Alberta Environment and Parks Groundwater Update

Transcription

1 Alberta Environment and Parks Groundwater Update Steve Wallace Water Policy Branch, AEP ESAA Regulatory & Government Updates November 7, 2017

2 Presentation Outline The Alberta Groundwater Program Current Initiatives Groundwater Monitoring Directive Working Well

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5 NAOS BC NWT SAOS SK

6 Groundwater Program Key Players Alberta Geological Survey Alberta Health Alberta Energy Regulator Data Management Operations (Regions) Policy Planning Natural Resources Conservation Board Alberta Agriculture & Forestry Monitoring & Science Alberta Environment and Parks Alberta Advanced Education

7 Current Policy Initiatives Groundwater Monitoring Directive Working Well education program Thermal In-situ Directives Thermally-Mobilized Constituents in Groundwater Non-Saline Groundwater in Direct Contact with Bitumen Groundwater Management Frameworks Update LARP GMF Water (Ministerial) Regulation update Part 7 Water Wells Provincial Groundwater Inventory Program co-lead with AGS Water Conservation Policy for Upstream Oil and Gas Operations Area Based Regulation co-lead with AER

8 Groundwater Monitoring Directive

9 Regulatory Purpose of the GMD Regulatory Directive applies to sites and facilities where groundwater quality monitoring (related to potential contaminant releases) is required - EPEA approved facilities. Some or all of the GMD may apply to non-approved facilities (post-release monitoring) Requirements and supporting guidance on groundwater quality monitoring to ensure consistent, scientifically sound, and reasonable requirements for the protection of groundwater quality from industrial releases Based on two key regulatory mechanisms to protect and maintain baseline groundwater quality conditions: Must provide early warning of a possible contaminant release Must ensure timely implementation of appropriate response(s) if a release occurs

10 Requirements Tailored to Hydrogeologic Setting and Risks to Groundwater Quality Upgraders Cement Gas Plant Food Processing Landfill Fertilizer Pulp and Paper

11 Key Components of the GMD 1/3 Identify data quality objectives and quality assurance processes based on monitoring objectives Assessment of the risks to groundwater quality from facility/site activities Determination of features in the local setting that are vulnerable/sensitive to adverse effects on groundwater quality Hydrogeologic characterization to determine target monitoring zones and parameters based on risks and sensitive hydrogeologic features Conceptual hydrogeologic model (CHM) of the above as the basis to design monitoring

12 Key Components of the GMD 2/3 Baseline characterization to determine data sets suitable to calculate response triggers for target parameters Based on CHM - design and implementation of routine groundwater quality monitoring program that provides early warning of potential contaminant releases to the target monitoring zones Interpretation of routine groundwater quality monitoring results: based on CHM and data quality comparisons with response triggers for statistically significant exceedance after resampling and further data quality checks Pre-planned contingency plan for commitment of initial responses in cases of exceedance of response triggers

13 Groundwater Monitoring Types and Triggers Under the GMD Compliance trigger Measurement value Initial Baseline Monitoring Routine monitoring Continue assessing new data for inclusion in baseline Response monitoring Routine monitoring Response trigger Routine monitoring has first exceedance of response trigger Initiate resampling at shorter frequency to confirm a statistically significant exceedance of response trigger. Confirmed statistically significant exceedance of response trigger Initiate response actions, example response action is increased sample frequency. Initial and ongoing monitoring for target parameters Time

14 Key Components of the GMD (3/3) Detailed requirements on the content of the two submissions: Groundwater Quality Monitoring Plan and a Groundwater Quality Monitoring Report Existing facilities and sites will need to show they meet the requirements of the GMD through their submission of an updated Groundwater Quality Monitoring Plan Professional judgment is to be relied upon on for the methods to achieve many of the requirements Supporting guidance and training integral components of the implementation of the GMD

15 Major Changes from 2012 Draft Emphasis on professional judgment to tailor requirements based on hydrogeologic setting and risks from potential or existing contaminant releases from facility/site Explicit data quality requirements to ensure documented acceptable uncertainty for decision-making prior to extensive field efforts Focused target monitoring zones based on CHM Only facility/site activities-related target parameters to generate response triggers Hydrogeology interpretation, data quality and statistically significant exceedance to trigger response actions

16 Working Well

17 Working Well Partners Government of Alberta Environment & Parks Agriculture & Forestry Health Alberta Health Services Alberta Water Well Drilling Association Municipalities

18 Working Well Objectives Awareness Practice Change Knowledge Owner responsibilities understood Educate and provide tools Owners are motivated and skilled to adopt good well management practices Protects water wells and groundwater resources

19 Workshop Delivery Hosted by municipalities Advertised in local newspapers, radio stations, newsletters and websites Presentation Delivery staff Technical experts from each of the partner agencies Public Health Inspector does Taking Water Samples Water well drillers are available to answer questions Surveys Participant survey at end of workshop, to collect information on their reaction to and learning from the workshop Follow-up survey 6 months after workshop to assess behaviour changes post workshop

20 Working Well Workshop Presentations Understanding groundwater How your well works Draw your well exercise Common well problems Top 10 well enemies Shock chlorination Taking water samples

21 Information Resources Fact sheets Videos Posters Website: Draw your Well e-learning tool

22 Workshops Delivered Currently in our 10 th year of program delivery! To date we ve delivered: 254 workshops 6,925 well owners 71 municipalities (hosts) 2 First Nations Siksika Tsuu T ina

23 Program Evaluation/Survey Results 2,720 workshop participant surveys submitted 1,836 follow-up surveys conducted to assess behaviour changes Survey findings: 98% increased understanding of well maintenance, monitoring & management 92% routinely inspect their well 94% maintain setbacks from contamination sources 93% securely cap their well 88% keep their well site in a sanitary condition 85% share what they learned with family, friends and neighbours Most improved behaviours: Removal of well pits Plugging unused & abandoned well Installing a vermin-proof well cap Taking a water sample

24 Fall 2017 Workshops Host Workshop Location Confirmed Date Clearwater County Rocky Mountain House October 17, 2017 Red Deer County Balmoral Hall, Red Deer October 24, 2017 Lac St. Anne County Location TBD October 25, 2017 Parkland County Location TBD November 2, 2017 Lakeland Agricultural Research Association Craigend Hall, Lac La Biche November 9, 2017 Sturgeon County Morinville Rendez-Vous Center November 14, 2017 County of Grande Prairie TBD November 16, 2017 Leduc County Glen Park Hall November 21, 2017 Camrose County Camrose County Office November 23, 2017 Flagstaff County Location TBD November 28,

25 Questions