Phase IV Site Remediation and Reclamation

Phase IV Site Remediation

Upon completion of the remedial technology and process options that will be employed at the site, a Remedial Action Plan is developed.  This plan must take into consideration the technical feasibility of the chosen technology, its associated cost and many socio-economic and public relations factors before it is implemented.  Meetings are required between the proponents or responsible parties and the stakeholders (i.e., landowners, tenants, and adjacent landowners), the municipal authority, the provincial authority, such as Alberta Agriculture, the Albert Energy and Utilities Board (for oilfield site remediation in Alberta), Alberta Environment and the Alberta Conservation and Reclamation Council, and on federal lands, Environment Canada.

Highly skilled project management experience is crucial to the smooth execution of the Remedial Action Plan (RAP).  Particular precautions must be taken to ensure that those personnel participating in the clean-up operation are working in accordance with Occupational Health and Safety standards.  Proper protective clothing and respiratory equipment must be available and those donning such equipment must be trained in its use through courses such as the OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 course “Health and Safety at Hazardous Waste Sites.”  Hazardous waste site workers must also have WHIMS and First Aid training to cope with any emergency that may arise.  Site safety must be given the first priority.

Phase IV Site Reclamation

Land Reclamation is the process of returning the land back to its original condition after site remediation has been completed.  Section 122 of the “Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act” (AEPEA) states that, “An operator must conserve and reclaim specified land and secure a reclamation certificate in respect of the conservation and reclamation.”  In general a Site Reclamation consists of the following tasks:

• Equipment salvage and removal;

• Utility removal;

• Flow line purging and removal (where applicable);

• Downhole well abandonment (where applicable);

• Concrete removal and disposal;

• Gravel screening, removal and disposal;

• Subsoil decompaction (e.g., subsoilers, rippers, etc.);

• Site grading;

• Topsoil placement;

• Amendment application (such as calcium nitrate, gypsum, activated charcoal, and straw); and

• Fertilization and seeding.

Securing a Site Reclamation Certificate is at the discretion of the Reclamation Officer who is assigned to review the work undertaken at such a site.  All work must be conducted in accordance with the Land Conservation and Reclamation legislation or a certificate will not be issued.  Therefore, this type of undertaking must be done correctly to avoid costly delays for reclamation approval.  Sites that do not pass on the initial inspection by the Land Reclamation Officer are placed at the bottom of the list for the remaining year’s inspections.  As the Reclamation Officer's availability is only for approximately five and one-half months, this type of delay can result in the proponent paying lease payments into the following year.  Other scheduling issues that must be considered for the timely execution of a site reclamation plan include the following:

• Site access (some sites can only be accessed in the winter months);

• Road ban schedule;

• Equipment purging and removal;

• Power supply (utility companies require long notices);

• Water supply (turn over to land owner or cancel withdrawal license);

• Cathodic protection systems (disconnect power supply and assess subsurface anodes for possible contamination);

• Gas lines (contact local utility company or fuel gas line operator);

• Wellbore abandonment;

• Wellheads and flow lines (purge and cut flow lines to edge of lease and remove to a minimum of one metre below grade); and

• Sensitivity to landowners operations (on irrigation lands must not interfere with crop growth or may be subjected to potential crop loss payments).