On February 2, 2016, the Government of Alberta released its revised soil and groundwater remediation guidelines. The Alberta Tier 1 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines (the "Tier 1 Guidelines") list generic soil and groundwater standards that proponents must meet in order to obtain remediation certificates and reclamation certificates. The Alberta Tier 2 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines (the "Tier 2 Guidelines") allow for a site-specific approach by modifying the Tier 1 Guidelines and/or exposure pathways that are not relevant to the site.
The revised Tier 1 Guidelines introduce more stringent standards for ethylbenzene and xylenes (commonly associated with motive fuels) and for tetrachloroethylene (often associated with dry cleaning operations).
The revised Tier 1 and Tier 2 Guidelines come into effect on May 1, 2016. The Government of Alberta will accept remediation certificate and reclamation certificate applications that used the former 2014 Guidelines, if environmental site assessment reports filed in support of these applications are dated April 30, 2016 or earlier.
The revised Tier 1 and Tier 2 Guidelines also now include the Subsoil Petroleum Hydrocarbon Guidelines for Remote Forested Sites in the Green Area (public land that is managed primarily for timber production).
As part of Alberta's Framework for the Management of Contaminated Sites, the purposes the of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Guidelines are to prevent pollution, protect human health, and promote the productive use of contaminated sites by encouraging their remediation.
To access the revised Guidelines, click here.
Written with the assistance of Anand Srivastava, Student-at-Law.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.