Lecture 1: Introduction

Question 1

What is a Brownfield?

Answer 1

• Often vacant, key points: previous contamination and env tresspass
• Often oil and gas
• Usually former industrial lands that are now vacant or underused …but have the potential to be redeveloped or intensified …may be contaminated due to past or present activities (e.g., closed factories, gas stations)

Question 2

Why would brownfield be an env concern?

Answer 2

• Key: env trespass
• Fields can cause concerns to env and human health due to contaminants that are in soil and groundwater

Question 3

Why redevelop brownfields?

Answer 3

• Toronto’s incentive to go up than out
• It can be to reused: -for land, urban development, or protect green spaces It improves air, water, soil quality It can be financial incentives

Question 4

When does brownfields legislation apply?

Answer 4

-

• 04 first year it was passed
• Depends on definitions in OReg 153/04 and Part XV.1 of Env Protection Act… this decides when RSC is required Generally RSC must be filed when property use from less sensitive -> more sensitive

Question 5

RSC needed? Yes/No

1. Old residential –> new condo
2. Condos already built on either side of new road
3. Community housing –> park
4. Community house –> road

Answer 5

1. No (no change in landuse)
2. Yes, only needed for new road
3. Yes (will be conveyed to city)
4. Yes

Question 6

History of OReg 153/04

Answer 6

1989- Guidelines issued for decommissioning and clean up of sites in ON 1993-Guidelines issued for assessing and managing petroleum contaminated sites in ON 1996-Guidelines issued for use at contaminated sites in ON, and continuously revised

Question 7

History: more specifically, Cleanup Guidelines of 1996

Answer 7

-Revised guidelines for when property owners are cleaning or developing contaminated sites -MOE prepared 3 accompanying docs that gave property owners and consultants detailed info on parts of guidelines (i.e.., guidelines on SAMPLING, RISK ASSESSMENT, and rational for developing soil, sees, and gwater criteria) -It WASN’T a regulation and didn’t change regulatory role of MOE, but really gave owners and consultants options when restoring a site (aka general approaches like remediation, or RA, or RSC)

Question 8

History: updates post 2000

Answer 8

2001- legislation regarding brownfields was established through Bfields Law Amendement Act 2004- OReg 153/04 RSC becomes law (it set requirements for conducting site assessments, defined QP, and their jobs) 2007-Budget Bill = reform of law, updates OReg 153/04 2009-amendments to OReg now filed as OReg 511/09 2011-all amendments came into effect July 1st

Question 9

What did amendments in OReg 511/09 include?

Answer 9

-Enhanced RSC integrity (more transparent, efficient, and new ESA requirements, including new PSI and PSII requirements) -RA streamlined process -Strengthened standards (enhanced env protection ) -Implementation and Transition to assure smooth crossover

Question 10

Definition: Env Site Assessment

Answer 10

-Investigation relation to land to determine env condition of property …includes phase I and II …purpose is to identify potential or existing env contamination

Question 11

Definition: Phase I ESA

Answer 11

• Determines if evidence of potentially contminating activities (PCA) or areas of potential env concern (APEC) exist in connection with the Site ….could be present from current or past activities on site or from neighbouring properties within Study Area -Is NOT intrusive (no sampling, air testing, soil, water, building materials)
• includes directories, addresses, fire insurance plans

Question 12

Definition: Potentially Contaminating Activities (PCA)

Answer 12

-Refers to use of activity in Column A or Table 2 of Schedule D (59 PCAs) that is occurring or has occurred in the study area

Question 13

Name 5 PCAs from Table 2, Schedule D (out of 59)

Answer 13

-Boat manufacturing -Commercial Autobody Shops -Crude Oil Refining -Cosmetics Manufacturing, Processing, and Bulk Storage -Explosives and Firing Range -Fire Training -Glass Manufacturing -Metal Fabrication -Oil Production -Operating Dry Cleaning Equipment -Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Processing -Plastics Manufacturing -Rail Yards, Trucks, and Spurs -Rubber Manufacturing -Salt Manufacturing -Textile Manufacturing -Sewage Treatment =>10,000 L per day -Soap and Detergent Manufacturing ….etc.

Question 14

Definition: Phase II ESA

Answer 14

-Determines if CoC exist as result of current or past activities on or adjacent to site within area -Is INTRUSIVE, including sampling air testing, soil, sed, surface and gdwater testing

Question 15

Definition: Contaminant

Answer 15

-S, L, G, odour, heat, sound, vibration, radiation, or combination resulting direct or indirect from human activity that causes or MAY cause adverse effect

Question 16

Definition: CoC

Answer 16

-One or more contaminants found on, in, under property with [] exceeding applicable SCS, OR -one or more contaminants found on, in under property for no applicable SCs is prescribed (under Part IX SCS and RA) and which are associated with PCA

Question 17

Types of contaminants: (8 types)

Answer 17

1. PHCs (petroleum hydrocarbons) -analyzed by fraction of hydrocarbons (F1 to F4) 2. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) -e.g., BTEX, chlorinated solvents 3. SVOCs -e.g., PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) 4. PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) 5. Inorganics(Sodium absorption ratio—for plants and EC: electrical conductivity) -e.g., pH, Chloride 6. Metals -e.g., Arsenic, zinc 7. Pesticides 8. PCDD/F (dioxin-like compounds)

Question 18

Definition: SCS

Answer 18

-lists the acceptable [CoC] measured in soil, sed, gdwater based on site characteristics and conditions (e.g., fine grained soil, industrial use) -also named “Soil, Ground Water, and Sediment Standards”, and “…Stds for use under Part XV. 1 of env protection act”

Question 19

Definition: Remediation

Answer 19

Processes include: -dig and dump -soil vapour extraction -groundwater pump and treat -MNA -bioremediation

Question 20

Definition: RA

Answer 20

Includes both human health and ecological risk assessment Tasks within RA include CSM, risk characterization, uncertainty analyses, risk perception

Question 21

Definition: RSC

Answer 21

-Summarizes env condition of property, as certified by QP at a particular date -QP has to assess property and find any [contam] meets the SCS -Property owner may also develop property-specific standards by preparing RA -Documents all ESAs conducted -Will either confirm that there is no evidence of contam on site would interfere with future property use, OR confirm contam [] is below SCS -This is required when theres a land use change or as gov requirement (e.g., building permit from municipality)

Question 22

Definition: QP

Answer 22

-Person who can conduct or supervise ESA in support of submission of RSC (doesn’t include RA)