The ABC of Contaminated Sites: the Federal Approach

Meeting with Quebec First Nations CollectivitiesMontreal, July 4 2018

Mario CormierFCSAP Regional Coordinator

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Federal Contaminated Site Action Plan (FCSAP)

Presentation Plan

• Management of Contaminated Sites in Canada• Sources, characteristics, behaviors and effects of

contaminants in the environment• Assessment of a contaminated site (Phase I, II, III)• Remediation / risk management• Questions

Timeline• 1988: Land rehabilitation policy• 1989: National Contaminated Sites Remediation Program (45

high-risk orphan sites)• 1990: Identification of 325 High Risk Federal Sites• 1995: Working Group on Contaminated Sites Management• 1998: Soil Protection and Contaminated Sites Rehabilitation

Policy• 1999: Federal Approach to Contaminated Sites (10 Steps)• 2005-2020: Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan

• 2017: 2017-2021 Action Plan

• 2020: Post-2020 FCSAP

Shared Responsabilities• Crown lands (e.g. National Defense, Parks Canada etc.)• Off-site management (transportation, disposal or processing)

Federal QuebecTreasury Board Policy on Real Property Management

Soil protection and remediation of contaminated land Policy

Fisheries ActCanadian Environmental Assessment ActSpecies at Risk Actetc.

Section IV.2.1 of the Environment Quality ActLand Protection and Rehabilitation RegulationRegulation respecting the burial of contaminated soils

– 6.1.12 « [...] management activities (including remediation) [...] should be guided by standards endorsed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), or similar standards and requirements that may be applicable abroad.»

(Treasury Board Secretariat Policy on Management of Real Property)

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Federal Contaminated Site Action Plan (FCSAP) and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME)

According to the definition adopted by the Government of Canada, a contaminated site is:

"A site in which the concentration (e.g. soils) of harmful substances- (1) is above the natural levels and poses or may pose an immediate or future danger to human health or the environment, or- (2) exceeds the levels indicated in the policies and regulations. "

What is a federal contaminated site?

– Simple numerical values– Based on generic scenarios and conservative

assumptions– Equal importance is given to the protection of human

health and the environment.– Supposed to apply to most Canadian soils

The CCME guidelines may be more restrictive than the generic criteria (criteria A, B, C) of the MDDELCC.

Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health (CCME)

Why are the CCME guidelines different from the MDDELCC criteria?

• Different protection objectives• Different methods may have been used• State of scientific knowledge at the time of making guidelines• National guidelines may apply to species that are not present

in all Canadian regions– e.g. the Pacific Tree Frog does not live in Newfoundland and Labrador

• Some provincial criteria consider socio-economic factors in addition to scientific knowledge

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Contaminants « 101 »

• Organic Contaminants: e.g. Petroleum hydrocarbons (F1-F4), pesticides (e.g. DDT), PAHs, PCBs, etc .;

• Inorganic Contaminants : e.g. Lead, copper, mercury, etc.;

• Radioactive Substances (radon, uranium)

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Other types of contamination• Biological Contaminants (virus,

bacteria);

• Noise, Light Pollution

Source: newteon.com

Petroleum HydrocarbonsHeating oil tank Incomplete Combustion

Source: pages.infinit.net

Used oilSource:jackdrew.files.wordpress.com

Gasoline, diesel

Source: lespuces.com Source: Boone County Solid Waste Mgmt.

Organochlorines

Wood preservativesPentachlorophenol (PCP)

Former Transformers Polychlorinated Biphenyls

(PCBs)Dry cleaning

Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)

Pesticide applications

Source:environnements.e-monsite.com

Source:Dry Cleaning Chillers

Source: my.rdvonline.be

Metals : E.g. Lead, mercury, cadmium

Electronic waste

Paint

Batteries

Fluorescent tubes

Source: ecoaction.com

Source: china.cnSource: Wikimedia

Source: typesoflightbulbs.com

Knowing the contaminant characteristics to better understand their behavior in the environment

• Volatility

• Solubility

• Density

• Bioamplification

• Etc.Source: Microsoft

VolatilityCapacity to evaporate

• Volatil: gasoline, naphtha (mothball)• Low Volatility: Fuel Oil, Cadmium, PCB

SolubilityCapacity to disolve in water

DensityCapacity to float or sink

Less dense than water: e.g. gasoline

More dense than water : chlorinated solvents

Bioamplification

Contaminantconcentration increases at each trophic level

Contaminant

Contaminant Concentration

++++

+++

+++

Toxic Effects to Human• Organics

– Carcinogens (Benzene, PAHs, Dioxins and Furans)– Chloracne (PCBs, dioxins and furans)

• Metals– Carcinogens– Liver and kidney problems– Problems to the nervous system– Decreased bone density

Source: Wikimedia

Toxic Effects to Wildlife

• Effects on reproduction, growth, behavior• Bioaccumulation in vital organs (mercury, PCBs)• Mortality

Source: Stringer Shanghai

Source: Centre interinstitutionnel de recherche en écotoxicologie

Contamination Dynamic

Source: acces.inrp.fr

Source: Ontario

Fondamental Elements - Soil

Permafrost

Permafrost – Permeability• Permafrost acts as a barrier of containment;

• Accumulation of perched water in the active zone, at the permafrost level;

Saturated and poorly drained soil;

Vegetation similar to marshland (tundra).

• Deep groundwater (under permafrost)

Confined

Recharged only in areas where there is no permafrost;

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Developing a Conceptual Site Model

MDDEP

TillSand and Gravel

Fractured rock

Source: Fickart et al. 2009.

1. Aquatic plants2. Benthic invertebrates3. Fishes4. Birds5. Mammals

–Receptors of concern

Phase I - Historical ReviewActual or potential contamination index

Phase II – Preliminary CharacterizationPresence of contamination

Phase III – Detailled CharacterizationContamination deliniated

Remediation/Risk Management (R/RM)

The « Standard » Approach

Guidance Documents - CCMEGuidance Manual for Environmental Site Characterization in Support of Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment Volume

• Volume 1: Guidance Manual • Volume 2: Checklists• Volume 3: Suggested

Operating Procedures• Volume 4: Analytical Methods

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Guidance Documents - (Quebec)Guide de caractérisation des terrains, Publications du Québec, 2003• Guide d'échantillonnage à des fins d'analyses environnementales, Centre

d'expertise en analyse environnementale du Québec, Gouvernement du Québec:– Cahier 1 : Généralités (juillet 2008)– Cahier 2 : Échantillonnage des rejets liquides (21 juillet 2009), addenda,

section 4 : « Types et méthodes d’échantillonnage »– Cahier 3 : Échantillonnage des eaux souterraines (23 février 2012)– Cahier 4 : Échantillonnage des émissions atmosphériques en

provenance de sources fixes (21 juillet 2009)– Cahier 5 : Échantillonnage des sols (5 février 2010)

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Phase I (Historical Review) Phase I consistes of: Establish the site history and the activities that took place;

Become familiar with the location (interviews and site visit);

Review existing information;

Identify potential sources of contamination and the potential contaminants of concern associated with them;

Establish the bases of the conceptual site model.

Phase II – Preliminary Characterization According to Phase I conclusions Develop a sampling plan to confirm the presence or absence

of contaminants, determine the type of contaminants, and target contaminated areas and media.

It involves conducting surveys and taking samples.

With the exception of petroleum hydrocarbons (F1-F4 vs. C10-C50), laboratory test results can be compared to both the CCME guidelines and the MDDELCC criteria.

Phase III – Detailed Characterization

Extensive characterization;

Determine precisely the nature and extent of the contamination (concentrations, dispersions and variations) for each medium;

Determine volumes of contaminated materials to managed based on appropriate criteria and standards

Assess more accurately the exposure of receptors to contamination

The Federal Approach to Contaminated Sites in 10 steps

1 • Identify Suspect Site

2 • Historical Review– Phase I

3 • Initial Testing Program– Phase II

4 • Classify Site (optional)

5 • Detailed Testing Program– Phase III

6 • Re-classify Site

7 • Develop Remediation/Risk Management Strategy (R/RM)

8 • Implement R/RM Strategy

9 • Confirmatory Sampling and Final Reporting

10 • Long-term Monitoring (if required)

Class Priority of intervention Implications

1 High Action required; measured or observed impacts may be documented (but not always)

2 MediumPotential for adverse impacts, although no imminent threat to the environment or human health.

3 Low Currently not of high concerns

4 Nul Likely no significant environment impacts or threats to human health

INS Insufficient Information

Additional information is required; to be collected according to available resources and other priorities

Sampling Technics– Trenches

Locates the organic matter horizon and the level of groundwater infiltration

Do not forget health and safety rules!!

Sampling Technics –Auger drilling

Sampling Technics –Auger drilling

Installation of an observation wells

1 m Bouchon du puits

Tubage protecteur

Ciment expansif

Tubage

Sable filtrant

Crépine

Couvercle protecteur

Bouchon scellant de bentonite

> 0.3 m

> 1.5 m

> 0.6 m

Évent (optionel)

Aquiclude

Confinedwater table

Contaminated water table

Sampling groundwater

Installation of an observation wells

Aquiclude

Confinedwater table

Contaminated water table

Installation of an observation wells

Sampling Groundwater

Plan several campaigns per year taking into account seasonal variations (low flow vs. freshet) and local variations (e.g. tide);

Same sampling procedure for the entire follow-up period;

Avoid changing sampling techniques during follow-up.

Question:

Do you believe that it is always required to remediate a site at concentrations

below the CCME soil quality guidelines?

Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)Phase I: Historical Review

Phase II: Initial Testing ProgramPhase III: Detailed Testing Program

Approach based on CCME Guidelines

Approach based on riskRisk Assessment

Recommended objectives for Remediation

Remediation or risk management decisions

What is a Risk Assessment?Method that aims to determine (qualitatively and / or quantitatively)the risks of adverse effects on human health or the environmentresulting from exposure to contaminants. For there to be a risk,the following 3 components are required:

Chemical substances (benzene, lead …)

Receptors(human, wildlife…)

Exposure pathway

(ingestion, skin contact with soil…)

Risk

Relevance of Conducting a Risk Assessment

Performing a risk assessment is particularly relevant in the following cases:

• Prohibitive remediation costs;• Special exposure conditions;• Technical constraints to site remediation;• Negative impact of CEQG-based remediation;• No recommendations:

Question:

Do you believe that it is always required / desirable to excavate all contaminated soils and dispose of them outside the

site?

A cost / benefit analysis should be conducted to examine the relative risk reduction compared with the

cost of R/RM to ensure a practical balance

Remediation vs Risk ManagementRemediation of the site in situ or ex-situ:– Excavation and burial in an appropriate site AND / OR

– Biological, chemical, physicochemical treatment methods AND / OR

– Risk management = Remove exposure to contamination (e.g. capping)

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