Management of
Contaminated Sites
Sameh Elsayed, M.Sc.,M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Senior Environmental Engineer
Environmental Management Services
Alberta Transportation
Contents
 Contamination Classification and
Transport
 Management of Contaminated Sites
 Contaminants Release & Reporting
Contaminants Classification
and Transport
Contaminants Classification
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Metals and Heavy Metals
Non-metal Contaminants
Organic Contaminants
Combustible Materials
Liquids and gases
Asbestos
Bio-hazardous waste
Radioactive Materials
Metals and Heavy Metals
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Arsenic (As)
Boron (B)
Cadmium (Cd)
Chromium (Cr)
(III or VI)
• Cobalt (Co)
• Copper (Cu)
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Iron (Fe)
Lead (Pb)
Manganese (Mn)
Mercury (Mg
Nickel (Ni)
Selenium (Se)
Zinc (Z)
Non-Metals
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Chloride (Cl)
Cyanides (CNs)
Fluoride (F)
Phosphate (P)
Sulphur (S)
Organic Compounds
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Hydrocarbons (HC)
Poly-aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)
Halogenated Hydrocarbons
Dioxins
PCB’s
Phenols
Solvents
Combustible Materials
• Cereal dust
• Coal dust
• Oils
Contaminants Transport
Atmospheric Fallout
Oxide fume emissions from coal power
stations.
Hydrocarbon emissions from vehicles
and other means of transport.
Acidic precipitation from chemical and
petrochemical plant
Transportation by Liquids
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Industrial waste discharges
Spills and leakage of sewage
Spills from Tanks or pipelines.
Waste lagoons release into soil and
groundwater.
Solid Waste Disposal
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Residual solids in mine tailing lagoons.
Sewage sludge transport to settling lagoon.
Chemical and industrial wastes disposal.
Uncontrolled disposal of waste materials
Management of
Contaminated Sites
Natural/Pristine Sites
Contaminated Sites
Contaminated Sites
Contaminated Sites Management
A “Three-Phased” developed based on the
guidelines stated by the Canadian Council
of Ministers of the Environment (CCME)
Recognized by Alberta Environment &
Sustainable Resources Development
(AESRD), and environmental consultants in
Alberta.
Phase I, ESA
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
is basically a checklist for project
managers to consider when engaging an
environmental consultant to conduct a
Phase I environmental site assessment.
Phase I, ESA
The CSA Z768-01 Standards outlines the
generic steps to consider when dealing with
a consultant such as:
• Scope of work,
• Definition of terms,
• Principles of the Phase 1 assessment,
and
• Roles and responsibilities of both the
consultant and the client.
Phase I, ESA
Objectives & Purposes
• Regulatory request, order or direction.
• Liability assessment for the proposed
acquisition or potential sale of land.
• Due diligence investigation in support of a
sale or financial agreement.
• Baseline liability assessment for a tenancy.
• Due diligence investigation in compliance
with an existing Environmental Policy.
Phase I, ESA
Components
• Records review.
• Site visit.
• Interviews.
• Evaluation of existing information and
reports.
• Recommendations to address identified
issues.
ESA I
It is important to note that the scope of work is
not limited by the CSA process.
The purpose of a Phase 1 ESA is usually to
determine whether a particular site is or may
have been subject to contamination.
In some cases, sufficient information exists to
justify proceeding directly with a Phase 2 ESA.
Phase II, ESA
A decision may be made to proceed with a
Phase 2 ESA as a result of the following
activities:
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Confirmatory intrusive testing is
recommended in a Phase 1 ESA.
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Environmental impacts are strongly
suspected from known and historical
activities.
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Delineation of a known contamination is
required to be defined and compared to site
generic criteria.
Phase II, ESA
Activities
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Electromagnetic (EM) Survey.
Development of Site Sampling Protocol.
Monitoring wells and Boreholes.
Sample collection and analyses.
Review of local groundwater records.
Field Survey, if required.
The results of the Phase 2 ESA will determine
the need for further activities
EM Survey
EM Survey/Typical Crosssection
Phase II, ESA
Generic Criteria
• Alberta Tier 1 & Tier 2 Soil & Groundwater
Remediation Guidelines, December 2010.
• Salt Contamination Assessment and
Remediation Guidelines, May 2001.
• Guidelines can be found on AESRD’s
website.
Phase II, ESA
Land Use
CCME Remediation criteria are presented
in the context of four types of land use:
• Residential/Parkland
• Agricultural
• Commercial, and
• Industrial.
Phase II, ESA
The CCME criteria
The CCME criteria are considered
generally protective of human and
environmental health for specified uses of
soil at contaminated sites.
It is important to understand that the
intended future land use governs the
decision on the level of remediation
performed at a site.
Phase II, ESA
The CCME criteria
Identifying the type of land use will help
assess the extent of human and ecological
exposure to contaminants in the soil.
Consideration must be given to adjacent
land use to the contaminated site as it might
affect the remediation criteria.
These two factors are essential for planning
a practical remediation programs.
AESRD Policy
Pollution prevention
Avoid impairment of or damage to
environment, human health, safety or
property
Health protection
Action commensurate with risk to human
health or environment
Productive use
Encourage remediation to enable productive
land use
Contamination Management
Principles
Source control
• Prevent pollution
• Identify source if contamination present
• Source removal
Contamination delineation
• If contamination present above Tier 1 or 2
• Horizontal and vertical extent identified
• All applicable exposure pathways and receptors
addressed
Contamination management, including remediation
Tier 1 and 2 Soil and Groundwater
Remediation Guidelines
New guidelines to supersede existing guidelines;
• Alberta Tier I Criteria (1994)
• Alberta Soil & Water Quality Guidelines for
Hydrocarbons at Upstream Oil and Gas
Facilities (2001)
• Risk Management Guidelines for Petroleum
Storage Tank Sites (2001)
Remediation Certificate Program
• Voluntary certificate program
• Incentive to remediate
• Provides certainty for proponent if standards
change
• Provides closure of liability after 10 years
• Regulations being developed
Remediation Certificate Program
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Closure based on compliance with Tier 1 or
Tier 2 Guidelines
Cannot use Alberta Soil and Water Quality
Guidelines for Hydrocarbons at Upstream Oil
and Gas Facilities (2001)
Certificate issued for remediated area only,
not site
Surveyed coordinates
Depth or zone of remediation
Certificate issued for remediated
substance(s)
Phase III, ESA Components
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Risk Management OR Remediation
Action Plan (RMP/RAP) Development.
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RMP Implementation/Site Remediation.
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Monitoring.
RMP/RAP Development
Further study and/or testing may be required
to assess the risk to receptors.
Once full delineation is achieved a site specific
Risk Management Plan (RMP) or a
Remediation
Action Plan acceptable to
stakeholders can be developed.
Phase III
Objectives
1. Conduct sampling to satisfy stakeholders.
2. Complete outstanding delineation.
3. Define, in details, the site related risks
including receptors and pathways.
4. Identify receptors and develop risk
assessment strategies.
5. Develop information that support
remedial activities.
Risk Management Approach
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Site-specific objectives developed from a risk
assessment.
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Estimated cost of remediation is
unreasonable.
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Site conditions differ significantly from
criteria.
Site Remediation Approach
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Determine most applicable/feasible technology
for the site
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Design selected process components.
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Award Contract
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Implement site remediation
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Final report by consultant
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Regulatory endorsement
Monitoring
Once the RAP/RMP has been implemented
and accepted by the stakeholders, monitoring
may be required.
Results of monitoring program are evaluated
following each event and the frequency of
testing is adjusted accordingly, if needed.
Questions ??