR, Alberta, Saskatchewan) and federal guidance (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Health Canada), including the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) Framework and Aquatic Site Guidance. She has completed more than 85 screening, intermediate, and detailed risk assessments, many of which supported regulatory submissions for Certificates of Compliance (CoC) and Approvals in Principle (AiP). Joline’s HHERAs are based upon transparent assumptions that are reasonable, substantiated, and scientifically defensible. Her strong writing and communication skills are evidenced by her extensive authorship of risk assessment deliverables that have withstood rigorous regulatory and peer review.
A fractured rock site was found to have groundwater impacted by the chlorinated volatile organic compounds (cVOCs) tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). High resolution assessment studies determined that three fracture zones located at 4.0 to 9.2 metres below ground surface (mbgs), 9.2 to 12.2 mbgs, and 24.1 to 26.5 mbgs generated greater than 99.3 percent of the mass flux at the site. Tetrachloroethylene concentrations ranged up to 10.2 µg/L whereas TCE ranged up to 1.37 µg/L with concentrations decreasing with depth. The conceptual site model developed by the consultant combined with pilot testing allowed for an innovative insitu program to be implemented which reduced the cost and time of remediation. The insitu treatment approach implemented used chemical reduction, sorption, and anaerobic bioremediation to address the groundwater impacts and long-term matrix diffusion challenges. The reagents used to treat the cVOCs were SmZVI™ and PlumeStop™. PlumeStopTM is composed of colloidal activated carbon (CAC) within an organic polymer with the CAC sorbing the dissolved phase organic contaminants.
The organic polymer can also enhance anaerobic bioremediation of the chlorinated VOCs. SmZVI is sulfonated micro zero valent iron that uses a combination of chemical reduction and anaerobic bioremediation to reduce PCE and TCE through dichlorination reactions to non-toxic ethene and ethane. The reagents were injected using a combination of packers installed in open boreholes and injection wells to target the three fracture zones at low pressures. A total of 10,900 kg of PlumeStopTM and 3,450 kg of SmZVITM was injected within multiple boreholes and wells installed on a lateral and vertical grid throughout the site. Post injection sampling determined that the cVOC concentrations were reduced to below the regulatory standards within four (4) months of the injection event and have remained below the standards since the injection (< 3 years). The success of the injection prompted the client to request additional treatment to achieve non-detect levels of cVOCs in the groundwater. Monitoring following a supplemental injection event determined that the cVOCs were below their respective method detection limits within the groundwater at most locations throughout the site. The effectiveness of the program was the result of combining high resolution assessment methods with consultant-contractor collaboration, coupled with innovative remedial reagents. In comparison to pump and treat, this approach was up to 30 times more cost effective and reduced the remedial timeframe from years to months.
Ryan Wilkinson
Ryan Wilkinson is an environmental geologist working for Insitu Remediation Services Limited (IRSL) where he has five years experience in remedial implementation and design. He has worked on over 70 projects across Canada, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Geological Sciences from Salem State University and a Masters of Spatial Analysis from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). Ryan is a licensed professional geologist (P.Geo).
The Sterling Shipyard Remediation and Infill Project is a significant environmental and land-use project for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. The former shipyard site on the south shore of Burrard Inlet had more than a century of industrial activity, including a sawmill, shipyard operations, municipal works functions, and container storage. These activities left behind residual soil and sediment contamination. The project was developed to address longstanding environmental concerns and to prepare the site for future port related uses.
Beginning in 2024, the project team carried out a detailed remediation program that removed about 18,000 cubic metres of contaminated sediment from intertidal and subtidal areas. The combined excavation, dredging, and validation steps were designed so the remaining site conditions were consistent with environmental and regulatory requirements, and risk-based land quality objectives. After the remediation phase, the project moved into land creation and shoreline stabilization. Clean engineered fill was placed to rebuild the upland area, resulting in 0.5 hectares of new industrial land and contributing to a total developable area of 1.1 hectares. An engineered shoreline slope approximately eight metres high was constructed to support long-term stability. The project also used dynamic compaction by dropping an 18-ton weight to improve ground density, which was completed over nine days. These steps created a stable foundation that will support future industrial activities in a region where available land is limited.
The project also incorporated several habitat enhancement measures. Two artificial rock reefs were placed offshore to support fish refuge and spawning. Bioenhancing ECOncrete blocks were installed along the shoreline to increase habitat complexity. Native vegetation was planted to improve shoreline stability and ecological function, and seeded kelp ropes were added above the reefs to provide additional marine habitat. These features help balance industrial development with environmental improvements and contribute to long-term ecological resilience. Overall, the Sterling Shipyard Remediation and Infill Project addresses historical contamination, improves shoreline conditions, creates new industrial land, and adds meaningful marine habitat enhancements.
Melanie Wilson
Melanie Wilson is the Manager of Land, Water, and Ecosystem Management with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. She has 15 years experience as a project manager and scientist in the environmental industry. Her experience includes a wide range of projects including the investigation and remediation of contaminated sites, human health and ecological risk assessments and environmental assessments to support project permitting and approval.
Warren Mills
Warren is an Environmental Regulatory and Project Management Specialist at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority with over 18 years of experience delivering complex environmental projects across British Columbia. He is recognized for his strategic, solutions-oriented approach to managing environmental risks and requirements for large-scale port infrastructure projects.