DETERMINATION OF REGIONAL BC BACKGROUND METALS CONCENTRATIONS IN GROUNDWATER UPDATE

Transcription

1 DETERMINATION OF REGIONAL BC BACKGROUND METALS CONCENTRATIONS IN GROUNDWATER UPDATE BC EIA BEST CONFERENCE MAY 10, 2018, WHISTLER, BC Heather Osachoff Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy Stephen Munzar Core6 Environmental Ltd.

2 0UTLINE Background Groundwater Policy Fundamentals Methodology Regional Background Groundwater Policy Development Interim Cobalt Background Groundwater Estimate released Nov 2017 Regional Background Groundwater Estimates Development (currently working on) Regional Background Groundwater Project 2

3 REGULATORY AUTHORITY Subsection 11(3) of the Contaminated Sites Regulation states that: A site is not a contaminated site with respect to a substance in the soil, surface water or groundwater if the site: does not contain any substance with a concentration greater than the local background concentration of that substance in the soil, surface water or groundwater respectively. Subsection 17(2) of the Contaminated Sites Regulation in part states that: A contaminated site is considered to have been satisfactorily remediated if: (b) the soil, surface water or groundwater at the site does not contain any substance with a concentration greater than or equal to the local background concentration of that substance in the soil, surface water or groundwater respectively.

4 BACKGROUND GROUNDWATER POLICY FUNDAMENTALS background concentration means the concentration of a substance in an environmental medium in a geographic area, but does not include any contribution from local human made point sources. local human made point source means a location or area at a site where, as a result of human activity, a substance was introduced into the environment causing the substance concentration to exceed the local background concentration. 4

5 BACKGROUND GROUNDWATER POLICY FUNDAMENTALS Plain Language Policy Intent: To establish a procedure for determining the local background concentration of a substance; Avoid remediating a substance that is naturally present; Creates a site specific standard for the parameter of interest at the Site; and Fundamental implications to issuance of legal instruments such as Determinations and Certificates of Compliance. 5

6 EXISTING PROTOCOL 9 METHODOLOGY Key Components High Level Approach; Minimum of 3 wells sited in areas away from human made point sources of contamination Avoid fill areas of unknown soil quality; Minimum of 2 groundwater sampling events during different seasons; Calculate the 95 th percentile; and Submit a Background Groundwater Investigation Report. Receive a Decision from the ministry (ENV) 6

7 PROTOCOL 9 METHODOLOGY Background Groundwater Characterization: Part of the DSI process Assessment groundwater chemistry Lines of evidence approach: Historical Site Use (APECs/PCOCs) Hydrogeology Geochemistry Mineralogy Ultimate goal is a conceptual site model for natural groundwater quality at a site. 7

8 CURRENT PROTOCOL 9 METHODOLOGY Key Components Summary: PSI Stage 1, Desktop research Install/select wells representative of natural groundwater chemistry Define and understand the hydrogeology/geochemistry at the site Collect and use enough data from lines of evidence to build your conceptual site model; and Calculate Background Concentration 8

9 REGIONAL BACKGROUND GROUNDWATER POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Regional Background Groundwater Project Contaminated Sites Approved Professionals Society of BC (CSAP) 2017 metals assessment indicated potential implications for CSR Stage 11 drinking water standards (mainly cobalt and lithium) Multi phase project designed and led by ministry to address the issue CS e link Nov 2017: interim cobalt estimate Competitive bid process for ministry contract to address this potential issue: Core 6 Environmental Ltd. was successful bidder 9

10 REGIONAL BACKGROUND GROUNDWATER POLICY DEVELOPMENT Nov 7, 2017 CS elink extending the cobalt interim background groundwater concentration estimate of 20 µg/l established in 2002; Responsible persons may use the interim background groundwater concentration estimate for cobalt of 20 µg/l when assessing the presence of contamination at sites in the Province; and Applications for a Director s decision under Protocol 9 are not required for cobalt. Rather, a statement in the site investigation report that cobalt concentrations in groundwater do not exceed the referenced cobalt interim background groundwater concentration estimate will suffice. 10

11 REGIONAL BACKGROUND GROUNDWATER POLICY DEVELOPMENT Phase 1 Contract Scope Develop a methodology for establishing regional numbers Create a database of background groundwater chemistry for two regions: Lower Mainland and Okanagan Data collected from various sources: Existing studies, provincial wells data, ENV SITE Database Determine if sub regions are appropriate Calculate a 95 th percentile concentration for each parameter of interest; and Ultimately could use this data to develop look up tables for regions potentially similar to Protocol 4: Establishing Background Concentrations in Soil. 11

12 REGIONAL BACKGROUND GROUNDWATER POLICY DEVELOPMENT Phase 1 Contract Results Preliminary findings were received for the Lower Mainland Region, Kelowna and Kamloops Additional work required to finish these regions CSAP provided funding to finish these regions and Phase 1 is now complete. 12

13 REGIONAL BACKGROUND GROUNDWATER POLICY DEVELOPMENT Phase 2 Contract Scope Based on CSAP survey of their members and existing Determinations, other areas of the province have now been targeted, including: o Victoria/Nanaimo (Southern Vancouver Island) o Prince George (Central BC) o Fort St. John (Northeastern BC ) Contract with Core6 Environmental Ltd. continued in order to fund other regions Southern Vancouver Island, Northeastern BC, and Central BC. Stephen Munzar, Core6 Environmental Ltd. 13

14 REGIONS STUDIED Lower Mainland Vancouver 2. Southern Vancouver Island (Victoria to Nanaimo) 3. Okanagan (Kamloops and Kelowna) 4. Central BC (Prince George) 5. Northeast BC (Fort St. John and Dawson Creek)

15 SCOPE OF CONTRACTS 1. Research representative groundwater data sources 2. Develop with MOE a well selection criteria to filter out potential bias from anthropogenic sources 3. Define geology in regions of interest 4. Statistical analysis 5. Select appropriate boundaries for each region 6. Define regional background groundwater concentration estimates 7. Provide findings to ENV for consideration 15

16 DATA SOURCES Contaminated Sites: P9 Approvals Determinations 16 CofC

17 RESULTS SORRY COMING SOON! 17

18 WHERE ARE WE AT? 1. Data for each region has been obtained and processed 2. Regional background groundwater concentrations have been estimated based on the following regional divisions: a. Lower Mainland Region: divided into two subregions b. Southern Vancouver Island: likely to encompass area between Victoria and Nanaimo c. Okanagan Region: likely to encompass area between Kamloops and Kelowna d. Central Region: currently will include Prince George e. Northeast BC Region: likely to encompass area between Fort St. John and Dawson Creek 3. Draft report of results in progress 18

19 LOWER MAINLAND REGION 180 Files reviewed, 85 sites retained for use 19

20 SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND REGION 79 Files reviewed, 36 sites retained for use 20

21 OKANAGAN REGION Kamloops: 46 Files reviewed, 10 sites retained for use Kelowna: 40 Files reviewed, 13 sites retained for use 21

22 CENTRAL BC REGION 6 Files reviewed, 4 sites retained for use 22

23 NORTHEAST BC REGION 10 Files reviewed, 7 sites retained for use Regional Ground Study 23

24 SUMMARY Protocol 9 remains available for site specific background decisions The project results could inform updates to ministry guidance Development of regional background groundwater estimates for five regions are currently underway The results of the regional project will be considered by ENV for addressing the issue Additional studies or supplemental work may be completed in the future 24

25 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks to: 1. Kalina Malowany (Core6 Environmental Ltd.) 2. CSAP (Catherine Schachtel) 3. George Sun (Co op Student) 4. Mark Apduhan (Hemmera) 5. Steve Dankevy (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy) 25

26 QUESTIONS STEPHEN MUNZAR HEATHER OSACHOFF