new location - same great conference - esaa · director of the western watersheds research...
TRANSCRIPT
An Information Service for Alberta’s Environment Industry The Week Ending April 3rd, 2015
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Inside this Issue:
Environmental Enforcement Orders Issued
Environment Departments Sees Cut in Alberta Budget
Mercury Levels Rising in Endangered Arctic
New CCME Documents
Remediation Technology News and Resources
New Members and much more ….
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The ESAA Weekly News is published
weekly by:
Environmental Services Association of Alberta
102, 2528 Ellwood Drive SW
Edmonton, AB T6X 0A9 (P) 780.429.6363 (F) 780.429.4249
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...environmental integrity through
innovative business solutions
WaterTech 2015 – Delegate Space Available
April 20-22, 2015
Delta Lodge at Kananaskis
WaterTech Starts in 2 Weeks
New Location - Same Great Conference
Lower Delegate Conference Fee Lower Room Rates
Free Outdoor Parking No Park Pass Required
Nearly 300 delegates have now registered for WaterTech 2015. Additional delegate spaces have been added. Have you registered? Check out the attendee list: http://www.esaa.org/watertech/agenda/delegate-list/ The 2015 program includes 53 technical presentations that include
Special Oil Sands Session
12 other technical sessions focusing on Pipelines, Wetlands, Groundwater, Municipal, Water Management, Modelling, Wastewater, and more.
WaterTech 2015 will also feature three keynote presentations:
Opening Keynote
"Hydroclimatic Change" Robert Sandford
Director of the Western Watersheds Research Collaborative, and an associate of the
Centre for Hydrology at the University of Saskatchewan
Tuesday Lunch Keynote
Bob McDonald Host of CBC's Quirks and Quarks
Wednesday Lunch Keynote
Philippe Cousteau
Co-Founder and President, EarthEcho International
Registration: To register visit: www.esaa.org/watertech/
REMTECH 2015 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available for RemTech 2015. The following opportunities remain available and are an excellent opportunity to showcase and profile your organization during RemTech 2015.
Gold Sponsorship - 2 Available - $7,000
One (1) Exhibit Space
Three (3) Delegate Passes
Logo on Website, Signage, Program, App
Company Profile in Printed Program, App
Full Page Ad in Printed Program Phototainment/Green Screen - 1 Available - $3,000
The theme at the Opening Reception is Pirates of the RemTech (a spoof on Pirates of the Caribbean!). A company out of Banff will be providing a Pirate themed “green screen” for the delegates to have their pictures taken in front of. Everyone who has their picture taken will receive an actual photograph to take with them and each picture would have your logo on it.
Silver Level Sponsorship Recognition (see below) Opening Keynote Breakfast - 1 Available - $2,500
Logo on Website, Signage, Program, App
Company Profile in Printed Program, App
1/3 Page Ad in Printed Program Massage chairs - 1 Available - $3,000
Bronze Level Sponsorship Recognition (see below)
Complimentary Delegate Pass
Marketing material in our brochure stands
Massage Chairs will be operational starting at Thursday morning coffee, through to the end of the Friday morning networking break
Silver Sponsorship - 2 Available - $3,000
Delegate Pass
Logo on Website, Signage, Program, App
Company Profile in Printed Program, App
1/2 Page Ad in Printed Program Bronze Sponsorship - 2 Available - $1,400
Logo on Website, Signage, Program, App
Company Profile in Printed Program, App
1/3 Page Ad in Printed Program For further details, or to sign up as a sponsors, contact: Lorrine Hamdon at [email protected] To see the complete list of current sponsors, visit: http://www.esaa-events.com/remtech/sponsors.htm
Thank you for your support!
Registration is currently 60% sold out for RemTech 2015. To register visit: www.esaa-events.com/remtech RemTech 2015 Delegate Rates Will Not Rise for the 5th Consecutive Year! ESAA works hard to keep costs for delegates at a minimum. Even though our costs have increased dramatically over the past 5 years we are holding
delegate fees for the 5th consecutive year.
ENFORCEMENT ORDER ISSUED TO TWO INDIVIDUALS FOR UNAUTHORIZED WORK The Alberta government has ordered a Calgary couple to restore wetlands affected by unauthorized landscaping. Incident details
A company representing Karamjit Johal and Baljit Johal was refused a permit under the Water Act to fill in a
wetland on the Johals’ land.
The Johals hired contractors to fill, grade and level the wetlands without holding a permit under the Water
Act.
The completed work caused harm to the wetlands and its aquatic environment.
Terms of the Enforcement Order Karamjit Johal and Baljit Johal must:
Submit a complete wetlands restoration plan by June 1, 2015;
implement the approved plan with a completion date of October 30, 2015 and;
submit a written final report of the work undertaken to the Compliance Manager within 30 days of
completion of the work required.
Enforcement orders ensure that immediate action is taken to remedy a situation where there is an unauthorized use of public lands. They are one of many tools – including education and prevention – used by the Alberta government to ensure all Albertans can continue to enjoy a safe and healthy environment.
ENFORCEMENT ORDER ISSUED TO COMPANY AND AN INDIVIDUAL FOR USING UNAUTHORIZED WELL The Alberta government has ordered Five Pillar Holdings Ltd. and Mohinder Singh Gill to cease diverting water from a groundwater well. Incident details
Five Pillar Holdings Ltd. and Mohinder Singh Gill are diverting water from a groundwater well for use in a Strathmore hotel operating on their land.
Neither party holds a licence to divert water or operate a well.
The parties have been notified previously to cease diversion of water from the well. Terms of the Enforcement Order Five Pillar Holdings Ltd. and Mohinder Singh Gill must:
immediately cease diverting water from the well;
immediately reclaim the well in accordance with regulations using only a currently certified Class A water well driller; and,
provide written confirmation of the well’s reclamation to the Compliance Manager by April 30, 2015. Enforcement orders ensure that immediate action is taken to remedy a situation where there are contraventions of the Water Act. They are one of many tools – including education and prevention – used by the Alberta government to ensure all Albertans can continue to enjoy a safe and healthy environment.
ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT SEES CUT IN ALBERTA BUDGET (Source: Calgary Herald) Alberta Environment is facing cuts in the coming year, with its overall spending dropping and the number of department staff being reduced.
“We were able to find some areas in our budget where we are able to reduce expenditures, particularly on the staffing component,” said Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Minister Kyle Fawcett. “We will be reducing the budget by 150 staff members.”
Some of the staff, he said, will move to the Alberta Energy Regulator and a new environmental monitoring agency.
“There had been some contingencies worked into the budget through those processes to make sure that anything didn’t fall through the cracks,” said Fawcett, noting 50 per cent of the positions haven’t been filled in the past year so most cuts will come through attrition.
It means the 2015-16 budget will be $717 million — down from a projected $901 million this year.
“The drop in those dollars is largely attributable to the fact it includes the emergency funding we provided,” explained Katrina Bleutchen, a department spokeswoman.
The budget suggests the department’s decrease is actually only $35 million after adjusting the forecast for $249 million in disaster and emergency funding for wildfires, mountain pine beetle and floods in the past year.
Fawcett said his department will continue to focus on flood mitigation and wildfire management.
There’s $225 million to fix provincial parks damaged by the 2013 flood, provide money to communities in the form of grants, do flood mapping and put money toward restoring wetlands and fish habitats.
The budget also includes $78 million for the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency — an organization that monitors water, air, land and biodiversity across Alberta — to allow for the “best science.”
The department will transfer another 18 of its staff to the agency, which was created last year.
Ed Whittingham, executive director of the Pembina Institute, said they’ll be watching to see how the AEMERA funding breaks out.
“Of the $78 million, we want to see the vast majority going toward actual environmental monitoring in the province,” he said, noting the monitoring also must lead to concrete action by the province. “Monitoring only tells us what’s broken, not how to fix it.”
Alberta Environment will slow down its land-use plans — which try to balance development with conservation — by delaying work on land-use plans that haven’t been started.
Wendy Francis, interim president of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, said that raises some concern.
“From our perspective, managing our headwaters in a way that protects water is a top priority,” she said, noting any delay means development could continue in critical areas. “It does threaten values that all Albertans care about, particularly flood and drought control.”
Francis said it also has an impact on water quality, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.
In addition, the department now includes provincial parks — which has a $61-million budget.
There’s an increase in some of the park fees, including $3 more for camping fees, $1 more for campsite electricity fees, a $220 hike in fees at the Canmore Nordic Centre and an increase in permits for special events to $240 from $60.
MERCURY LEVELS RISING IN ENDANGERED ARCTIC GULLS: BIOLOGIST Only 500 breeding pairs of the Ivory Gull remain in Canada
(Source: CBC News) Mercury levels in modern gulls are 45 times higher than they were in the 19th century, biologist Alex Bond found in his research. (David McKinnon)
A biologist is suggesting rapidly rising rates of mercury contamination may be behind the dramatic population drop of an endangered Arctic gull.
"If nothing changes, we won't have ivory gulls in Canada," said Alex Bond, whose paper was published this week by the British Royal Society.
Populations of the bird, which in North America only breeds in Canada, have fallen by 80 per cent since the 1980s and the small white scavenger is down to about 500 breeding pairs. Ivory gulls live only in the High Arctic, where they prey along the edge of sea ice and feed off remains from polar bear kills.
'...Of all Arctic birds, ivory gulls have the highest mercury in their eggs.'- Alex Bond, conservation scientist
That diet may be the problem, suspects Bond, who conducted his research while he was based at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. He is now senior conservation scientist at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the United Kingdom.
Mercury accumulates as it works its way up the food chain. Ivory gulls, at the top of the pyramid, are highly vulnerable.
Using old specimens in museums for comparison, Bond found that mercury levels in modern gulls are 45 times higher than they were in the 19th century.
The ivory gull is the only all-white gull. It is considered threatened in Canada. (Shirley Gallant)
"Linking the levels that we see in bird feathers to population-level declines is really tricky," he said. "But we do know that of all Arctic birds, ivory gulls have the highest mercury in their eggs. And of all ivory gulls, the Canadian ones have the highest mercury in their eggs."
The average level of mercury increases for northern species is just under one per cent a year. The level of increase for ivory gulls is twice that.
Climate change and illegal hunting could also factor into the population decline, Bond said.
Levels of mercury are known to be rising throughout the Arctic. The potent neurotoxin is carried in by high-level air currents, largely from coal-fired power plants in North America and Asia.
A 2011 study found China to be the largest mercury source, although many U.S. states as well as Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick burn coal for power. That study suggested global mercury emissions could rise by 25 per cent by 2020. The 2013 Minimata Convention, signed by Canada and 127 other countries, bans new mercury mines and includes control measures on air emissions.
Ivory gulls are already considered threatened, the highest level of threat assessment in Canadian law. A recovery strategy for the bird has been written, but plans to carry it out aren't due until 2017.
If nothing changes, the outlook for the birds isn't good, said Bond. "Based on the status quo, it's not very promising at all."
NEW CCME DOCUMENTS
Draft for public review: Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance for Contaminated Sites A draft Ecological Risk Assessment Guidance for Contaminated Sites is available for public review and comment until April 27, 2015. This guidance document is a companion to A Framework for Ecological Risk Assessment: General Guidance (CCME 1996) and is intended to provide additional technical guidance to support risk assessment practitioners when conducting ecological risk assessments. The document is available in English and French. Draft Scientific Criteria Document for Public Review: Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life - Carbamazepine A draft scientific criteria document for Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life – Carbamazepine is available for public review and comment until April 17, 2015. The scientific criteria document includes English and French summaries.
Carbamazepine is a drug commonly prescribed as an antiepileptic, but is also used for the treatment of pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia and as a psychotropic, in the treatment of schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The main route of entry of carbamazepine into the aquatic environment is via municipal sewage treatment effluent.
CALIFORNIA IMPOSES FIRST MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTIONS TO DEAL WITH DROUGHT (Source: New York Times) PHILLIPS, Calif. — Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday ordered mandatory water use reductions for the first time in California’s history, saying the state’s four-year drought had reached near-crisis proportions after a winter of record-low snowfalls.
Mr. Brown, in an executive order, directed the State Water Resources Control Board to impose a 25 percent reduction on the state’s 400 local water supply agencies, which serve 90 percent of California residents, over the coming year. The agencies will be responsible for coming up with restrictions to cut back on water use and for monitoring compliance. State officials said the order would impose varying degrees of cutbacks on water use across the board — affecting homeowners, farms and other businesses, as well as the maintenance of cemeteries and golf courses.
While the specifics of how this will be accomplished are being left to the water agencies, it is certain that Californians across the state will have to cut back on watering gardens and lawns — which soak up a vast amount of the water this state uses every day — as well as washing cars and even taking showers. California is experiencing the worst drought in its history, and the effects are being felt nationwide.
“People should realize we are in a new era,” Mr. Brown said at a news conference here on Wednesday, standing on a patch of brown and green grass that would normally be thick with snow at this time of year. “The idea of your nice little green lawn getting watered every day, those days are past.”
Owners of large farms, who obtain their water from sources outside the local water agencies, will not fall under the 25 percent guideline. State officials noted that many farms had already seen a cutback in their water allocations because of the drought. In addition, the owners of large farms will be required, under the governor’s executive order, to offer detailed reports to state regulators about water use, ideally as a way to highlight incidents of water diversion or waste.
Because of this system, state officials said, they did not expect the executive order to result — at least in the immediate future — in an increase in farm or food prices.
State officials said that they were prepared to enforce punitive measures, including fines, to ensure compliance, but that they were hopeful it would not be necessary to do so. That said, the state had trouble reaching the 20 percent reduction target that Mr. Brown set in January 2014 when he issued a voluntary reduction order as part of declaring a drought emergency. The state water board has the power to impose fines on local water suppliers that fail to meet the reduction targets set by the board over the coming weeks.
The governor announced what amounts to a dramatic new chapter in the state’s response to the drought while attending the annual April 1 measuring of the snowpack here in the Sierra Nevada. Snowpacks are critical to the state’s water system: They store water that falls during the wet season, and release it through the summer.
In a typical year, the measure in Phillips is around five or six feet, as Frank Gehrke, chief of the California Cooperative Snow Survey Program, indicated by displaying the measuring stick brought out annually. But on Wednesday, Mr. Brown was standing on an utterly dry field after he and Mr. Gehrke went through the motions of measuring a snowpack. State officials said they now expected the statewide snowpack measure to be about 6 percent of normal.
“We are standing on dry grass, and we should be standing on five feet of snow,” Mr. Brown said. “We are in an historic drought.”
Water has long been a precious resource in California, the subject of battles pitting farmer against city-dweller and northern communities against southern ones; books and movies have been made about its scarcity and plunder. Water is central to the state’s identity and economy, and a symbol of how wealth and ingenuity have tamed nature: There are golf courses in the deserts of Palm Springs, lush gardens and lawns in Los Angeles, and vast expanses of irrigated fields of farmland throughout the Central Valley.
Given that backdrop, any effort to force reductions in water use could be politically contentious, as Mr. Brown himself acknowledged. “This will be somewhat of a burden — it’s going to be very difficult,” he said. “People will say, ‘What about the farmers?’ Farmers will say, ‘What about the people who water their lawns?’ ”
Within hours of Mr. Brown’s announcement, Representative Kevin McCarthy, the California Republican who is the House majority leader, announced plans to renew efforts in Congress to pass legislation requiring the building of two huge water facilities in the state. The efforts had been blocked by Democrats concerned that the water projects would harm the environment and damage endangered species of fish.
“The current drought in California is devastating,” Mr. McCarthy said. “Today’s order from the governor should not only alarm Californians, but the entire nation should take notice that the most productive agriculture state in the country has entered uncharted territory.” “I’m from the Central Valley, and we know that we cannot conserve or ration our way out of this drought,” he said.
The newly mandated 25 percent cut is in relation to total water use in the state in 2013. Cuts will vary from community to community, reflecting that per capita water use reduction has been better in some areas than others. In addition, the state and local governments will offer temporary rebate programs for homeowners who replace dishwashers and washing machines with water-efficient models.
Mr. Brown said the state would impose water-use restrictions on golf courses and cemeteries and require that nonpotable water be used on median dividers.
Lawns consume much of the water used every year in California, and the executive order calls for the state, working with local governments, to replace 50 million acres of ornamental turf with planting that consumes less water.
The order also instructs water authorities to raise rates on heavy water users. Those pricing systems, intended to reward conservers and punish wasters, are used in some parts of this state and have proved effective, state officials said.
Felicia Marcus, the chairwoman of the State Water Resources Control Board, said that California would leave it to local water providers to decide how to enforce the reductions on homeowners and businesses. She said she anticipated that most of the restrictions would be aimed at the outdoor use of water; many communities have already imposed water restrictions on lawns and gardens, but Ms. Marcus suggested they had not gone far enough.
“We are in a drought unlike one we’ve seen before, and we have to take actions that we haven’t taken before,” she said. “We are not getting the level of effort that the situation clearly warrants.” Mark W. Cowin, the director of the California Department of Water Resources, said the state would tightly monitor compliance, in the hope that would be enough to accomplish the 25 percent reduction. If it is not, the order authorizes water suppliers to penalize offenders. “We are looking for success, not to be punitive,” Mr. Cowin said. “In the end, if people and communities don’t comply, there will be repercussions, including fines.”
NEW FEDERAL (US) RULES ARE SET FOR FRACKING (Source: New York Times) WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Friday unveiled the nation’s first major federal regulations on hydraulic fracturing, a technique for oil and gas drilling that has led to a significant increase in American energy production but has also raised concerns about health and safety risks.
The Interior Department began drafting the rules, focused on drilling safety, in Mr. Obama’s first term after breakthroughs in the technology, also known as fracking, led to a surge in the production of oil and gas.
The fracking boom has put the United States on track to soon become the world’s largest oil and gas producer. But environmentalists fear that the technique, which involves injecting a cocktail of chemicals deep underground to break up the rocks around oil and gas deposits, could contaminate surrounding water supplies and wildlife.
As the practice of fracking has soared, fights over how and whether to regulate it have broken out across the country. The states have jurisdiction over drilling on private and state-owned land, where the vast majority of fracking is done in the United States. The new federal rules, by contrast, will cover about 100,000 oil and gas wells drilled on public lands, according to the Interior Department.
Still, Obama administration officials hope that the federal rules will serve as a de facto standard for state legislatures grappling with their own regulations.
“Current federal well-drilling regulations are more than 30 years old, and they simply have not kept pace with the technical complexities of today’s hydraulic fracturing operations,” said the interior secretary, Sally Jewell.
Ms. Jewell, who oversaw the creation of the rules, noted that while they would create standards only for wells drilled on public lands, “there are a number of states where these may be the only regulations they have.” The onus for creating further rules, she said, “must now be taken up in statehouses and boardrooms across the country.”
The regulations, which are to take effect in 90 days, will allow government workers to inspect and validate the safety and integrity of the concrete barriers that line fracking wells. They will require companies to publicly disclose the chemicals used in the fracturing process within 30 days of completing fracking operations, using an industry-run website called FracFocus. Environmentalists take issue with the decision to rely on a site created by and for the fracking industry.
The rules will also set safety standards for how companies can store used fracking chemicals around well sites, and will require companies to submit detailed information on well geology to the Bureau of Land Management, a part of the Interior Department. Oil and gas companies have resisted fracking regulations, fearing that they could raise the cost of fracking and slow or freeze energy development.
The Independent Petroleum Association of America immediately filed a lawsuit challenging the regulations, calling it “a reaction to unsubstantiated concerns” and requesting that the regulations be set aside. “From California to Pennsylvania, the oil and natural gas industry has played a critical role in reviving America’s economy, and hydraulic fracturing has been the key to this revival,” said Barry Russell, the chief executive of the association. “These new federal mandates will add burdensome new costs on our independent producers,” Mr. Russell said.
Interior Department officials noted that in states that regulate fracking, companies are already complying with similar regulations. It estimated the new regulations would add about $5,500 to the cost of fracking each individual well — which it calculates as less than 1 percent of the total cost of drilling.
The agency also noted that it spent four years developing the rules, in close consultation with oil and gas companies, state authorities and environmental groups. It has reviewed more than 1.5 million public comments. Environmental groups offered only lukewarm praise of the regulations, which they said included too many concessions to industry groups.
“This is an important step forward in regulating fracking, a process which has concerned communities across the country,” said Madeleine Foote, legislative representative for the League of Conservation Voters.
“Many aspects of this rule, such as stricter requirements for well construction and disposal of flowback water, reflect the urgent need to minimize the risks posed by fracking,” she said. “However, we remain disappointed with some provisions like continued reliance on the industry-run website FracFocus for disclosure of toxic chemicals, and the lack of a ban on fracking in our most treasured spaces.”
The new regulations are expected to be the first in a series of rules governing fracking safety. The Obama administration is expected to issue rules designed to curb the release of methane, a greenhouse gas, from fracking wells.
REMEDIATION TECHNOLOGY NEWS AND RESOURCES
(The following are selected items from the US EPA's Tech Direct - http://clu-in.org/techdirect/)
Upcoming Live Internet Seminars
ITRC Remedy Selection for Contaminated Sediments - April 14, 2015, 1:00PM-3:15PM EDT (17:00-19:15 GMT). ITRC developed the technical and regulatory guidance, Remedy Selection for Contaminated Sediments (CS-2, 2014), to assist decision-makers in identifying which contaminated sediment management technology is most favorable based on an evaluation of site specific physical, sediment, contaminant, and land and waterway use characteristics. The document provides a remedial selection framework to help identify favorable
technologies, and identifies additional factors (feasibility, cost, stakeholder concerns, and others) that need to be considered as part of the remedy selection process. This ITRC training course supports participants with applying the technical and regulatory guidance as a tool to overcome the remedial challenges posed by contaminated sediment sites. Participants learn how to: identify site-specific characteristics and data needed for site decision making, evaluate potential technologies based on site information, and select the most favorable contaminant management technology for their site. For more information and to register, see http://www.itrcweb.org or http://clu-in.org/live.
ITRC Petroleum Vapor Intrusion: Fundamentals of Screening, Investigation, and Management - April 16, 2015, 1:00PM-3:15PM EDT (17:00-19:15 GMT). Chemical contaminants in soil and groundwater can volatilize into soil gas and migrate through unsaturated soils of the vadose zone. Vapor intrusion (VI) occurs when these vapors migrate upward into overlying buildings through cracks and gaps in the building floors, foundations, and utility conduits, and contaminate indoor air. If present at sufficiently high concentrations, these vapors may present a threat to the health and safety of building occupants. Petroleum vapor intrusion (PVI) is a subset of VI and is the process by which volatile petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) released as vapors from light nonaqueous phase liquids (LNAPL), petroleum-contaminated soils, or petroleum-contaminated groundwater migrate through the vadose zone and into overlying buildings. The ITRC Technical and Regulatory Guidance Web-Based Document, Petroleum Vapor Intrusion: Fundamentals of Screening, Investigation, and Management (PVI-1, 2014) and this associated Internet-based training provides regulators and practitioners with consensus information based on empirical data and recent research to support PVI decision making under different regulatory frameworks. The PVI assessment strategy described in this guidance document enables confident decision making that protects human health for various types of petroleum sites and multiple PHC compounds. This guidance provides a comprehensive methodology for screening, investigating, and managing potential PVI sites and is intended to promote the efficient use of resources and increase confidence in decision making when evaluating the potential for vapor intrusion at petroleum-contaminated sites. By using the ITRC guidance document, the vapor intrusion pathway can be eliminated from further investigation at many sites where soil or groundwater is contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons or where LNAPL is present. For more information and to register, see http://www.itrcweb.org or http://clu-in.org/live .
SRI Webinar Series: How to Bring about Ecological Revitalization on Contaminated Lands - April 21, 2015, 2:00PM-4:00PM EDT (18:00-20:00 GMT). Ecological revitalization refers to the process of returning land from a contaminated state to one that supports a functioning and sustainable habitat. While the end use of a contaminated property is typically a local decision made with the site owner, EPA actively supports and encourages ecological revitalization, when appropriate, on sites under its cleanup programs. This webinar will share several benefits of ecological revitalization illustrated by case study presentations of various projects across the country. Ecological revitalization topics will include habitat restoration, soil amendment usage, urban gardens and pollinator habitat development. For more information and to register, see http://clu-in.org/live.
New Documents and Web Resources
Technology News and Trends (EPA 542-N-14-004). This issue highlights approaches for improving and streamlining site cleanup through the broad strategy described in the U.S. EPA's fiscal year 2014 Superfund Remedial Program Review Action Plan. The plan describes short- as well as long-term measures the Agency is undertaking to maintain effective remedial cleanups under Superfund program budget constraints. An important component of the plan is the use of adaptive management--an iterative approach to site investigation and remedy implementation that facilitates response to new information and conditions throughout the site's lifecycle. The plan also focuses on the assessment, study, design and construction phases of the remedial process and outlines modified priorities for related resource management to be combined with additional increases in efficiencies. The projects featured in this issue illustrate ways to more effectively compile information as part of design optimization, implement and monitor remedies and strategically schedule key activities (Winter 2015). View at http://clu-in.org/tnandt/0215. Research Brief 243: Detecting Environmental Chemicals with Novel Immunoassay Technology. A new low-cost portable device uses a smart phone to detect the presence and concentrations of BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether), a type of flame retardant and widespread environmental contaminant. The device uses a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) platform to perform microscale enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), a popular lab technique that uses antibodies designed to measure a specific substance in a sample. The LOC platform performed comparably to the standard ELISA laboratory protocol but in much less time and with much smaller sample sizes. The system, developed by researchers led by Tingrui Pan, Ph.D., at the University of California (UC) Davis Superfund Research Program, is cost-effective, easy-to-use, and widely accessible. It can be used to detect levels of BDE-47 in human samples, such as blood, as well as in liquid samples from the
environment. It can also be applied to other chemicals, facilitating mobile detection of health and environmental contaminants in rural or less developed regions. For more information, see http://tools.niehs.nih.gov/srp/researchbriefs/view.cfm?Brief_ID=243. Technology Innovation News Survey Corner. The Technology Innovation News Survey contains market/commercialization information; reports on demonstrations, feasibility studies and research; and other news relevant to the hazardous waste community interested in technology development. Recent issues, complete archives, and subscription information is available at http://clu-in.org/products/tins/ . The following resources were included in recent issues:
Pyrolusite Process(R) to Remove Acid Mine Drainage Contaminants from Kimble Creek in Ohio: A Pilot Study
Enhanced Amendment Delivery to Low Permeability Zones for Chlorinated Solvent Source Area Bioremediation: ESTCP Cost and Performance Report
Optimized Enhanced Bioremediation Through 4D Geophysical Monitoring and Autonomous Data Collection, Processing and Analysis: ESTCP Cost and Performance Report
Combining Remedies for More Effective Site Cleanup
Operating Windows of Two Important Low Input Technologies for Greening Urban Brownfields
Attenuation Pathways for Munitions Constituents in Soils and Groundwater
A Review of Green and Sustainable Remediation (GSR) Practices at NAVFAC Environmental Restoration Sites
Next Generation Risk Assessment: Incorporation of Recent Advances in Molecular, Computational, and Systems Biology
EUGRIS Corner. New Documents on EUGRIS, the platform for European contaminated soil and water information. More than 8 resources, events, projects and news items were added to EUGRIS in March 2015. These can be viewed at http://www.eugris.info/whatsnew.asp . Then select the appropriate month and year for the updates in which you are interested. The following resource was posted on EUGRIS: Examination of contaminated land sector activity in England (DEFRA, 2014). This report produced by the UK's Department Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) gives an overview of the contaminated land activity in England since Part 2A was introduced in 2000 until 31st December 2013. It documents progress made on identifying and remediating contaminated land sites using information collected from 197 of 326 local authorities (60%) in England and from the Environment Agency for Special Sites. View or download from http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&Completed=0&ProjectID=136
ESAA Member News
MCCUE ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS CELEBRATES 15TH ANNIVERSARY
This year marks the 15th anniversary of McCue Engineering Contractors, an award-winning Canadian company headquartered in Vancouver BC. McCue has provided specialized contracting services to consulting, engineering, mining, oil & gas and industrial sector clients in Canada and the US since its inception in 2000. The company started as a proprietorship in 2000 when the President, Chris McCue, recognized a potential niche in environmental contracting specific to the installation, operation & maintenance of brownfield remediation systems. Chris’ education and experience perfectly suited the opportunity and he occupied the niche. The company expanded its services to include engineering, and later moved into mine water treatment and industrial wastewater treatment. Chris’ goal was to create a “boutique” construction company; one that provides a quality product at a reasonable price, with emphasis on customer service. McCue has successfully accomplished this for the past 15 years. On achieving this milestone, President Chris McCue commented, "There have been a lot of changes over the years; new sectors, new office, new look, but I’m most proud of what has remained the same: our team. We have a great group of people with varying experience, able to work collaboratively on complicated projects – it doesn’t get better than that!"
McCue’s industry-leading work in mine & industrial water treatment, and in situ remediation technologies, and their dedication to innovation and sustainability earned them a corporate TechGREEN award in 2013 from the Applied Scientists, Technicians and Technologists of BC. Learn more about McCue Engineering Contractors at www.mccuecontracting.com
New ESAA Member
ESAA’s Board of Directors and staff would like to welcome the following new members: Full Member:
Terra-Sano Earthworks & Environmental Consulting
Box 97, 5004-48 Avenue Stettler, AB T0C 2L0
Phone: (403) 305-4227 Web: www.terra-sano.ca
Todd Bell, Owner
e-mail: [email protected]
Profile
Terra-Sano is a leading earthworks and environmental consulting firm headquartered in Calgary and Stettler, Alberta. For you to obtain your reclamation certificate, we can help you take on any required tasks required by Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and Environmental and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD). By handling each stage of the process, we take complete control of the project's quality while providing time-sensitive solutions.
Upcoming Events
An Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE
Wednesday, September 9th, 2015 Winspear Centre, Edmonton
The Environmental Services of Association of Alberta (ESAA) is pleased to announce An Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE in support of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada (JGI Canada) and the Ilsa Mae Research Fund at Muscular Dystrophy Canada.
Full proceeds from the event will be split between JGI Canada and the Ilsa Mae Research Fund. ESAA is making no proceeds from this event and donating all time and efforts to both causes.
The event will include a presentation by Dr. Jane Goodall, followed by a Q & A session with the audience, and a book signing in the Winspear Lobby. Ticket prices start at $41 (incl. GST) and will go on sale via the Winspear Centre website and box office at 10 am on January 5th, 2015.
A limited number of VIP Tickets will also be available and will include a private meet and greet with Dr. Goodall and wine & cheese reception.
Full event details also available online at: http://www.esaa.org/events/#id=163&wid=401&cid=153 or https://tickets.winspearcentre.com/event/performance/4693
ALBERTA SOILS NETWORK (ASN) PRESENTS “APPLIED PEATLAND RESEARCH IN THE PEACE
OIL SANDS REGION The Alberta Soils Network (ASN) presents “APPLIED PEATLAND RESEARCH IN THE PEACE OIL SANDS
REGION” by Dr. Bin Xu, of the NAIT Boreal Research Institute on April 13, 2015. The event, which is sponsored by
Alberta Innovates Technology Futures will be held in Edmonton at Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Auditorium
and broadcast across Alberta via weblink. Weblink participants will be sent the weblink access information via email
24 hours prior to the event. Please ensure that your email information registered with the AIA is correct.
EVENT DESCRIPTION: Boreal peatlands are some of the world’s most valuable and unique ecosystems by virtue of their diverse functions and services. In the boreal region of northern Alberta, peatlands dominate the landscape with coverage as high as 70% (Halsey et al. 1998). Alberta’s boreal peatlands are facing increasing pressure with the rapid development in the energy sector. The cumulative impacts of industrial development on boreal peatlands are hard to assess and the current practices are inadequate to mitigate such impacts and to restore these sensitive ecosystems to a functional state.
Restoring peatlands in the in situ oil sands region of northern Alberta presents a set of challenges that have yet to be properly addressed. Expanding the array of restoration methods and technologies for peatland management and restoration is of utmost urgency given the importance of energy sector to Canada’s overall economic wellbeing.
The Peatland Restoration program at the NAIT Boreal Research Institute, led by the NSERC Industrial Research Chair, was initially set up with a main focus on developing practical and effective restoration techniques and methods to address pressing challenges associated with reclaiming disturbed boreal peatlands. Two competing approaches to restore peatlands, namely peat inversion and mineral initiation will be discussed. Several pad/winter road restoration trials based on these approaches will be presented along with some promising early results from some of the early trials.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Bin Xu is a peatland ecologist with a PhD in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He received his B.S. in Environmental Sciences in early 2000s from Wuhan University, China and his M.Sc. in Biology from Villanova University, Pennsylvania. He worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Calgary from August 2011 to the end of 2012. His research focuses on the impact of human activities on the ecology, biogeochemistry, and ecosystem functions of boreal peatlands across northern Alberta. Since 2013, he has been working as the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Peatland Restoration at the NAIT Boreal Research Institute in Peace River, Alberta. He is working closely with university collaborators, industry partners and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop science-based, effective techniques and methods to reclaim disturbed peatlands by in-situ extraction in the Peace region.
AIA UPDATE – David Lloyd, CEO and Registrar for the AIA will provide an update on the AIA registration programs and practice reviews.
REGISTRATION: Members and non-members should register online. Registration closes at 4:00 pm on April 6, 2015. Please note that for group registration for the weblink; each individual attending must register. Only individuals that have registered qualify for AIA Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits. Concerns with registration should be directed to the AIA 780-435-0606.
REFUND POLICY: Refunds will not be given 6 days or less before the event. Any refunds given will be subject to a $5.00 administration fee. NOTE: Members who register for an event without logging in, will not be refunded the difference between the non-member and member rates Contact Darcy [email protected] at the AIA office to receive a valid refund. Any event issues related to quality and clarity are the responsibility of the network or branch, please contact them directly. Event Schedule: 11:00 – 12:00 Registration 11:30 – 12:00 Lunch 12:00 – 12:30 AIA Update 12:30 – 13:15 Presentation 13:15 – 13:30 Questions & Answers Date: April 13, 2015 Location: Alberta Innovates Technology Futures Auditorium, 250 Karl Clark Rd NW Edmonton or Weblink
Fee: $20.00 for attendance members and nonmembers $12.00 for attendance students (must present valid student ID) $12.00 for weblink members, nonmembers, students Contact: Rosemarie Franke 780-232-1967 Website: http://www.albertaagrologists.ca/default.aspx?page=31
Registration Now Open! 2015 National Brownfields Training Conference, Chicago, IL, September 2-4, 2015. Brownfields 2015 promises something for all levels of stakeholders and practitioners. The conference program includes speakers, discussions, mobile workshops, films, and other learning formats that are calibrated to provide you with case study examples, program updates, and useful strategies for meeting your brownfield challenges head on. For more information and to register, see http://www.brownfieldsconference.org/en/registerinfo.
Industry Positions Openings
For more information visit ESAA’s Job Board under the news section of HTUwww.esaa.org UTH
Environmental Planner, Senior
Key Responsibilities
Provides environmental and regulatory knowledge to development, acquisition and construction project teams throughout all pipeline and energy project phases including prospecting, proposal, definition, and implementation
Provides direction to external contractors, junior and intermediate planners and business partners to ensure overall corporate and project objectives are met
Represents company projects to regulators, industry groups, environmental groups, landowners, Aboriginal peoples and the public
Champions HS&E Commitment and underlying principles throughout the organization
Collaborates with key internal groups responsible for land, community relations, Aboriginal relations, regulatory, legal, and safety to identify and resolve issues, execute project execution plans and schedules, and support the integration of environment appropriately into project planning
Develops strategies for obtaining environmental regulatory authorization and for responding to public, regulatory and legislative scrutiny of project environmental issues
Provides project management for permitting and compliance work to projects, including strategies, execution plans, budgeting and scheduling
Develops and leads regional contracting strategies and maintains strong working relationships with key consultants
Lobbies to influence regulatory initiatives and industry standards
Develops and implements negotiating strategies to influence the decisions of external organizations
Maintains overview of broad project objectives and direction and reassesses and charts new courses as necessary
Recruits and manages consultants; prepares Request for Proposals and evaluates bids; negotiates consultants’ work scope, budget and schedule; provides ongoing management of consultant’s work
Makes presentations at meetings/conferences and prepares written correspondence
Identifies and resolves environmental legal or process issues (e.g. environmental legal challenges.)
Manages numerous complex projects simultaneously with tight and conflicting deadlines
Qualifications
Comprehensive knowledge of environmental laws/regulations practices pertaining to pipeline development and other energy project development
Previous experience solving complex and unique regulatory, permitting and compliance issues on major projects
Expertise in developing/implementing influence strategies with respect to environmental regulatory initiatives
Commitment to client service and support
Minimum 5-8 years’ experience in managing environmental planning and permitting for pipelines and other energy projects, including routing/siting, environmental planning, project management, permitting and environmental compliance
Experience working with Aboriginal communities and non-governmental organizations
Bachelor’s Degree, or preferably Master’s Degree, in environmental sciences, geography, public policy or related fields
Application Details: To apply for this position please refer to the WSP website at http://mycareer-canada.wspgroup.com/ job posting 27-0615 WSP is committed to the principles of employment equity. Only the candidates selected will be contacted.
Manager – Environment
Key Responsibilities
Manage the day-to-day operations for WSP’s environment group in the Calgary region
Lead WSP Alberta’s oil and gas sector for environmental services including the identification and acquisition of work, and coordination and oversight of client activity
Provide thought leadership in environmental services required by the sector
Work closely with the Discipline Leads and Management Team
Provide technical and logistical support to field personnel for field-based projects
Review environmental site assessment, remediation & reclamation work plans, project cost estimates and technical reports
Liaison with clients, regulatory agencies, other WSP business units and stakeholders regarding work plans, projects and environmental issues
Manage the overall performance and professional development of staff
Attract and retain key talent by creating an effective work environment and actively recruiting, coaching, and mentoring staff
Create succession and development plans for key staff
Implement corporate and client safety programs
Understand, live and nurture our values
Qualifications
Strong leadership and motivational skills with the ability to develop positive working relationships in a team environment
University degree in environmental science, engineering or related discipline
15 years of relevant upstream oil and gas environmental consulting experience
Member in good standing with an applicable professional association
Proven success in client relationship management at all levels of the client organization
Proven success in people development and growth
Thorough understanding of Alberta remediation and reclamation guidelines
Excellent written, technical reporting and communication skills
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and the use of online system
Valid and fully licensed driver in Alberta
The desire to succeed in a dynamic and progressive global organization
Application Details: To apply for this position please refer to the WSP website at http://mycareer-canada.wspgroup.com/, job posting 27-0550WSP is committed to the principles of employment equity. Only the candidates selected will be contacted.
Intermediate and Senior Environmental Consultants
Career Opportunity
Ridgeline Environment a Division of Ridgeline Canada Inc is looking for Intermediate and Senior Environmental Consultants to be based out of the Grande Prairie, Lloydminster, Edmonton and Calgary offices.
Successful candidates will have a diverse skill set and experience, including; Emergency Spill Response, Environmental Site Assessments (Phase I, II, III), planning and supervising Remediation and Reclamation projects, soil, water and contaminated analysis, data collection, and interpretation. You will work with junior field technicians to direct and guide technical on site procedures. Ensure field work is completed safely and efficiently. Provide cost-effective solutions to the Project Manager(s) while providing Ridgeline and our clients with a high quality of work while maintaining professional ethics.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Environmental Science, Reclamation or similar discipline;
Professional designation or articling to obtain is considered and asset;
3 + years relevant field experience;
Previous Experience in Spill/Release events in Alberta, Saskatchewan;
Groundwater knowledge and experience monitoring well installation is an asset;
Experience with Reclamation and Remediation on private and public lands;
Experience with technical report writing and preparation of associated appendices which may include borehole logging, site diagrams, formatting site and aerial photographs;
Knowledge of pertinent provincial and federal environmental regulations;
AIA or SIA Member (preferred but not necessary).
Required Competencies
Strong commitment to customer satisfaction;
Possess strong verbal and written communication skills, exemplary interpersonal skills and is very detail oriented and organized;
Precise attention to detail and ability to produce professional quality deliverables on time and on budget;
Accurate data entry into electronic project databases.
What you will be responsible for
Execute scopes of work and cost estimates under the supervision of the Project Manager;
Routinely communicate the progress of assigned projects with the Project Manager;
Provide site supervision and overall direction to the contractors on site;
Manage and meet all client and regulatory ground disturbance requirements;
Ensure compliance with all safety regulations, directives and SOP’s are completed as regularly required;
Educate all field professionals on site of any hazards and identify effective hazard controls;
Remain current with environmental legislation and regulatory updates, provide updated information as it becomes available to staff;
Compensation
Competitive salary;
HSE training & PPE;
Tech Set provided by Ridgeline Canada Inc.;
Per deim and mileage allowances;
Group life and health benefits;
RRSP & TFSA program;
Professional development program including; the School of Ridgeline, designation attainment support, bursaries, training, conferences and paid annual dues;
At Ridgeline we invest in our personnel, we take pride of our open team orientated culture and strive to provide and sustain a balance between the professional and personal life style. We offer the opportunity to our valued employees to be challenged and grow within Ridgeline through an energetic and engaged team environment.
Contact Information For further information, please refer to our website at www.ridgelinecanada.com
This posting will remain open until suitable candidates have been selected. We thank all applicants for applying and advise that only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
To apply for this position, please send your resume to the Human Resource Department; [email protected] Subject Line: EC & the location you wish to apply for.
Since 1999, Ridgeline Environment has prided ourselves with providing practical environmental strategies. Ridgeline provides its clients with a diverse team of experienced professionals able to plan and execute projects efficiently and effectively. Client dedicated teams of Project Managers, Professional Agrologists, Soil Scientists, Hydrogeologists, Biologists and Environmental Consultants keep Ridgeline clients at the forefront of changing or pending regulator legislation and industry needs in regard to our cradle to grave environmental services. Ridgeline’s in-house expertise and experience gives us the capability to develop remediation and reclamation programs for oilfield sites across Western Canada. Ridgeline provides an energetic and vibrant work environment dedicated to developing environmental professionals. Through Proactive Execution, Ridgeline’s management and employees are committed to fostering a workplace team that values quality, accountability, integrity, communication and safety.
Project Manager, Spill Team
Career Opportunity
Ridgeline Environment a Division of Ridgeline Canada Inc is looking for a Project Manager in the Calgary, Lloydminster, Edmonton or the Grande Prairie area to support and add to our growing Team of Professionals with our Ridgeline Response Spill Team.
Successful candidates will have a diverse skill set and experience, including; Emergency Spill Response, Environmental Site Assessments (Phase I, II, III), planning and supervising Remediation and Reclamation projects, including project planning, initial spill response and containment, data collection, analytical interpretation, and technical reporting.
Required Qualifications
Degree (or Diploma) in Environmental Sciences or related discipline;
3-5 years of Project Management experience;
Professional designation or working towards a Professional designation;
Previous Experience in Spill/Release events in Alberta, Saskatchewan;
Experience in Reclamation and Remediation practices on private and public lands;
Experience in building and maintaining project managing all project; budgets
Experience with technical report writing and preparation of associated appendices which may include borehole logging, site diagrams, formatting site and aerial photographs;
Knowledge of pertinent provincial and federal environmental regulations;
AIA and or SIA Member (preferred but not necessary). Required Competencies
Strong commitment to customer satisfaction;
Possess strong verbal and written communication skills, exemplary interpersonal skills and is very detail oriented and organized;
Ability to work and be available on a 24/7 basis for Mobilization (where required);
Precise attention to detail and ability to produce professional quality deliverables on time and on budget;
Accountable to all assigned portfolios;
Accurate data entry into electronic project databases What you will be responsible for
Overall Project Management for Spill/Release events in the Region;
Communicate project objectives and progress updates with clients;
Establish cost estimates for overall projects;
Create scopes of work in accordance with Ridgeline standards;
Assign projects to field staff; initiating the fieldwork;
Review and interpret laboratory analytical results;
Ensure all field work has been documented and uploaded to site specific files by the field staff assigned, ensure all required documentation (including safety documentation), and analytical has been reviewed and is correct;
Accurately track and manage project costs and reporting process; a 60 day turnaround from the end of the field work. Provide monthly updates on projected targets and actual costs to the Ridgeline General Manager;
Work with the billings coordinator and or billings assistant to complete final invoicing;
Ensure compliance with all safety regulations and SOP’s are completed as regularly required and all safety documentation is forwarded to HSE from field staff. Educate field professionals of any hazards and provide hazard controls;
Remain current with environmental legislation and regulatory updates, provide updated information as it becomes available to staff;
Provide opportunities for mentorship, training and development of field professionals;
Review completed reports for accuracy and formatting. Compensation
Competitive salary;
Tech Set provided by Ridgeline Canada Inc;.
Per diem and mileage allowances;
Group life and health benefits;
RRSP & TFSA program;
Professional development program including; the School of Ridgeline, designation attainment support, bursaries, training, conferences and paid annual dues;
At Ridgeline we invest in our personnel, we take pride of our open team orientated culture and strive to provide and sustain a balance between the professional and personal life style. We offer the opportunity to our valued employees to be challenged and grow within Ridgeline through an energetic and engaged team environment.
Contact Information
For further information, please refer to our website at www.ridgelinecanada.com
This posting will remain open until suitable candidates have been selected. We thank all applicants for applying and advise that only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
To apply for this position, please send your resume to the Human Resource Department;[email protected]
Subject line: PM-Spill Response & the location you wish to apply for.
Since 1999, Ridgeline Environment has prided ourselves with providing practical environmental strategies. Ridgeline provides its clients with a diverse team of experienced professionals able to plan and execute projects efficiently and effectively. Client dedicated teams of Project Managers, Professional Agrologists, Soil Scientists, Hydrogeologists, Biologists and Environmental Consultants keep Ridgeline clients at the forefront of changing or pending regulator legislation and industry needs in regard to our cradle to grave environmental services. Ridgeline’s in-house expertise and experience gives us the capability to develop remediation and reclamation programs for oilfield sites across Western Canada. Ridgeline provides an energetic and vibrant work environment dedicated to developing environmental professionals. Through Proactive Execution, Ridgeline’s management and employees are committed to fostering a workplace team that values quality, accountability, integrity, communication and safety.
Contaminant Hydrogeologist
Career Opportunity
Ridgeline Environment, a division of Ridgeline Canada Inc. is looking for an experienced Contaminant Hydrogeologist. This position is available to be posted throughout our Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Lloydminster, Red Deer, Calgary and Lethbridge, Alberta office locations.
Successful candidates will have a diverse skill set and experience, including; managing projects through planning and supervising data collection, interpretation and technical reporting for contaminated site investigations relative to the upstream oil & gas industry.
Required Qualifications
Sc., P.Geol. and a member of good standing with APEGA;
At least 3 years of experience working on groundwater assessment projects (groundwater quantity and quality assessment/monitoring, design and installation of groundwater monitoring wells, contaminant assessment, etc.);
Demonstrated understanding of hydrogeological principles (i.e. groundwater flow direction, hydraulic gradients, hydraulic conductivity testing, contaminant migration, surface water-groundwater interactions), standard field operations and accepted practices;
Experience with regulatory bodies in preferably Alberta and Saskatchewan;
Experience with risk assessment, application of the Alberta Tier 1 guidelines. Expertise in Alberta Tier 2 guideline modification and exclusion will be considered an asset;
Experience in reclamation and remediation practices on private and public lands;
Successful experience in managing all project costs and associated reporting;
Experience in technical report writing and preparation of associated appendices.
Knowledge in analytical and numerical modelling of groundwater flow and solute contaminant transport would be considered an asset;
Experience in business development and preparing proposal requests;
Proficient in MS Word, Excel, Surfer, Aquifer Test Pro, and potentially other state of the art software packages like modflow, feflow, etc.;
Knowledge of pertinent provincial and federal environmental regulations.
What you will be responsible for
Develop and conduct contaminated site investigations relative to the upstream oil and gas industry;
Design and install groundwater monitoring wells/networks to assess/delineate contaminants of concern;
Manage data collection and evaluate groundwater flow and contaminate transport;
Design and operate groundwater remediation systems for the removal and treatment of impacted groundwater;
Manage and complete groundwater monitoring and assessment reporting requirements and submission to government agencies on an annual basis for facility operating approvals;
Establish cost estimates for projects;
Create scopes of work in accordance with Ridgeline standards;
Assign projects to field staff and initiating fieldwork;
Review and interpret laboratory analytical results, error free;
Ensure all field work has been documented and uploaded to site specific files by the field staff assigned, ensure all required documentation (including safety documentation), and analytical has been reviewed and is correct;
Work with the billings coordinator and/or billings assistant to complete final invoicing;
Ensure compliance with all safety regulations and SOPs are completed as regularly required and all safety documentation is forwarded to HSE from field staff. Educate field professionals of any hazards and provide hazard controls;
Remain current with environmental legislation and regulatory updates, provide updated information as it becomes available to staff;
Provide opportunities for mentorship, training and development of field professionals;
Review completed reports for accuracy and formatting.
Compensation
Competitive Salary;
Tech Set provided by Ridgeline Canada Inc.;
Per deim and mileage allowances;
Group life and health benefits;
RRSP + TFSA program
Professional development program including; the School of Ridgeline, designation attainment support, bursaries, training, conferences and paid annual dues.
At Ridgeline we invest in our personnel, we take pride of our open team orientated culture and strive to provide and sustain a balance between the professional and personal life style. We offer the opportunity to our valued employees to be challenged and grow within Ridgeline through an energetic and engaged team environment.
Contact Information
For further information, please refer to our website at www.ridgelinecanada.com
This posting will remain open until a suitable candidate has been selected. We thank all applicants for applying and advise that only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
To apply for this position, please send your resume to the Human Resource Department;[email protected] Subject Line: Hydrogeologist & the location you wish to apply for.
Since 1999, Ridgeline Environment has prided ourselves with providing practical environmental strategies. Ridgeline provides its clients with a diverse team of experienced professionals able to plan and execute projects efficiently and effectively. Client dedicated teams of Project Managers, Professional Agrologists, Soil Scientists,
Hydrogeologists, Biologists and Environmental Consultants keep Ridgeline clients at the forefront of changing or pending regulator legislation and industry needs in regard to our cradle to grave environmental services. Ridgeline’s in-house expertise and experience gives us the capability to develop remediation and reclamation programs for oilfield sites across Western Canada. Ridgeline provides an energetic and vibrant work environment dedicated to developing environmental professionals. Through Proactive Execution, Ridgeline’s management and employees are committed to fostering a workplace team that values quality, accountability, integrity, communication and safety.
Environmental Specialist
Our client, a North American leader in the production of petrochemicals, is looking for an Environmental Specialist to work in Joffre, Alberta on a one year contract basis. The Environmental Specialist will work as a member of the Environment and Regulatory Team, responsible for the development and implementation of a variety of environmental management programs and plans to assist facilities and customers in ongoing environmental performance improvement. This person will be responsible for the Site Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR), source emission and wildlife protection programs with meeting Responsible Care requirements through the collection, management and evaluation of environmental monitoring data and the compilation of summary reports.
Responsibilities
LDAR, source emission and wildlife protection management including coordination of monitoring, data collection,
evaluation and reporting, improvement projects and contractor management
Analyze and report annual air, site waste, water and release emissions in compliance with NERM/NPRI using
company software systems
Applies and helps others apply relevant Responsible Care standards, policies and procedures.
Complete both internal and regulatory compliance reporting on time and to an acceptable standard
Support company sustainability initiatives
Work on broad assignments with others to achieve common goals/deliverables (may include field work and data
analysis involving noise monitoring, soil, groundwater and surface/potable water)
Qualifications
Bachelor of Science degree with a preference for Environmental Science or related diploma
5 – 10 years of direct experience in an applicable or related industrial or manufacturing environment
A preference for experience in environmental management/monitoring, including air quality (ambient air, fugitive
emissions, greenhouse gases, continuous emissions monitoring systems and source emissions testing) and
environmental noise would be considered an asset
Demonstrated analytical and troubleshooting skills
Ability to interpret and apply technical documentation and general knowledge of environmental monitoring
principles
Self-motivated focused on results, with the ability to work independently as well as collaborate with the team
Comfortable interacting with internal and external contacts and the ability to take initiative in building
relationships
Ability to adapt to new situations and challenges and embrace change and new ideas
Excellent communications and organizational skills as demonstrated with previous employers
Note: Only candidates with a valid Canadian work permit will be considered for the position.
#LI-DB1
Application Details: Submit resume to [email protected]