An Information Service for Alberta’s Environment Industry The Week Ending February 2nd, 2018

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Inside this Issue:

New Wetlands Protections Near Calgary Ring Road

Sears Walking Away from Contaminated Ground Remediation in Calgary

Songbirds on Alberta Oilfields are Changing their Tunes to Cope with the Noise

Remediation Technology News and Resources

New ESAA Member

Upcoming Events

Industry Position Openings

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EnviroTech 2018 April 3-5, 2018

Hyatt Regency Calgary

DRAFT PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE

ESAA is pleased to announce that the draft program for the inaugural EnviroTech is now available. The program will feature:

Opening panel discussion on the Future Challenges Facing the Environment Industry

Two keynote presentations: Timothy Allen, Photographer - the Human Planet and National Geographic Photographer, Paul Nicklen

48 presentations covering a variety of subjects areas including: Air, Climate Change, Forensics, Groundwater, Human Health, Stakeholder Engagement, Wetlands, Waste, Wastewater and much more

Three (3) Professional Development Courses

Regulatory Updates Session

Two networking receptions

The full program can be found online atwww.esaa.org/envirotech/agenda/ For more information visit: www.esaa.org/envirotech/

ESAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS - CALL FOR NOMINEES

The ESAA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the initial slate of candidates for the upcoming Board of Directors election to be held at the ESAA AGM on March 2nd, 2018 in Edmonton, Alberta. There will be four (4) positions open for the ESAA Board of Directors, each for a three (3) year term. If you would like to be included on the list of candidates for the ESAA Board of Directors and are a representative of a full ESAA Member, please submit six (6) letters of support from ESAA Members by no later than February 2nd, 2018 to the ESAA Office via fax: 780.429.4249 or e-mail: chowaniec@esaa.org.

Proposed Initial List of Candidates Darren Cherniak, North Shore Environmental Consultants

Darrell Haight, Trace Associates

NOTICE OF ESAA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2:00 pm – March 2nd, 2018

MKT – 8101 Gateway Blvd, Edmonton

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of the Members of the Association will be held in Edmonton, Alberta, on March 2nd, 2018, at the hour of 2:00 pm for the following purposes:

1. to approve the minutes of Members dated April 4th, 2017; 2. to receive the report of the President; 3. to receive the report of ESAA Management; 4. to receive the report of the Treasurer; 5. to appoint Auditors; 6. to appoint/elect Directors; and 7. the transaction of such further and other matters as may properly be brought before the meeting or any

adjournment thereof.

All full members have the right to appoint a proxy, who needs not to be a member, to exercise the same voting rights that the member appointing such proxy would be entitled to exercise if present at the meeting.

Dated at the City of Edmonton, in the Province of Alberta, this 15th day of January 2018.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD Per: ESAA President

* Attendees to the AGM are welcome to stay after the AGM for drinks and Hors d’oeuvre.

2018 AGM Documents including the AGM Notice, AGM Agenda, 2018 AGM Minutes, and AGM Proxy information can be found online at: http://www.esaa.org/2018agm/

AEP: Fillable Checklist for Risk Management Plan Guide Based upon feedback from users of the Risk Management Plan Guide (October 2017):

A fillable-PDF version of the Checklist portion of the Risk Management Plan Guide is now available on the AEP website for easier use.

• This checklist was designed to be used in conjunction with guidance provided in the Risk Management Plan Guide.

• The Risk Management Plan (RMP) Checklist is intended as a companion document to the Guide and must not be used as a substitute or on its own.

• The review checklist must be reviewed, completed and submitted by the environmental professional as an Appendix to the RMP.

Webpage URL: http://aep.alberta.ca/land/land-industrial/legislation-guidelines.aspx

Questions can be directed to Land.Management@gov.ab.ca

NEW WETLAND PROTECTIONS NEAR CALGARY RING ROAD The Alberta government is protecting Beaver Pond and requiring additional wetland monitoring related to the construction of the Southwest Calgary Ring Road.

Following recommendations of the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB), the minister of Environment and Parks signed a Ministerial Order directing Alberta Transportation and KGL Constructors to undertake additional protection of wetlands disturbed by the construction of the southwest section of the Calgary Ring Road.

The order will allow development of this landmark project to continue but will prohibit any work from affecting the Beaver Pond and will require Alberta Transportation and KGL Constructors to monitor the water quality and quantity in the pond.

“Albertans expect the highest possible standards for the protection of wetlands in all infrastructure projects, and I want to thank the Environmental Appeals Board for their thorough review. Through this order, we are taking the necessary steps to protect wetlands, while continuing work on this vital project for Calgary and setting the stage for better projects going forward.” - Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks

The order does not affect the timelines for completion of the Southwest Calgary Ring Road, which is expected to be finished on time and open to traffic in 2021. When the southwest portion is complete, there will be roughly 91 kilometres of free-flowing travel.

“I would like to thank Minister Phillips for her cooperation on this issue and for allowing this project to proceed. By working together, we are showing our commitment to protecting wetlands while also making sure this important piece of infrastructure gets built. We know how important the Ring Road is to Calgarians, as it will help families spend less time in traffic, more time together and improve the safety of our roads.” - Brian Mason, Minister of Transportation

The decision comes after two appeals were filed with the EAB under the Water Act. Minister Phillips accepted all of the EAB’s recommendations and added further conditions for construction of the project to continue.

Key recommendations and additional conditions

• Prohibit any disturbance of the Beaver Pond (Wetland 06) and require protection measures be undertaken to ensure the construction does not disturb any portion of the pond.

• Add monitoring of the quality and quantity of water entering Beaver Pond to ensure the project is not negatively impacting this wetland.

• Require reassessment of wetlands included in the approval according to the 2013 Alberta Wetland Policy, applying a higher compensation standard for wetland restoration.

• Prohibit further work related to Wetlands 07 and 08 until the reassessment of the wetlands is completed and Alberta Environment and Parks can provide any additional instructions regarding avoidance or mitigation, if possible.

• Require public disclosure and analysis of the monitoring results.

SEARS WALKING AWAY FROM CONTAMINATED GROUND REMEDIATION IN CALGARY

(Source: Metro News) As Sears Canada liquidates its remaining assets, questions are being raised about who’s going to pay for the ongoing remediation of contaminated ground surrounding one of the now-shuttered Calgary stores.

In 1995, a Sears Canada Inc. gas station at the North Hill Centre location was closed down after a leak was discovered, but not before large quantities of gasoline had soaked the ground under surrounding neighbourhoods.

Sears hired a company, Clifton Associates, to handle the cleanup and monitor the site, which was also overseen by the province.

“In this case, Sears was held accountable and was paying for a very costly initial clean up, ongoing monitoring, and intermittent cleanup of other spots that popped up,” said Calgary-Mountainview MLA Dr. David Swann, who told Metro he has been hearing from his constituents about the issue for years.

“The contamination is hundreds of feet underground, and it was too late being discovered – so all they can do is make sure it doesn’t come up into people’s basements, or where they could breathe in the toxic fumes.”

Sears, which was granted creditor protection in June last year, sent a letter to the Hounsfield Heights – Briar Hill Community Association (HH-BHCA) in late December informing them all their stores would be closing in January and subsequently, they would no longer be doing environmental monitoring or remediation in the area.

“We deeply regret this outcome, particularly because we have had a long history of successfully working with you and other stakeholders,” the letter, posted on the HH-BHCA's website, reads.

It also says home owners who can prove they suffered monetary damages as a result of the environmental conditions may be able to make a claim through the liquidation monitor.

Jeff Allan, board president of the HH-BHCA, told Metro in an email the board is working with residents, the government and other interested parties to determine the next steps.

Swann said there are two big concerns: who is responsible for the ongoing monitoring of the area and remediation, and if Sears will be able to financially compensate residents who have been affected by the contamination now that the company has liquidated.

“As of this month, Sears has stopped paying for everything,” Swann said. “I want to see a meeting between the city, the landowner, and the province to decide on shared responsibility for ongoing monitoring and clean up of the plume.”

In a statement, Alberta Environment spokesperson Jamie Hanlon told Metro the province is “actively engaged” in pursuing Sears to hold them to their responsibilities to the affected communities in Calgary and the province.

“The Alberta government takes all environmental contamination seriously and works to enforce the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act to ensure that parties responsible are held to account,” Hanlon said.

Vancouver-based developer Concord Pacific purchased three properties from Sears Canada in 2015, including the North Hill Centre location, and announced plans to redevelop the Calgary site the same year.

Metro attempted to contact the company for comment but has not yet received a response.

Swann wrote to Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips in September, before Sears announced its final liquidation, to relay constituent concerns about the company’s ongoing financial troubles – and who would pick up the bill if they happened to stop footing it.

In a response dated Oct. 11, 2017, also posted on the HH-BHCA’s website, Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said a new pilot remediation study of the site began last year, but it will take time to determine if it could be a recurrent mitigation strategy.

“It is a long-term project with no simple remedial fix,” Phillips wrote. “Work that has been done to date indicates that there is a negligible risk to human health; however, ongoing monitoring is needed to confirm this.”

Ultimately, Swann said a stronger federal Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act is needed to prevent companies from washing their hands of responsibility.

“This hydrocarbon plume has caused great concern for people in terms of both their health and their property values – and it’s not going to go away,” he said.

“Companies that take on liability like underground storage tanks for gasoline and hydrocarbons, they should know there are risks associated with that, and bankruptcies should not enable them to walk away.”

ADDITIONAL MEASURES BEING DEVELOPED TO PROTECT B.C.’S ENVIRONMENT FROM SPILLS The provincial government is proposing a second phase of regulations to improve preparedness, response and recovery from potential spills.

The first phase of the regulations, approved in October 2017, established a standard of preparedness, response and recovery necessary to protect B.C.’s environment. With some exceptions for B.C. oil and gas regulated entities, the Phase-1 regulations apply to pipelines transporting any quantity of liquid petroleum products, and rail or trucking operations transporting over 10,000 litres of liquid petroleum products.

For the second phase, the Province will be looking for feedback in five areas:

• Response times, to ensure timely responses following a spill; • Geographic response plans, to ensure resources are available to support an immediate response, that

take into account unique characteristics of a given sensitive area; • Compensation for loss of public and cultural use of land, resources or public amenities in the case of

spills; • Maximizing application of regulations to marine spills; and • Restrictions on the increase of diluted bitumen (“dilbit”) transportation until the behaviour of spilled

bitumen can be better understood and there is certainty regarding the ability to adequately mitigate spills.

“The people of B.C. need to know that there is effective spill management across the province and, in particular, for our most environmentally sensitive areas, including coastlines,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “We believe spills should not happen. But if hazardous pollutants have potential to spill, our government will ensure that spillers must be prepared and able to fully mitigate the environmental damage before they proceed.”

An independent scientific advisory panel will be established to make recommendations to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy on if and how heavy oils can be safely transported and cleaned up, if spilled.

“The potential for a diluted bitumen spill already poses significant risk to our inland and coastal environment and the thousands of existing tourism and marine harvesting jobs,” Heyman said. “British Columbians rightfully expect their government to defend B.C.’s coastline and our inland waterways, and the economic and environmental interests that are so important to the people in our province, and we are working hard to do just that.”

The process to receive feedback on the proposed regulations will feature engagement with First Nations, to begin as soon as possible. To ensure the views of the broad range of stakeholders are heard, government will meet with industry, local governments and environmental groups over the coming weeks and months.

As well, the general public will be able to provide input online through written comments, once an intentions paper is released. The intentions paper will provide an overview of the proposed regulations, and is expected to be posted before the end of February 2018.

KOOTENAY WEST GYPSUM MINE GRANTED AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT CERTIFICATE George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and Michelle Mungall, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, have decided to issue an environmental assessment certificate to CertainTeed Gypsum Canada Inc. for the Kootenay West Mine project.

CertainTeed proposes a 135-hectare open-pit gypsum mine, located approximately 12 kilometres northeast of Canal Flats, and on the traditional territories of the Ktunaxa Nation and Shuswap Indian Band. Kootenay West Mine is expected to produce 400,000 tonnes of gypsum per year over a 43-year mine life, and is intended to replace CertainTeed’s existing gypsum mine, Windermere Operations, near Invermere.

Having considered the Environmental Assessment Office’s (EAO) assessment report and the recommendation of the executive director of the EAO to issue a certificate, the ministers are confident that the project will be constructed, operated and closed in a way that ensures that no significant adverse effects are likely to occur. A record of the factors that the ministers considered in making their decision can be found in the Reasons for Ministers’ Decision at: https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/p/kootenay-west-mine/detail

In their reasons, the ministers emphasized that the protection of water quality in the Kootenay River was extremely important. Ministers received assurances that water management structures and the sedimentation ponds for the project will be designed and constructed to stringent standards.

The assessment of the Kootenay West project was collaborative from the outset, with the Ktunaxa Nation and Shuswap Indian Band preparing their respective sections of the application on behalf of CertainTeed. The EAO worked closely with the Ktunaxa Nation and Shuswap Indian Band to identify concerns and develop conditions for the environmental assessment certificate, including conditions that establish CertainTeed’s ongoing engagement with them throughout the life of the project.

In addition to the 21 conditions that are part of the Kootenay West environmental assessment certificate, design requirements are specified in the certified project description. Each of the conditions and the certified project description are legally binding requirements that CertainTeed must meet to maintain compliance with the certificate. The conditions were developed following consultation and input from Indigenous groups, government agencies, communities and the public. CertainTeed is also required to obtain other provincial and local government permits to proceed with construction of the project. The EAO will co-ordinate compliance management efforts with other government agencies and Indigenous groups to ensure that certificate conditions are met.

Key conditions for the project require CertainTeed to:

• Develop a groundwater monitoring plan to identify baseline conditions and monitor groundwater quality through the life of the project;

• Develop a dust management plan to address fugitive dust emissions within the project site and potential off-site impacts, including along the Kootenay Forest Service Road and nearby properties;

• Create a First Nations engagement and reporting plan to establish how CertainTeed will communicate with the Ktunaxa Nation and Shuswap Indian Band throughout the life of the project;

• Establish a cultural management plan to ensure protection of archaeological resources, support stewardship, cultural practice and intergenerational learning of the project location for future generations of the Ktunaxa Nation and Shuswap Indian Band;

• Create an owl-nesting monitoring plan, and a nesting and habitat survey to ensure protection of two nested breeding pairs in the area of the mine; and

• Develop a wildlife management plan to mitigate adverse effects to bird-nesting habitats, ungulate-movement corridors, and restore vegetation.

As a result of feedback obtained during the environmental assessment, CertainTeed changed the haul route for the mine to avoid truck traffic through the village of Canal Flats. The alternative route (a forest service road east of Canal Flats) will be used and dust mitigation measures will be put in place — benefiting all users of the road.

Construction of the new mine is expected to create 43 full-time-equivalent positions over the 18-month construction period, with a further 40 full-time-equivalent positions generated in direct-supplier industries. Initially, CertainTeed expects that most of the 17 full-time employees at Windermere Operations will commute to Canal Flats to work at Kootenay West during operations; however, over time, those jobs would transition to employees from the Canal Flats area. Construction is expected to cost $23.7 million, with annual operating costs of $4.3 million.

British Columbia’s environmental assessment process offers significant opportunities for Indigenous groups, government agencies and the public to influence the outcome of environmental assessments by providing input on a proposed project’s potential environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects.

For more information on the environmental assessment process, please visit: http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/process.html

PETROLEUM COMPANY SENTENCED FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE MIGRATORY BIRDS CONVENTION ACT, 1994

The effective and strict enforcement of Canadian environmental and wildlife legislation is one way Environment and Climate Change Canada meets its commitments to maintaining clean air and water as well as protecting wildlife and their habitats.

Following a guilty plea on May 31, 2017, Painted Pony Energy Ltd. (formerly Painted Pony Petroleum Ltd.) was sentenced in the Provincial Court of British Columbia, on December 22, 2017, for depositing a substance harmful to migratory birds, in an area frequented by migratory birds. The court ordered the company to pay a total penalty of $235,000 to be dispersed as follows:

• $5,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund; • $115,000 to Ducks Unlimited Canada; • $57,500 to the MacKenzie Nature Observatory; and, • $57,500 to the Oiled Wildlife Society of British Columbia.

An investigation by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers revealed that, between March and April 2013, 14 deceased migratory birds were observed on the surface of an above-ground containment tank located north of Fort St. John, British Columbia. At the time of the offence, Painted Pony Energy Ltd. operated fracking sites that included open storage tanks to accommodate fluids used during the fracking process.

Following the incident, company employees installed deterrent measures at the containment tank in an effort to prevent additional migratory birds from being attracted to and trapped in the tanks.

As a result of this conviction, the company's name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry.

MINING COMPANY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA FINED FOR FISHERIES ACT VIOLATIONS Canadians value a safe and clean environment. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s enforcement officers work hard every day to make sure individuals and companies are respecting Canadian environmental laws. On January 12, 2018, Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. was ordered to pay $200,000 after pleading guilty, in the Provincial Court of British Columbia, to violations under the Fisheries Act related to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations. The penalty will be paid to the Environmental Damages Fund. Routine inspections conducted by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers revealed that the company failed to complete sampling, notify authorities of having deposited effluent into fish-bearing water without authorization, and submit reports on time. The effluent was deposited into Lowhee Creek, part of the Willow River system—an important fish-bearing watershed. The Metal Mining Effluent Regulations authorize deposits of effluent provided that conditions stipulated in the regulations are respected. As a result of this conviction, the company’s name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry.

SONGBIRDS ON ALBERTA OILFIELDS ARE CHANGING THEIR TUNES TO COPE WITH THE NOISE

Sparrows sing at higher frequencies to be heard over compressors, pumpjacks and screw pumps (Source: Financial Post) Noisy oilpatch equipment is causing songbirds to change their tune, concludes research from the University of Manitoba.

“It’s something that is really picking up, the idea of noise pollution,” said Miya Warrington, a co-author of a new paper in Condor, the journal of the American Ornithological Society. “We want to see what is that doing for the birds.”

Warrington looked at savannah sparrows, a small, common, thick-beaked sparrow with a splash of yellow over the eye. Its complex song has up to nine different “syllables” that convey a lot of information.

Some parts of the song deliver a territorial warning. Others advertise for mates. Others just say, “I am here.” All are crucial messages for the sparrow’s survival. Each bird has an individual version of the song, which includes elements from a high-pitched trill to an insect-like buzz.

These days, however, sparrows share the prairies with a lot of noisy machinery. Oil and gas infrastructure is common on the plains and Warrington wanted to see how birdsong competes with it.

“You can hear birds clearly when it’s quieter,” she said. “When you’re closer to the infrastructure, you don’t hear the birds as clearly.

“You start to think, if I can’t hear, maybe the birds can’t hear.”

She looked at 26 sites around Brooks in southern Alberta. The sites contained four types of energy infrastructure: natural gas compressors, pumpjacks, screw pumps powered by the electrical grid and screw pumps powered by generators.

She recorded and analyzed the songs of 73 male sparrows between the months of May and July and compared them with the songs of sparrows where there were no oilpatch facilities.

The analysis showed that all pumps and compressors made sounds on the same frequencies as at least part of the sparrow’s song. Recordings revealed the birds were adjusting parts of their songs, depending on the source of the background noise.

“All syllable types were significantly affected by at least one infrastructure type,” the paper says.

In some cases, sparrows sang the entire song at higher frequencies, as if they’d transposed it to a higher key.

Of the four types of infrastructure, generator-powered screw pumps had the most impact while natural gas compressors had the least.

Warrington suggests the birds made changes in efforts to be heard over the sound of the equipment.

“The birds are modifying their birdsong in response to the noise that’s created by this oil and natural gas infrastructure.”

Avian response to human noise is a hot topic in the bird research world.

Another paper in the same issue of Condor looks at how grouse adjust their mating calls in the presence of sound from wind turbines. Urban birds have also been shown to raise the pitch of their songs in noisy city environments.

The issue is particularly pressing for grassland birds such as sparrows. While almost all songbirds are in decline, grassland species are declining the quickest.

“They’ve actually been looking at a whole lot of grassland species and finding that, in some species, the presence of oil infrastructure is affecting reproduction while in others it’s not.”

Nobody yet knows if the sparrows’ new songs are conveying the same old messages.

“Is it changing how those who are listening can respond? Are these modifications helping them get their message across?” Warrington asks.

“We want to see what is that doing for the birds.”

DANGEROUSLY LOW ON WATER, CAPE TOWN NOW FACES ‘DAY ZERO’ (Source: New York Times) CAPE TOWN — It sounds like a Hollywood blockbuster. “Day Zero” is coming to Cape Town this April. Everyone, be warned.

The government cautions that the Day Zero threat will surpass anything a major city has faced since World War II or the Sept. 11 attacks. Talks are underway with South Africa’s police because “normal policing will be entirely inadequate.” Residents, their nerves increasingly frayed, speak in whispers of impending chaos.

The reason for the alarm is simple: The city’s water supply is dangerously close to running dry.

If water levels keep falling, Cape Town will declare Day Zero in less than three months. Taps in homes and businesses will be turned off until the rains come. The city’s four million residents will have to line up for water rations at 200 collection points. The city is bracing for the impact on public health and social order.

“When Day Zero comes, they’ll have to call in the army,” said Phaldie Ranqueste, who was filling his white S.U.V. with big containers of water at a natural spring where people waited in a long, anxious line.

It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way for Cape Town. This city is known for its strong environmental policies, including its careful management of water in an increasingly dry corner of the world.

But after a three-year drought, considered the worst in over a century, South African officials say Cape Town is now at serious risk of becoming one of the few major cities in the world to lose piped water to homes and most businesses.

Hospitals, schools and other vital institutions will still get water, officials say, but the scale of the shut-off will be severe.

Cape Town’s problems embody one of the big dangers of climate change: the growing risk of powerful, recurrent droughts. In Africa, a continent particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, those problems serve as a potent warning to other governments, which typically don’t have this city’s resources and have done little to adapt.

For now, political leaders here talk of coming together to “defeat Day Zero.” As water levels in the dams supplying the city continue to drop, the city is scrambling to finish desalination plants and increase groundwater production. Starting in February, residents will face harsher fines if they exceed their new daily limit, which will go down to 50 liters (13.2 gallons) a day per person from 87 liters now.

Just a couple of years ago, the situation could not have looked more different here. In 2014, the dams stood full after years of good rain. The following year, C40, a collection of cities focused on climate change worldwide, awarded Cape Town its “adaptation implementation” prize for its management of water.

Cape Town was described as one of the world’s top “green” cities, and the Democratic Alliance — the opposition party that has controlled Cape Town since 2006 — took pride in its emphasis on sustainability and the environment.

The accolades recognized the city’s success in conserving water. Though the city’s population had swelled by 30 percent since the early 2000s, overall water consumption had remained flat. Many of the new arrivals settled in the city’s poor areas, which consume less water, and actually helped bring down per capita use.

The city’s water conservation measures — fixing leaks and old pipes; installing meters and adjusting tariffs — had a powerful impact. Maybe too powerful.

The city conserved so much water that it postponed looking for new sources.

For years, Cape Town had been warned that it needed to increase and diversify its water supply. Almost all of its water still comes from six dams dependent on rainfall, a risky situation in an arid region with a changing climate. The dams, which were full only a few years ago, are now down to about 26 percent of capacity, officials say.

Cape Town has grown warmer in recent years and a bit drier over the last century, according to Piotr Wolski, a hydrologist at the University of Cape Town who has measured average rainfall from the turn of the 20th century to the present.

Climate models show that Cape Town is destined to face a drier future, with rains becoming more unpredictable in the coming decades. “The drier years are expected to be drier than they were, and the wetter years will not be as wet,” Mr. Wolski said.

As far back as 2007, South Africa’s Department of Water Affairs warned that the city needed to consider increasing its supply with groundwater, desalination and other sources, citing the potential impact of climate change.

Mike Muller, who served as the department’s director between 1997 and 2005, said that the city’s water conservation strategy, without finding new sources, has been “a major contributor to Cape Town’s troubles.”

“Nature isn’t particularly willing to compromise,” he added. “There will be severe droughts. And if you haven’t prepared for it, you’ll get hammered.”

Ian Neilson, the deputy mayor, said that new water supplies have been part of the city’s plans but “it was not envisaged that it would be required so soon.”

Continue reading the main story Photo

Cities elsewhere have faced serious water shortages. Millions of Brazilians have endured rationing because of prolonged droughts. Brasília, the capital, declared a state of emergency a year ago. Experts say the water shortages in Brazil, which have affected more than 800 municipalities across the country, stem from climate change, the rapid expansion of agriculture, bad infrastructure and poor planning.

Here in Cape Town, the water shortages have strained political divisions, especially because much of the responsibility for building water infrastructure lies with the national government led by the African National Congress.

“The national government has dragged its feet,” said David Olivier, who studies climate change at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Global Change Institute.

The national government controls the water supply to Cape Town, other municipalities and the province’s agricultural sector, including the large wine industry east of Cape Town. In the first two years of the drought, experts say, the national government failed to limit water supplies to farmers, intensifying the problem.

But the city made mistakes, too. Last year, instead of focusing on “low-hanging fruit” like tapping into local aquifers, the city concentrated on building temporary desalination units, said Kevin Winter, a water expert at the University of Cape Town’s Future Water Institute.

“It takes a lot of time to build desalination modules, three to five years, and at considerable cost,” Mr. Winter said. “They’re even costlier to build during a crisis.”

Mr. Neilson, the deputy mayor, acknowledged that “some time was lost.” The city, he said, had now “shifted our efforts dramatically.”

The city is stepping up its efforts to cut consumption. With water and time running out, Mr. Neilson said he was “acutely aware” of needing to scare people into changing their behavior without causing them to panic, adding, “I don’t think we quite got that right yet.”

So far, only 55 percent of Cape Town residents have met the target of 87 liters per day.

Helen Zille, the premier of Western Cape Province, which includes Cape Town, wrote in The Daily Maverick last week that she considers a shut-off inevitable. The question now, she said, is, “When Day Zero arrives, how do we make water accessible and prevent anarchy?”

Cutting back is a difficult message to convey in one of the world’s most unequal societies, where access to water reflects Cape Town’s deep divisions. In squatter camps, people share communal taps and carry water in buckets to their shacks. In other parts of the city, millionaires live in mansions with glistening pools.

In vast townships like Mitchells Plain, residents without cars wondered how they could even carry water containers home from a collection point.

Faried Cassiem, who works as a cleaner but does not have a car, said his wife would have to fetch water for his household of eight.

“There are so many guys just standing around, with no jobs, so I’ll just give them two rands to carry the water,” he said, referring to the equivalent of about 17 cents.

As Day Zero looms, some were stocking up on water at two natural springs in the city. Others were buying cases of water at Makro, a warehouse-style store.

In Constantia, a suburb with large houses on gated properties with pools, some residents were installing water tanks in their yards.

At one house, Leigh De Decker and Mark Bleloch said they had reduced their total water consumption from the city to 20 liters a day, down from 500 liters a day before the drought. Instead, they now draw from two 10,000-liter tanks of treated well water, and were waiting for two additional tanks to be delivered.

Several weeks before Day Zero, their use of city water should come down to zero, they said, estimating that it will cost them about $4,200 to become completely self-sufficient.

“It allows you to have a certain lifestyle without drawing on resources that other people need,” Ms. De Decker said.

REMEDIATION TECHNOLOGY NEWS AND RESOURCES

(The following are selected items from the US EPA's Tech Direct - http://clu-in.org/techdirect/)

Upcoming Live Internet Seminars

ITRC Remediation Management of Complex Sites - February 6, 2018, 1:00PM-3:15PM EST (18:00-20:15 GMT). This training course and associated ITRC guidance: Remediation Management of Complex Sites (RMCS-1, 2017), provide a recommended holistic process for management of challenging sites, termed "adaptive site management." By participating in this training course we expect you will learn to apply the ITRC guidance document to: identify and integrate technical and nontechnical challenges into a holistic approach to remediation; use the Remediation Potential Assessment to identify whether adaptive site management is warranted due to site complexity; understand and apply adaptive site management principles; develop a long-term performance-based action plan; apply well-demonstrated techniques for effective stakeholder engagement; access additional resources, tools, and case studies most relevant for complex sites; and communicate the value of the guidance to regulators, practitioners, community members, and others. For more information and to register, see https://www.itrcweb.org or https://clu-in.org/live.

SERDP & ESTCP Webinar Series: Improved Methods to Evaluate Aerial Emissions and Develop Pollutant Emissions Factors - February 8, 2018, 12:00 PM ET (17:00 GMT). Join SERDP and ESTCP on Thursday, February 8 for a webinar detailing results from SERDP/ESTCP research into improved methods for evaluating aerial emissions and developing pollutant emission factors. Dr. Brian Gullett, a researcher at U.S. EPA, will present research findings with the potential to improve emission characterization of open area sources such as fires and open burn/open detonation activities. Dr. Kevin McNesby of the United States Army Research Laboratory will present research into developing methodologies to evaluate particle and gaseous emissions from metal-based energetic and pyrotechnic formulations. For more information and to register, https://www.serdp-estcp.org/Tools-and-Training/Webinar-Series/02-08-2018.

ITRC Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soil: Considerations for Human Health Risk Assessment - February 13, 2018, 1:00PM-3:15PM EST (18:00-20:15 GMT). The basis for this training course is the ITRC guidance: Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soil: Considerations for Human Health Risk Assessment (BCS-1). This guidance describes the general concepts of the bioavailability of contaminants in soil, reviews the state of the science, and discusses how to incorporate bioavailability into the human health risk assessment process. The target audience for this guidance and training course are: project managers interested in decreasing uncertainty in the risk assessment

which may lead to reduced remedial action costs, and risk assessors new to bioavailability or those who want additional confidence and training in the current methods and common practices for using bioavailability assessment to more accurately determine human health risk at a contaminated site. As a participant in this training you should learn to: apply the decision process to determine when a site-specific bioavailability assessment may be appropriate, use the ITRC Review Checklist to develop or review a risk assessment that includes soil bioavailability, consider factors that affect arsenic, lead and PAH bioavailability, select appropriate methods to evaluate soil bioavailability, and use tools to develop site-specific soil bioavailability estimates and incorporate them into human health risk assessment. For more information and to register, see https://www.itrcweb.org or https://clu-in.org/live.

FRTR Presents?Remediation Technologies for Radionuclides and Heavy Metals in Soil, Ground Water and Sediments, Session 1 - February 28, 2018, 1:00PM-3:00PM EST (18:00-20:00 GMT). This webinar is part of a series featuring presentations delivered at the November 2017 FRTR Meeting. This meeting focused on remediation technologies for radionuclides and heavy metals in soil, ground water and sediments. More information about the meeting can be found at https://frtr.gov/meetings1.htm. This webinar will provide an overview of the technologies as well as the strategies to implement these technologies in remediation of radionuclides and heavy metals in soil, ground water, and sediments. The seminar will also describe the specific application of an in situ activated carbon amendment for sediment and soil mercury remediation. For more information and to register, see https://clu-in.org/live.

New Documents and Web Resources

EPA Office of Research and Development Journal Article: Cross Validation of Two Partitioning-Based Sampling Approaches in Mesocosms Containing PCB Contaminated Field Sediment, Biota, and Activated Carbon Amendment. Site managers and public health officials faced with the cleanup and rehabilitation of Superfund sites and other areas must carefully consider how to assess the bioavailability of hydrophobic compounds and other persistent contaminants to formulate plans, guide mitigation activities, and monitor progress. The "gold standard" would be a combination of the two broad categories of sampling methods developed over the past two decades: (1) laboratory-based (ex situ) equilibrium sampling using sediment samples and very thin polymers, and (2) on site (in situ) pre-equilibrium sampling, using performance reference compounds or time-sensitive measurements. The former offers highly controlled, well-defined, and relatively fast results that may not be particularly accurate for capturing field conditions. The latter provides site-specific results that better reflect contaminant bioavailability of real world field conditions, but can take months or even years to conduct. EPA researcher Robert M Burgess and partners recently released the results of a study exploring methods to find such a gold standard approach. The researchers conducted a series of experiments using both equilibrium and pre-equilibrium methods. Using sediments from New Bedford Harbor (a Superfund site) only, sediment plus living organisms (worms, clams, and fish), and sediment, organisms, and activated carbon, they compared results to cross validate the two different approaches. Results were promising, showing "good precision of both methods in overall good agreement," note the researchers. The study, presented in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, "is part of an ongoing project that combines quantitative thermodynamic exposure assessment and bioaccumulation studies to assess sediment restoration techniques based on amendment with activated carbon (AC)." View at https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?dirEntryId=338150.

Technology Innovation News Survey Corner. The Technology Innovation News Survey contains market/commercialization information; reports on demonstrations, feasibility studies and research; and other news relevant to the hazardous waste community interested in technology development. Recent issues, complete archives, and subscription information is available at https://clu-in.org/products/tins/. The following resources were included in recent issues:

User's Guide for Biodegradation Reactions in TMVOCBIO

FAQs Regarding PFASs Associated with AFFF Use at U.S. Military Sites

Bottle Selection and Other Sampling Considerations When Sampling for Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - Revision 1.2

Characterization and Remediation of Fractured Rock

Sediment Site Recontamination: Leveraging National Policies and Cross-Program Coordination Strategies

Energetic Compounds on Military Training Ranges

Study of Tailings Management Technologies

The International Network for Acid Prevention (INAP)

In Situ Leach Uranium Mining: An Overview Of Operations

European Achievements in Soil Remediation and Brownfield Redevelopment (2017). This European Commission JRC report shares best practices of soil restoration and management of contaminated sites among European countries. Eight countries present a total of 17 cases which illustrate how soil and brownfields remediation along with sustainable land management have become essential for reversing the trend of soil degradation and ensuring the provision of ecosystem services by soil. The cases show progress in research and innovative technologies of soil remediation, new outstanding approaches to soil remediation management, beneficial integration of stakeholders in decision-making and fruitful progress in raising public awareness and citizen science. View or download at http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC102681/kj0217891enn.pdf

ESAA Member News

ACQUISITION EXPANDS VERTEX’S GEOGRAPHIC EXPERTISE IN LARGE

PIPELINE, UTILITY AND MINERAL LAND PROJECTS ACROSS CANADA Vertex Resource Group Ltd. (“Vertex”) is pleased to announce that it has acquired the business of HMA Land Services (“HMA”). The expertise of the HMA team will further strengthen Vertex’s professional land consulting practice, with particular focus on large pipeline, utility and mineral land projects. In addition to expanding our expertise, the addition of the HMA team, provides geographic exposure to new Canadian markets with projects and personnel on both the east and west coast. “This acquisition enhances one of our long established and core consulting services. The addition of HMA continues the growth of our land, project management and public consultation services by strengthening our professional team and adding additional expertise in midstream, utility and mineral land projects. The acquisition is very complimentary and positions Vertex to continue to grow within our existing client base and better serve current customers of both entities with additional skills and expertise across the country.” said Terry Stephenson, President of Vertex.

HMA began operating as Vertex effective January 1, 2018.

AGAT LABORATORIES ACQUIRES TRICAN GEOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS (TGS) LABORATORIES

January 30th, 2018 - AGAT Laboratories is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of Trican Geological Solutions (TGS) Laboratories, specializing in enhanced rock mechanics scientific testing. The addition of this facility and its state-of-the-art instrumentation will complement AGAT's Rock Properties divisions by offering new services to support the field of tight rock resource analysis and evaluation. This strategic business decision adds up to yet another concrete step for AGAT in opening its doors to an international presence. It also completes the divisions of Rock Properties service offerings by providing full service analysis to a wide range of industries including Petroleum Exploration, Hard Rock Mining, Construction and Manufacturing. Concentrating on shales, tight rock and coal, this acquisition translates into new services that fit well with AGAT's Routine Core, Oilsands Analysis, Reservoir Characterization and Geology services. This acquisition also expands our energy and rock technology services to a total of over 250,000 square feet and a significant investment in world class instrumentation. Rock Mechanics (Triaxial Testing), Computed Tomography Imaging Scanning (CT Scanner) and Rock Eval for maturity and total organic content by source rock analysis and canister desorption are amongst the wide range of advanced equipment that is now available at AGAT. Trican's existing clients can expect the same level of top quality expertise and access to AGAT's Rock Properties' personnel who have over 200 years of combined experience. AGAT's clients will greatly benefit from the new rock mechanics services and a reinforced complete solutions offering.

New ESAA Member

ESAA’s Board of Directors and staff would like to welcome the following new member:

Associate Member:

Crescent Point Energy Corp. 2000, 585-8th Avenue SW

Calgary, AB T2P 1G1

Website: www.crescentpointenergy.com

Morgan Reid e-mail: mreid@crescentpointenergy.com

Profile: Crescent Point is a leading North American oil producer providing shareholders with long-term growth plus dividend income.

UPCOMING EVENTS

JOIN THE ALBERTA DELEGATION TO GLOBE 2018 - DEADLINE FEBRUARY 9, 2018 The Government of Alberta and its partner organizations are leading a trade mission to GLOBE 2018 (https://www.globeseries.com/forum/) in Vancouver, B.C. from March 14-16, 2018.

The GLOBE Forum and Innovation Expo is one of the world’s leading events for clean technologies. Global leaders from business, government and civil society from over 50 countries will come together to manage risk and capitalize on opportunities in the clean economy.

You are invited to apply for a space in the Alberta Pavilion at the GLOBE 2018 Innovation Expo, which is designed for cleantech companies to exhibit cutting-edge technologies, sustainable products, and advanced environmental services. As part of the Alberta delegation, you will:

• receive exhibitor access to the Innovation Expo; • showcase your solutions in the Alberta Pavilion and engage with buyers from more than 50 countries; • explore investment and funding opportunities with a diverse range of organizations, including angel and

venture capitalists, economic development agencies and funding organizations; • join the B2B platform and participate in a range of business development activities for exhibitors (i.e.

matchmaking, investor pitches, etc.) and • have the possibility of presenting your company’s technology or service at an Alberta event, or in an Expo

Presentation Theatre. Alberta Economic Development and Trade (EDT) will help selected companies prepare for the event by providing insight on how to showcase your company, develop contacts, and create relationships with target companies and individuals for your business.

To apply for a space in the Alberta Pavilion, please go to: https://eservices.alberta.ca/globe-2018-innovation-expo.html

The deadline to apply is February 9, 2018

For more information or changes to your application, please contact one of the following:

Martha Rogalski at martha.rogalski@gov.ab.ca or 780-422-1056

Aimee Charest at aimee.charest@gov.ab.ca or 780-644 1129

Please mark your calendars for the 2018 CPANS Annual Conference: Conference Theme: Western Canada: Environmental State of the Union Date: Wednesday, May 9th, 2018 Venue: Ramada Plaza Calgary Downtown, 708 8th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta General Information The 2018 CPANS annual conference will be held at the Ramada Plaza Calgary Downtown, Calgary, Alberta. Participants of this conference will include environmental researchers, educators, students, environmental managers, other professionals from environmental industries and policy makers. The conference will be a great opportunity for attendees to develop new collaborations and share knowledge as experts from various fields, including: Emissions quantification, monitoring strategies, data validation, legislation, management, trends and the economy. For more information, please visit the website: http://cpans.org/event/2018-cpans-conference-call-for-abstracts/ Call for Abstracts If you are interested in presenting at this year's conference, please submit an abstract to Kim O’Neill at koneill@slrconsulting.com on or before March 16th, 2018 along with your biography. Abstract Instruction and Format The abstract should be 350 words or less. Type font should be Calibri 12 point. The presentation title (in bold) should be at the top of the page. If selected, authors will be able to alter the presentation title up to two weeks prior to the conference date. The affiliation for each author should be next, followed by the author’s name, mailing address, phone number, and email address (all in bold). Email will be the primary means for communication. The conference committee reserves the right to edit the abstract for grammar and format since it may be used in the preliminary and final programs for the conference. Author Name and Biography A brief biography of the presenter must be included with the abstract. Please describe, in no more than 150 words, the professional background, credentials, and education of the presenter. Please contact Kim O’Neill with any questions at koneill@slrconsulting.com

WORKSHOP: HOW TO USE THE RANGE PLANT COMMUNITY GUIDES AND RECOVERY STRATEGIES

GUIDES FOR PROJECT AND RECLAMATION PLANNING IN GRASSLANDS

The Foothills Restoration Forum is pleased to present an opportunity to attend a Pre-Conference Workshop in

conjunction with the Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA) Annual Conference at the Sheraton Hotel

and Conference Centre in Red Deer, Alberta February 28th – March 2nd, 2018. The Foothills Restoration Workshop

will be held in the afternoon of February 28th.

For more information, visit: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2018-clra-alberta-agm-conference-registration-41310215968

Industry Positions Openings

For more information visit ESAA’s Job Board under the news section of HTUwww.esaa.org UTH

Mapping & Data Analyst Term: Full-Time Number of Positions: 1 Application Deadline: February 28, 2018 Job Location: Calgary, Alberta

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Generate maps and fence diagrams using ArcGIS and environmental management software.

Create borehole logs using gINT.

Work with technical staff to assist in integrating technology into fieldwork.

Support technical staff in GPS data collection and maintain equipment.

Provide outstanding service to the Trace team. YOUR PROFILE

Accuracy and quality are everything to you.

You love data.

You get results.

Work well with others.

Positive.

GIS focused degree or certificate.

Proficiency in ArcGIS, scripting tools (i.e. Python, JavaScript/REST API, VBScript, SQL), GPS systems

You want to work for a company that cares.

Trace Associates Inc. (Trace) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm advising the energy, mining, industrial, forestry, real estate, and development market sectors. We provide services in environmental site assessment (ESA), remediation, reclamation, spill response, liability assessment, environmental auditing, GIS, regulatory advisory, and facility decommissioning. Our Vision is to be the most respected specialized environmental consulting firm in Western Canada and our Mission is to be safe and be the best. Our Core Values are safety, excellence, and balance. How To Apply: For further information or to apply, quote position no. CAN-AB-CAL-0100-26 and email your resume to info@traceassociates.ca or visit www.TraceAssociates.ca

INTERMEDIATE and SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL

PROJECT MANAGER – Edmonton

Term: Full-Time Number of Positions: 2 Application Deadline: February 28, 2018 Job Location: Edmonton

Terralogix Solutions Inc., an environmental consulting organization, is recruiting Environmental Project Managers for our Edmonton, AB location. The successful candidates will be involved in various aspects of a variety of projects and will participate in both office and on site field work. The amount of field work will depend on the candidates various skill sets.

Qualifications: • Bachelor of Science degree or Masters of Science Degree in Environmental Science, Environmental

Engineering or other relevant Environmental Program along with 3 plus years of experience • Experience with environmental site assessments, soil sampling, groundwater monitoring and site

remediation • Registration with a professional organization as either a professional or in-training • Possess strong interpersonal skills, communication skills and technical writing skills and be able to work as

a member of a multi-disciplinary team and independently. Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) and associated reporting • Planning and conducting Phase II ESAs, including:

drilling and soil sampling activities

conducting groundwater monitoring and sampling programs

interpreting analytical laboratory results

analyzing and interpreting collected environmental data and writing technical reports

contractor management and cost tracking • Assist with the design and implementation of remediation systems • Planning and completion of reclamation activities • Coordinate and complete vegetation management activities • Reclamation Application and Onestop processes • Comply with Health and Safety policies and principles

Compensation: • Competitive Hourly and Overtime wage • Competitive Benefit Package

To find out more about Terralogix Solutions Inc. please visit our website at www.terralogix.ca.

Application Details: To apply for these positions, please email your cover letter and resume to resumes@terralogix.ca and clearly indicate which position you are applying for in the title bar of the email.

INTERMEDIATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT MANAGER – CALGARY

Term: Full-Time Number of Positions: 1 Application Deadline: February 28, 2018 Job Location: Calgary

Terralogix Solutions Inc., an environmental consulting organization, is recruiting Intermediate Environmental Project Managers for our Calgary, AB location. The successful candidates will be involved in various aspects of a variety of projects and will participate in both office and on site field work. The amount of field work will depend on the candidates various skill sets.

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Science degree or Masters of Science Degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering or other relevant Environmental Program along with 3 plus years of experience

Experience with environmental site assessments, soil sampling, groundwater monitoring and site remediation

Registration with a professional organization as either a professional or in-training

Possess strong interpersonal skills, communication skills and technical writing skills and be able to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and independently.

Possess strong interpersonal skills, communication skills and technical writing skills and be able to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and independently.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) and associated reporting

Planning and conducting Phase II ESAs, including: o drilling and soil sampling activities o conducting groundwater monitoring and sampling programs o interpreting analytical laboratory results o analyzing and interpreting collected environmental data and writing technical reports o contractor management and cost tracking

Assist with the design and implementation of remediation systems

Planning and completion of reclamation activities

Coordinate and complete vegetation management activities

Reclamation Application and Onestop processes

Comply with Health and Safety policies and principles Compensation:

Competitive Hourly and Overtime wage

Competitive Benefit Package

How to Apply:

To find out more about Terralogix Solutions Inc. please visit our website at www.terralogix.ca.To apply for these positions, please email your cover letter and resume to resumes@terralogix.ca and clearly indicate which position you are applying for in the email title bar.

PROJECT MANAGER – REMEDIATION

Term: Full-Time Number of Positions: 1 Application Deadline: February 22, 2018 Job Location: Calgary

PROJECT MANAGER – REMEDIATION

Keneco is currently accepting applications for a Project Manager – Remediation to manage remediation projects at upstream well sites and facilities. This position will integrate into a team of Agrologists, Technologists and Technicians to execute all aspects of remediation projects across Western Canada.

The position duties will entail but not be limited to:

Participate in all facets of contaminated site projects including Phase II ESA’s and remediation projects;

Coordinate field programs involving sampling and monitoring of soil, groundwater and remediation system operation and maintenance;

Prepare a variety of environmental reports including Site Specific Liability Assessments, remedial options analyses, remedial action plans, and ground water monitoring reports;

Develop and assist with the execution of marketing plans to explore new business opportunities, while managing current clients, to increase market share and the continued growth and expansion of Keneco Environmental;

Assist in recruiting additional team members, as required;

Liaising with regulators, clients and landowners/stakeholders;

Participation in the on-going improvement of company policy, procedures and protocols (office, field and safety);

Travel to locations to conduct site assessments may be required. Qualifications:

Degree or Technical Diploma in environmental science, engineering or related studies;

Professional status or eligibility for professional status with a professional organization;

5 to 7 years of contaminated site assessment and remediation program experience including ground water and risk assessments (example – SST);

Experience with a variety of remedial techniques including excavation, in-situ treatment, ground water remediation and risk assessment.

Complete understanding of Alberta and Saskatchewan reclamation and remediation guidelines;

Strong organizational and communication skills;

Ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment;

To apply for this position, please submit your resume (with title in the subject line) to:

Human Resources at hr@kenecoenviro.com

We thank all who apply, however only selected candidates will be contacted for interviews.

No phone calls please.