An Information Service for Alberta’s Environment Industry The Week Ending November 28th, 2014

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Inside this Issue:

• Three BC LNG Projects Granted EA Approval

• CNRL Investigating Emulsion Release

• Lafarge Aims to Minimize Environmental Impacts

• Concerns Renewed as BC Coal Mining Pollutants Increase in Montana Watershed

• Job Board • and much more ….

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ENVIRONMENT BUSINESS 2015 - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN February 10-12, 2015

Edmonton Marriott @ River Cree Resort and Casino

ESAA is pleased to announce that registration for the Environment Business Professional Development courses (EB 2015), is now open. There is a limit of 25 registrations per course. Courses filled up quickly for EB 2014. EB 2015 will feature15 courses, including 3 new courses. February 10, 2015 - One Day Courses

• An Introduction to Environmental and Regulatory Law 2015 – 22 Spots Remaining

• Introduction to the Canadian Fisheries Act – 25 Spots Remaining • Upping Your Game in Contaminated Sites Work – 20 Spots Remaining • Risk-Based Guidelines for Contaminated Sites in Alberta – 19 Spots Remaining • Soil Chemistry for Remediating Salt-Affected Soils – 24 Spots Remaining • Waste Classification and Disposal in Alberta – 20 Spots Remaining

February 11, 2015 - One Day Courses

• Soil Chemistry for Remediating Salt-Affected Soils - 2nd Course – 23 Spots Remaining

• Waste Classification and Disposal in Alberta - 2nd Course – 23 Spots Remaining

February 11 & 12, 2015 – Two Day Courses

• An Introduction to Using Groundwater Models in Contaminated Site Assessment and Remediation Design – 25 Spots Remaining

• Introduction to Hydrogeology – 23 Spots Remaining • Contaminant Hydrogeology – 25 Spots Remaining • Air Quality Management – 22 Spots Remaining • Introduction to Soil Science – 19 Spots Remaining • Occupational Hygiene – 25 Spots Remaining • Spill Response and Low Impact Remedial Measures - Wetlands and Water

Bodies – 23 Spots Remaining Complete courses descriptions and on-line registration available at: www.environmentbusiness.ca. Sponsorship Opportunities at EB’2015 A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are also available. Full details are also available online at: http://www.environmentbusiness.ca/sponsors.htm.

Training Funding Available: Businesses in Alberta can now apply for funding under the Canada Job Grant, which can provide up to $10,000 per staff person who receives training to prepare them for a new or improved job. The Canada Job Grant aims to help Canadians gain the skills and training they need to fill available jobs in every industry sector across the country. Businesses and nonprofits of all sizes can apply to receive a grant of up to $10,000 per person for training costs, such as tuition and training materials. The training provided must not exceed one year in duration, and must be provided by an eligible third-party trainer, such as a community college, a career college, a trade union centre or a private trainer. Successful applicants will be required to contribute an average of 33% of total training costs ($5000 per employee). For full details visit : http://www.albertacanada.com/opportunity

RemTech 2015 Registration Information

RemTech 2015 Delegate Rates Will Not Rise for the 5th Consecutive Year! ESAA works hard to keep costs for delegates at a minimum. And even though our costs have increased

dramatically over the past 5 years we are hold delegate fees for the 5th consecutive year. Early Bird Registration is now open with special delegate rates available for Members and Non-Members until December 31st, 2015. Registration details available at: http://www.esaa-events.com/remtech/ Sponsorship and Exhibitor Information Available in early January 2015.

WATERTECH 2015 - CALL FOR ABSTRACTS April 20-22, 2015

Delta Lodge, Kananaskis

New Location - Same Great Conference

• Lower Delegate Conference Fee • Lower Room Rates • Free Outdoor Parking • No Park Pass Required

The 8th Annual WaterTech Symposium will be held April 20-22, 2015 at the Delta Lodge, Kananaskis. The Call for Abstract for WaterTech 2015 is available at: www.esaa-events.com/watertech/. At this time, ESAA is requesting technical abstracts focused in, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Groundwater-Surface Water Interaction/Management • Watershed Management/Planning/Modelling • Data Collection/Monitoring/Testing • Protection and Sustainable Management of Water Resources • Water Quality • Facility Operations, Industrial Issues, and Technologies • Industrial Wastewater Treatment • Produced Water Management • Deep Well Injection • Integrated Research • Regulatory Issues • Saline vs. Non-Saline Issues • Coal-bed Methane Development • Hydraulic Fracturing Issues • Oilsands Water Usage

• Oilsands Groundwater Contamination and Management

New for 2015: In addition, ESAA is requesting presentations in the following areas that will form part of special streams at WaterTech 2015:

• Emerging Contaminants • Oilsands Water Usage • Pipeline Safety and Spill Response

Deadline to submit an abstract is December 26th, 2014. Complete details available at: http://www.esaa-events.com/watertech/. Early Bird Registration is now open with special delegate rates available for Members and Non-Members until January 15th, 2015. Registration details available at: http://www.esaa-events.com/watertech/ Hotel Accommodations start as low as $162 per night. Full details on the conference website.

THREE BC LNG PROJECTS GRANTED

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT APPROVAL VICTORIA - Environment Minister Mary Polak and Natural Gas Development Minister Rich Coleman have issued Environmental Assessment Certificates for three liquefied natural gas projects in northern B.C. - the Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission pipeline, the Pacific NorthWest LNG export facility in Prince Rupert and the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline.

The decisions were made after considering reviews led by British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Office. There are conditions included in each of the Environmental Assessment Certificates and design restrictions are specified in the Certified Project Descriptions. The conditions and the Certified Project Descriptions are legally-binding requirements that the companies must meet to be in compliance with their certificates.

To prevent or minimize adverse effects from the projects, each company proposed a number of significant route or design changes during the environmental assessment, based on feedback received during the process.

Each project will require various federal, provincial and local government permits to proceed. The Pacific NorthWest LNG export facility is also the subject of a federal environmental assessment. The majority of provincial permits are provided through the BC Oil & Gas Commission, the primary operational regulator of oil and gas activities in BC. The Environmental Assessment Office will co-ordinate compliance management efforts with other government agencies to ensure that the office is satisfied that certificate conditions are met.

The Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission pipeline involves the construction and operation of up to two 860-kilometre natural gas pipelines from the Cypress Area in northeast BC (100 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John) to a new LNG terminal being proposed at Ridley Island near Prince Rupert. The estimated capital cost is $7.5 billion. Construction would generate 13,400 person-years of direct employment in B.C. During the 50 years of operations, 120 full-time jobs would be created.

The Pacific NorthWest LNG export facility involves the construction and operation of an LNG export facility located on Lelu Island and adjacent water lots in the Port of Prince Rupert. The estimated capital cost is $11.4 billion. Construction would generate 8,000 person-years of direct employment in B.C. During the 30 years of operations, 650 full-time jobs would be created.

The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline involves the construction and operation of a 900-kilometre natural gas pipeline from near the District of Hudson’s Hope in northeastern B.C. to the Pacific NorthWest LNG export facility. The estimated capital cost is $5 billion. Construction would generate 8,250 person-years of direct employment in B.C. During the 40 years of operations, 23 full-time jobs would be created.

British Columbia’s environmental assessment process involves a rigorous, thorough review that provides for significant opportunities for Aboriginal groups, government agencies and the public to provide input on the potential for environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects from a proposed project.

More information on the environmental assessments of the three projects can be found on the Environmental Assessment Office website at: www.eao.gov.bc.ca/LNG_Certificates.html

CNRL INVESTIGATING EMULSION RELEASE

(Source: Fort McMurray Today) CNRL is investigating the cause of a release of an unspecified amount of emulsion into a slough at an injection well near Lloydminister.

According to the Alberta Energy Regulator, the energy company notified them at 9:46 a.m. that an emulsion release had been detected in a large slough four kilometres southwest of Staplehurst, Alta., which is just outside Lloydminister.

"The company is still working on conducting a spill assessment and conducting their remediation response, and we are working with the company to ensure that both that spill assessment and remediation is conducted appropriately and within AER requirements," said Ryan Bartlett, public affairs advisor for the AER.

AER incident reports indicate that the company determined the release had come from their injection well and entered the slough, which it said was one km by 100 m in size. The report says the company stopped the release and is attempting to recover free fluids, and has not reported impacts on wildlife.

"Our clean-up and remedial activities are well underway to ensure we mitigate and manage the environmental impacts of the release," CNRL spokesperson Julie Woo said in an email. "We are currently investigating the cause."

Woo said no volume estimate has been released, as the mitigation work is ongoing.

According to Bartlett, the emulsion contained produced water and oil.

"(Emulsion) is a combination of produced water —which is typically saline water, because it's from well below the base of groundwater protection— and oil," he said. "So it's a combination of the two."

Greenpeace Canada spokesperson Mike Hudema said information was hard to come by on the incident.

"We don't know too much about the incident directly, and so it's hard for me to comment on the exact impact of the emulsion," he said, while noting CNRL's safety record, which includes bitumen surface leaks at its Primrose site in Cold Lake.

Bartlett said the AER's role is to inspect the facility and supervise cleanup after an incident.

"In a situation like this, we inspect the facility and ensure that the company is remediating the spill properly, made sure that they've delineated the spill area and make sure that they clean it all up per our regulations," he said. "We also, if we determine that release was caused because they weren't following our requirements, we'll also issue enforcement against them."

The incident is now listed as "over" on the AER website, and mitigation work continues.

WORLD-CLASS LAB AT U OF A TO INVESTIGATE UNCONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBONS

(Source: Edmonton Journal) Cutting-edge research into new ways of recovering bitumen, coal bed methane, shale gas and other unconventional hydrocarbons is the focus of a $15-million collaboration between the University of Alberta, government and industry.

Rick Chalaturnyk, a U of A professor of geotechnical engineering, was named Tuesday as the inaugural holder of the Foundation CMG Endowed Chair in Reservoir Geomechanics.

The research chair is an integral component of a new research program aimed at developing hydrocarbon recovery technologies that are economically, environmentally and socially sustainable, said David Lynch, the U of A’s dean of engineering. Pulling together the program’s components took seven years.

“This is, as we would all recognize, an incredibly important area of research for the development of Alberta and beyond,” Lynch said at the announcement.

“This is a worldwide phenomena and the importance of it cannot be understated in terms of the safe and responsible development of our resources.”

Chalaturnyk and his team of 39 researchers and technical staff are investigating the properties and behaviours of oilsands, caprock and other materials during the process of recovering unconventional oil and gas from deposits deep underground.

“At the heart of it, it really is about conducting some complex, high-temperature, high-pressure testing on all these classes of materials — oilsands, shales, carbonates — to improve our understanding of how these behave,” said Chalaturnyk, who is internationally recognized for his expertise.

His world-class laboratory — the Geomechanical Reservoir Experimental Facility — includes Western Canada’s only beam centrifuge, a high-temperature/pressure testing facility, and a 3-D printer that can create uniform rock samples from sand.

The beam centrifuge can spin a 500-kilogram payload at 280 revolutions per minute, simulating high-pressure conditions under which caprock can fail.

Two incidents in Alberta’s oilpatch highlight the need for the research focus, Chalaturnyk said during a tour of the lab.

In 2006, an explosive release of steam at Total E & P Canada’s Joslyn Creek steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) project north of Fort McMurray caused a surface disturbance about 125 metres by 75 metres.

Rocks flew hundreds of metres from a crater caused when the steam shot up. An investigation showed that a breach in the rock above the bitumen layer was caused by the company using steam pressure above approved levels.

The second event was in 2013, when CNRL reported four incidents of bitumen flowing to the surface at its Primrose East and South locations northwest of Cold Lake. About 1.2 million litres of bitumen emulsion was recovered from a 21-hectare area. The Alberta Energy Regulator said the incidents were likely caused by CNRL’s steaming strategy and potential well bore issues.

About 60 per cent of the program’s research is related to these types of events, Chalaturnyk said.

Funding partners include Athabasca Oil, BP Canada Energy, Brion Energy, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Cenovus, ConocoPhillips, Foundation CMG, Nexen, Shell Canada, Statoil Canada and Suncor Energy.

Government funding is from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Alberta Innovates — Technology Futures, and Alberta Innovates — Energy and Environment Solutions.

Calgary-based Foundation CMG, which funds research into oil and gas reservoir modelling, gave Chalaturnyk bridge funding in 2010 to get the program started.

“Today is a fun day,” Foundation CMG president Duke Anderson said. “I’m thrilled this day has finally arrived.”

LAFARGE AIMS TO MINIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

(Source: Rocky Mountain Outlook) The Exshaw Lafarge cement plant shared its updated environmental plan on Nov. 19 during a community open house.

In the Exshaw School gym, interested members of the public asked questions and learned about Lafarge’s updated fugitive dust management plan, the plant’s expansion project and alternative fuels proposal.

With the expansion underway, Lafarge says sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions are expected to decrease by about 40 per cent. Carbon dioxide will drop about 15 per cent and kiln particulates will be reduced by almost half.

The expansion has seen a massive increase in construction on site with about 450 contractors at the facility.

Lafarge is working towards minimizing fugitive dust issues within the Bow Valley of the MD of Bighorn where the majority of the dust congregates, by implementing their Fugitive Dust Control Best Management Practice Program (FDC – CMPP).

Measures include fugitive dust limiting equipment such as water and sweeper trucks to help keep dust subdued, and improvements to manage the dust through “daily plant performance meetings” for assessments and GPS tracking to locate the routes and operating hours.

Bighorn Reeve Dene Cooper said the area is naturally dusty and with a dusty industry there he needs a conjoined effort towards reducing dust.

“We have every reason to work with as much energy as possible and technology to maintain the situation and we will never get it to where some other communities are at, but we can manage it to a better place,” Cooper said.

Lafarge is currently examining the possibility of swapping 20 per cent of its fossil fuels with alternative fuels, known as Processed Engineered Fuel (PEF). The three-component PEF incorporates wood waste, non-chlorinated plastics and asphalt singles and the replacement compares to approximately 30 to 40,000 tonnes per year. The fuel would not be stored on site, but be brought in as required.

By 2020 the plant could increase the proportion of alternative fuels in its energy mix to 50 per cent compared to 12.7 per cent today, said Michelle Gurney, spokesperson at Lafarge.

“We look at it as a positive thing because it is eliminating something that would normally go to a landfill,” said Gurney.

To initiate the use of alternative fuels, Lafarge would have to build an unloading transfer system and firing system to burn the fuel, with the anticipation it would take approximately eight months to construct and be operational within a year of application approval from the Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.

Cooper said alternative fuels can only be allowed if they can be demonstrated to be successfully managed from a human health perspective.

Anna Randell, vice-president of the Exshaw Community Association, reiterated concerns about the alternative fuels if burned improperly. Randell attended the open house and is skeptical and says she’s not alone.

“I think it’s one of those things with Lafarge in that when I see it, I’ll actually believe it. We’ve been told that many times in the past and nothing is ever done,” Randell said.

MANITOBA ANNOUNCES HISTORIC WETLAND CONSERVATION DONATION

(Source: Water Canada) The municipalities of Lakeview and Westbourne on the shore of Lake Manitoba have donated thousands of acres of wetland for conservation. The Big Grass Marsh wetland is about five times larger than Birds Hill Park and is the largest conservation donation in the history of the province, as well as the largest conservation agreement of its kind in Canada.

“This is the kind of forward-thinking, responsible habitat management that ensures the protection of an iconic wetland that provides flood control, water quality enhancement, protection from drainage, carbon storage, and wildlife habitat,” said Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh. “This region is historic and was actually the first wetland project tackled by Ducks Unlimited more than 75 years ago.”

The donation agreement signed by the two municipalities and the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation will ensure permanent protection of 45,000 acres of wetland and aspen parklands. Protection will help reduce the amount of phosphorous in water heading to Lake Manitoba by about 40 tonnes per year and will ensure the wetland continues to store about three million tonnes of organic carbon.

The area will still be open to hunting and trapping.

“This internationally recognized wetland has exceptional biological diversity and watershed values,” said Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation chair John Whitaker. “The corporation is honoured to accept these donations on behalf of all Manitobans.”

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INTRODUCES REGULATIONS TO PREVENT MERCURY

RELEASES TO THE ENVIRONMENT The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, announced today that the Government of Canada is moving forward with new regulations to protect the environment and safeguard human health by limiting the amount of mercury-containing products in the Canadian marketplace.

The Products Containing Mercury Regulations were published on November 19, 2014. They are the first of their kind in Canada and prohibit the manufacture and importation of most mercury-containing products.

By taking these actions, the Government of Canada is helping to prevent releases of mercury to the environment, which is harmful to human health and to wildlife as it moves up the food chain. Canada has a particular interest in seeing reductions in mercury as many Canadians enjoy wild game as part of their diet. This is important for Canada’s North as food from wildlife is a dietary mainstay for people in the Arctic.

These regulations will introduce new limits on the amount of mercury allowed in different types of mercury-containing products to be manufactured and imported. New labelling requirements will also be introduced to inform consumers about the presence of mercury, as well as safe handling procedures and options available for the end-of-life management of these products.

This domestic action builds on Canada’s international leadership and commitments to reduce mercury. Given the vast majority of mercury pollution in Canada arrives from foreign sources, in 2013 Canada signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which calls for tough measures to reduce emissions of mercury and mercury compounds into the atmosphere.

Quick Facts • Canada has reduced its own mercury emissions by more than 90% in the last 40 years. • More than 95% of atmospheric mercury deposition in Canada comes from foreign sources. • The regulations will eliminate about two tonnes of mercury used in products from the Canadian

marketplace, on average, each year from 2015 to 2032. • Over the same time period, these regulations will reduce environmental mercury releases to air by about

4,100 kilograms. • Mercury in a typical fever thermometer could contaminate the equivalent of five Olympic-sized swimming

pools beyond limits for the protection of aquatic life. Related Products

• Chairs conclusions from the Arctic Environment Ministers meeting • Proposed Elements for a Code of Practice for the Environmentally Sound Management of End-of-life

Mercury-containing Lamps and Targeted Guidance for the North

OIL SANDS PRODUCERS PROMISE STEPS TO CUT POLLUTION

(Source: Reuters) CALGARY, Alberta Nov 25 (Reuters) - Canada's largest oil sands producers on Tuesday pledged to make their crude less polluting than conventional oil by cutting water use and lowering energy consumption, as environmental protesters move to block new pipelines to ship the product abroad.

Speaking at a meeting held by the Canadian Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), an industry group that shares environmental technology among its 13 members, Suncor Energy Inc Chief Executive Steve Williams said his company alone has spent nearly C$2 billion ($1.8 billion) on technologies to reduce toxic tailings.

The COSIA members said they expect to cut water use in half, to 0.2 barrels of water per barrel of crude produced, by 2022. That comes as the companies, which produce tar-like bitumen from the oil sands, expect to raise output to 3.2 million bpd by 2020 from about 2 million barrels per day.

The growth comes even as protesters seek to block the pipelines projects. Keystone XL has waited six years for U.S. approval, and Canadian police have in the past week arrested roughly 80 people in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby as environmental activists and local residents protest against Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' planned expansion of its Trans Mountain pipeline.

Williams said that the industry could do little to win over many of its opponents, whom he characterized as a small segment of the population concerned primarily with climate change.

"There's nothing we can actually do to gain their support. The issue is not per se the pipeline in Burnaby and not per se the oil sands, it's about (other) issues," Williams said. "The whole of the oil sands (greenhouse gas) impact is one-tenth of 1 percent. We could shut the whole industry down tomorrow and it will not be impactful on global greenhouse-gas emissions."

CONCERNS RENEWED AS B.C. COAL MINING POLLUTANTS INCREASE IN MONTANA WATERSHED

(Source: Flathead Beacon) With renewed plans to expand coal-mining operations in southeastern British Columbia’s Elk River drainage, located upstream from one of Montana’s world-class transboundary watersheds, researchers and government agencies are intensifying scrutiny on environmental hazards spanning the border.

The concerns center on increasing amounts of coal waste byproducts leaching into the heavily mined Elk River and its many tributaries, which drain into two bodies of water shared by B.C. and Montana – Lake Koocanusa and the Kootenai River – both of which are showing increased levels of mining contaminants like selenium in the muscle tissue of fish species.

There are currently five coal mines in the Elk River Valley that are causing toxic pollution, all of which have launched expansion proposals that are in the exploration, permitting or development stage. Operated by Teck Coal Limited, the world’s second-largest exporter of metallurgical coal, the mines produce approximately 70 percent of Canada’s total annual coal exports, and directly employ more than 4,500 full-time workers.

“The plans for expansion (at one mine) are equivalent to a new mine footprint,” said Erin Sexton, a research scientist at the Flathead Lake Biological Station of the University of Montana tracking the issue, while articulating the concerns to members of the Flathead Basin Commission last week. “This is concerning, particularly as we continue to see alarming data with respect to elevated levels of contaminants from the existing mines.”

In 2013, the B.C. government ordered Teck Coal to address the issue of contaminants in the Elk River drainage, resulting in the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan and Technical Advisory Committee. The committee was comprised of leading scientists from provincial, state and both Canadian and U.S. federal governments, along with Teck’s staff and contractors. Representatives of the Ktunaxa Nation were also at the forefront of the committee, and the plan is under review by the provincial government.

All five Teck mines are open-pit, truck and shovel mines. As part of the water quality plan, Teck opened the first of six water treatment plants, a $120 million treatment plant called the West Line Creek Water Treatment Facility, to remove a metal-like element called selenium and other contaminants from Line Creek.

However, the facility was taken off line last month because of a fish kill downstream from the plant. The cause of the fish kill is still unknown, but may have to do with increased oxygenation in the water. The plant is the first facility opened as part of a $600 million, five-year plan to address the pollution threat to westslope cutthroat trout and other aquatic life in the Elk Valley, and its closure illustrates the challenges of such a large-scale cleanup.

“The Elk River is shot at this point. Its story has been told and it’s now a matter of remediation,” Sexton said, adding that contaminants are causing spinal deformities in westslope cutthroat trout in the Elk River and adversely impacting reproduction. “We need to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen downstream in Montana.”

What remains unknown, due in large part to a dearth of science-based research in Lake Koocanusa, are the consequences of mining byproducts to the aquatic health of Montana’s transboundary watershed and its residents.

Eric Urban, of the Department of Environmental Quality, said levels of pollution in the Elk River and its tributaries far exceed those in Lake Koocanusa; while it’s apparent that Lake Koocanusa is showing increased levels of contaminants, like selenium, nitrate, cadmium, and sulfate, it’s unclear whether the pollutants are resulting in consequences harmful to fish reproduction or human consumption.

“We’ve got a well-known increase in selenium loading in Lake Koocanusa, and I would say that all parties involved agree that action needs to be taken, including Teck,” Urban said. “We do not know at this time if there is harm

occurring in Lake Koocanusa. We are working with Canada to assess the impacts. That is where Montana’s interest lies. But the Elk River Valley is a whole different animal.”

Sexton said muscle-tissue samples collected between 2008 and 2013 from all seven species of fish present in Lake Koocanusa show increasing trends in elevated selenium levels.

“Every single fish species showed increases of selenium in their muscle tissue,” she said.

Clint Muhlfeld, an aquatic ecologist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Glacier National Park field office, painted a grim picture of the watershed’s future without swift recourse, saying the transboundary Kootenai River Basin contains critical habitat for the endangered bull trout, the westslope cutthroat and the endangered white sturgeon below Libby Dam.

“There are several indicators that the Elk River is nearing or has already exceeded a critical tipping point. Selenium is a ticking time bomb, and its effects are being realized all the way down the transboundary river system and into Lake Koocanusa,” Muhlfeld said. “This is an ecological catastrophe that is occurring, and it is not just isolated to the Elk. It is clearly impacting the entire system from the top down and it’s only going to get worse. It’s by far the biggest ecological threat facing the Northern Rocky Mountain ecosystem and the Crown of the Continent.”

Muhlfeld called for funding of a broad-based, comprehensive assessment of the deleterious effects selenium poses to fish species in the transboundary watershed.

But Julie DalSoglio of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Montana office said the most glaring issue she saw with the Technical Advisory Committee’s draft Elk Valley Water Quality Plan, expected to be approved this month, was the omission of Lake Koocanusa from its purview.

“Their modeling did not include the Koocanusa Reservoir, and that was unfortunate because that was the biggest reason that we were at the table,” she said. “We’d like to focus broader research efforts there.”

Also underway is an Area Based Management Plan for a water discharge permit under the Environmental Management Act (EMA), currently being negotiated between Montana and B.C. to regulate the effects of mining activities on shared transboundary resources like Lake Koocanusa.

In a Nov. 14 letter from DEQ Director Tracy Stone-Manning to B.C.’s Minister of Environment Mary Polak, Stone-Manning articulated the DEQ’s concern over the draft permit, particularly with regard to incomplete science detailing selenium impacts in Lake Koocanusa.

“We feel the permit could be more protective without unduly impacting the development of the valley’s important coal resources,” the letter states.

The letter also expresses concern over the draft management plan’s reliance on new treatment technology, like the facility at Line Creek.

In 2012, the Montana DEQ included Lake Koocanusa on its list of impaired waters due to the impacts of upstream coal mining. American Rivers, a nationwide conservation group, named the Kootenai one of the most endangered rivers in the U.S. due to the ongoing contamination. A conservation group in Canada, British Columbia’s Outdoor Recreation Council, announced a similar declaration for the Elk River, naming it one of the country’s three most endangered rivers.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Ktunaxa Nation and the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho have urged government agencies to refer the matter of impaired water quality in the Elk and Kootenai river basins to the International Joint Commission. However, formally triggering action by the IJC requires a joint referral between the United States and Canada, and so far the Canadian government has not entertained the notion.

“It’s politics, pure and simple,” said DalSoglio of the EPA.

Urban, of the DEQ, said Teck has been cooperative every step of the way, and the company did not shy away from cost estimates that peg the price tag for long-term mitigation of the Elk River at $2 billion.

“They don’t seem to be too frightened by that figure,” he said. Urban also explained that the water treatment technology Teck is employing has never been used on such a large scale, and early challenges are not surprising.

He echoed the need for additional science on the transboundary watershed.

“The reservoir doesn’t recognize political boundaries, and the best way to address the state of Montana’s concerns is through continued communication with the B.C. government and continuing to push for sound science in Lake Koocanusa,” he said. “Right now, we are not terrified. We have the opportunity to turn this freight train around for Montana.”

THE DOWNSIDE OF THE NORTH DAKOTA BOOM

(Source: New York Times) WILLISTON, N.D. — In early August 2013, Arlene Skurupey of Blacksburg, Va., got an animated call from the normally taciturn farmer who rents her family land in Billings County, N.D. There had been an accident at the Skurupey 1-9H oil well. “Oh, my gosh, the gold is blowing,” she said he told her. “Bakken gold.”

It was the 11th blowout since 2006 at a North Dakota well operated by Continental Resources, the most prolific producer in the booming Bakken oil patch. Spewing some 173,250 gallons of potential pollutants, the eruption, undisclosed at the time, was serious enough to bring the Oklahoma-based company’s chairman and chief executive, Harold G. Hamm, to the remote scene.

It was not the first or most catastrophic blowout visited by Mr. Hamm, a sharecropper’s son who became the wealthiest oilman in America and energy adviser to Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential campaign. Two years earlier, a towering derrick in Golden Valley County had erupted into flames and toppled, leaving three workers badly burned. “I was a human torch,” said the driller, Andrew J. Rohr.

Blowouts represent the riskiest failure in the oil business. Yet, despite these serious injuries and some 115,000 gallons spilled in those first 10 blowouts, the North Dakota Industrial Commission, which regulates the drilling and production of oil and gas, did not penalize Continental until the 11th.

In 2011, Andrew J. Rohr and two other workers were badly burned when a towering derrick erupted into flames and toppled. “I was a human torch,” Mr. Rohr said.

The commission — the governor, attorney general and agriculture commissioner — imposed a $75,000 penalty. Earlier this year, though, the commission, as it often does, suspended 90 percent of the fine, settling for $7,500 after Continental blamed “an irresponsible supervisor” — just as it had blamed Mr. Rohr and his crew, contract workers, for the blowout that left them traumatized.

Since 2006, when advances in hydraulic fracturing — fracking — and horizontal drilling began unlocking a trove of sweet crude oil in the Bakken shale formation, North Dakota has shed its identity as an agricultural state in decline to become an oil powerhouse second only to Texas. A small state that believes in small government, it took on the oversight of a multibillion-dollar industry with a slender regulatory system built on neighborly trust, verbal warnings and second chances.

In recent years, as the boom really exploded, the number of reported spills, leaks, fires and blowouts has soared, with an increase in spillage that outpaces the increase in oil production, an investigation by The New York Times found. Yet, even as the state has hired more oil field inspectors and imposed new regulations, forgiveness remains embedded in the Industrial Commission’s approach to an industry that has given North Dakota the fastest-growing economy and lowest jobless rate in the country.

For those who champion fossil fuels as the key to America’s energy independence, North Dakota is an unrivaled success, a place where fracking has provoked little of the divisive environmental debate that takes place elsewhere. Its state leaders rarely mention the underside of the boom and do not release even summary statistics about environmental incidents and enforcement measures.

Over the past nine months, using previously undisclosed and unanalyzed records, bolstered by scores of interviews in North Dakota, The Times has pieced together a detailed accounting of the industry’s environmental record and the state’s approach to managing the “carbon rush.”

The Times found that the Industrial Commission wields its power to penalize the industry only as a last resort. It rarely pursues formal complaints and typically settles those for about 10 percent of the assessed penalties. Since 2006, the commission has collected an estimated $1.1 million in fines. This is a pittance compared with the $33 million (including some reimbursements for cleanups) collected by Texas’ equivalent authority over roughly the same period, when Texas produced four times the oil.

“We’re spoiling the child by sparing the rod,” said Daryl Peterson, a farmer who has filed a complaint seeking to compel the state to punish oil companies for spills that contaminated his land. “We should be using the sword, not the feather.”

North Dakota’s oil and gas regulatory setup is highly unusual in that it puts three top elected officials directly in charge of an industry that, through its executives and political action committees, can and does contribute to the officials’ campaigns. Mr. Hamm and other Continental officials, for instance, have contributed $39,900 to the commissioners since 2010. John B. Hess, chief executive of Hess Oil, the state’s second-biggest oil producer, contributed $25,000 to Gov. Jack Dalrymple in 2012.

State regulators say they deliberately choose a collaborative rather than punitive approach because they view the large independent companies that dominate the Bakken as responsible and as their necessary allies in policing the oil fields. They prefer to work alongside industry to develop new guidelines or regulations when problems like overflowing waste, radioactive waste, leaking pipelines, and flaring gas become too glaring to ignore.

Mr. Dalrymple’s office said in a statement: “The North Dakota Industrial Commission has adopted some of the most stringent oil and gas production regulations in the country to enhance protections for our water, air and land. At the same time, the state has significantly increased staffing to enforce environmental protections. Our track record is one of increased regulation and oversight.”

Researchers who study government enforcement generally conclude that “the cooperative approach doesn’t seem to generate results” while “the evidence shows that increased monitoring and increased enforcement will reduce the incidence of oil spills,” said Mark A. Cohen, a Vanderbilt University professor who led a team advising the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.

With spills steadily rising in North Dakota, evidence gathered by The Times suggests that the cooperative approach is not working that well for the state, where the Industrial Commission shares industry oversight with the state’s Health Department and federal agencies.

One environmental incident for every 11 wells in 2006, for instance, became one for every six last year, The Times found. Through early October of this year, companies reported 3.8 million gallons spilled, nearly as much as in 2011 and 2012 combined.

Over all, more than 18.4 million gallons of oils and chemicals spilled, leaked or misted into the air, soil and waters of North Dakota from 2006 through early October 2014. (In addition, the oil industry reported spilling 5.2 million gallons of nontoxic substances, mostly fresh water, which can alter the environment and carry contaminants.)

The spill numbers derive from estimates, and sometimes serious underestimates, reported to the state by the industry. State officials, who rarely discuss them publicly, sometimes use them to present a rosier image. Over the summer, speaking to farmers in the town of Antler, Lynn D. Helms, the director of the Department of Mineral Resources, announced “a little bit of good news”: The spill rate per well was “steady or down.” In fact, the rate has risen sharply since the early days of the boom.

Presented with The Times’s data analysis, and asked if the state was doing an effective job at preventing spills, Mr. Helms struck a more sober note. “We’re doing O.K.,” he said. “We’re not doing great.”

He noted it is a federal agency, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, that regulates oil transmission pipelines. “You can’t use the spills P.H.M.S.A. was responsible for and conclude my approach to regulation is not working,” he said.

For the full article, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/11/23/us/north-dakota-oil-boom-downside.html?_r=1

New ESAA Member

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

Gulo Environmental (1824053 Alberta Limited)

33 Woodstock Drive Sherwood Park, AB T8A 4C4

Phone: (780) 977-6720

Jason Richl e-mail: jrichl@yahoo.com

LuceVerde Inc #42, 5400 Dalhousie Drive NW

Calgary, AB T3A 2B4 Phone: (403) 466-7802

Web: www.luceverdeinc.com

Evelyne Nyairo, President e-mail: evelyne.nyairo@luceverdeinc.com

Profile: LuceVerde Inc is a leading international provider of environmental, permitting, compliance and stakeholder engagement services to the Oil & Gas industries, tailored towards private sector companies globally.The LuceVerde team consists of senior managers with extensive environmental management and strategic planning experience as well as mitigation development and audit know-how in the energy industry. Headquartered in Calgary, we also have offices in Nigeria and Kenya.

Upcoming Events

"Academy Awards® recognize good acting. Emerald Awards recognize great actions."

Welcome to the 24th Annual Emerald Awards, celebrating environmental achievements in all our province. Nominate yourself or someone you know today!

Click Here to Enter

Important Dates: Nominations Close: Friday, February 20, 2015 Finalists Announced: Friday, March 27, 2015 Emerald Awards Event: Thursday, June 4, 2015

2015 ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICAL SEMINARS POLICY, ADVANCES AND INNOVATIONS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR

HOT BREAKFAST | NETWORKING BREAKS | LUNCH INCLUDED

January 30th, 2015 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Calgary - Fairmont Palliser

February 5th, 2015 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Edmonton - Fairmont MacDonald

March 20th, 2015 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Grande Prairie - ENTREC Center

OBJECTIVE AGAT Laboratories' 2015 Environmental Technical Seminars on Policy, Advances and Innovations in the Environmental Sector offer the opportunity for industry professionals to join together to learn and discuss relevant topics in the Environmental Sector. Additionally, it will provide them with the opportunity to present their unique challenges and questions to our industry leaders from a variety of backgrounds such as governmental, laboratory, energy and environmental consulting professions. WHO SHOULD ATTEND This event is highly recommended for all industry professionals who have an interest in environmental technologies and regulations. This includes environmental managers, environmental consulting firms, property developers, governmental/regulatory bodies, engineering firms and more.

SEMINAR TOPICS

• Aquatic Monitoring Requirements in response to Releases to Waterbodies

Chris Teichreb, M.Sc., P.Biol, Alberta Energy Regulator • Smart-Monitoring to Address Water Resource Risks from UCOG Development

Jon Fennell, M.Sc., Ph.D., P.Geo., Vice President of Geosciences and Water Security, Integrated Sustainability Consultants Ltd.

• Application of the New ESRD Green Zone Subsoil Hydrocarbon Guidelines Miles Tindal, Principal, Millenium (Calgary only)

• 10 Questions to ask about your Remediation System Lynda Smithard, P.Eng, Vice President Engineering, McCue Engineering Contractors (Edmonton and Grande Prairie only)

• From Oil & Gas to Trees & Grass: Is Abandonment and Reclamation Environmental Work? Robert Boyce, C.Tech., Leader, Asset Retirement, Devon Energy

• Environmental Site Assessments: What Exactly Did You Just Buy and What Does It Mean? Mark Lehar, P.Geo., Senior Environmental Geologist/Regional Environmental Lead, Clifton Associates Ltd.

• A Review of Soil Sampling Methodologies for Volatile Organic Compounds Tyler Prediger, M.Sc., P.Ag., Environmental Scientist, Matrix Solutions Inc. and Caleb Bromba, B.Sc., PhD., P.Chem., Environmental Scientist, Matrix Solutions Inc.

• Vessel and Line Decontamination for End-of-Life Facilities Paul Hammond, B.Sc., Decommissioning Project Manager, Husky Energy

• Water Security for Energy Projects Jon Fennell, M.Sc., Ph.D., P.Geo., Vice President, Geosciences & Water Security, Integrated Sustainability Consultants Ltd.

• Pyrogenic Versus Petrogenic Determination Through the Use of Diagnostic PAH Ratios Gordon Nelson, B.Sc., Executive Vice President of Environmental, AGAT Laboratories Ltd.

• Remediation Certificate Refresher & Contaminated Sites Policy Framework Overview Brian Lambert, M.Sc., P.Ag., Reclamation & Remediation Policy Specialist, Alberta Environment & Sustainable Resources Development

REGISTRATION Registration to each of AGAT Laboratories' 2015 Environmental Technical Seminars includes a full day Delegate pass to all talks, hot breakfast, coffee breaks and lunch. Due to limited seating, registration will be made on a first come basis. Registration deadline is January 10th, 2015, and the Delegate Pass is $155.00 (includes GST) per location. Click here to register on-line.

EVENT CONTACT Please contact Debbi Scott at AGAT Laboratories for all inquiries and any special dietary requirements at: Email: dscott@agatlabs.com Direct: 403.736.2058

Get informed. Get inspired. Green Jobs Forum - Calgary

What do a sustainability Sherpa, a zero waste expert and an environment health and safety leader have in common? They’re all speakers at Calgary’s first-ever Green Jobs Forum on December 3rd.

The Green Jobs Forum will highlight opportunities and dispel myths about the green economy for those exploring the industry, entering the workforce, or advancing their careers.

Over 100 business leaders will represent a number of industry sectors at the forum. Sustainability Sherpa, Rob Sinclair, founder of Conscious Brands, will be speaking about Exploring the Value of the New Economy, Christopher Dunlap, co-founder of DIG (Do it Green), an events management company specializing in sustainability and zero waste, will speak about Clean Capitalism and Social Entrepreneurship, and Amberly Dooley, EHS Leader – Environment at Devon Canada Corporation will speak about Resource Management Challenges for the 21st Century.

We appreciate you sharing the following announcement with your memberships and on social media as appropriate @GreenJobsForum #YYCGreenJobs. We’re on Facebook and LinkedIn too!

If you have any publications that require more of an editorial comment, I’m happy to put you in touch with Michael Kerford, President and CEO of ECO Canada who can fill you in on all the details about jobs in the green economy.

CHOOSE YOUR SPEAKER SESSIONS NOW »

Admission is free

Air & Waste Management Association - Canadian Prairie and Northern Section

EDMONTON LUNCHEON ANNOUNCEMENT

Friday, December 5, 2014

Topic: Shell Quest Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About the Presentation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Quest CCS Project, which is currently under construction, will capture and store more than one million tonnes of CO2 per year from the Scotford Upgrader. Quest will capture up to 35% of the direct CO2 emissions produced during the upgrading process. The CO2 will be transported by a 60-km underground pipeline to three injection wells located north of the Upgrader in Thorhild County. This presentation will provide the following:

• General description of the QUEST CCS project and its impact on CO2 emissions from the Scotford

Upgrader • Process description and update on the facility , pipeline and wells construction progress • Description of the storage site and containment aspects • Summary of the measurement, monitoring and verification program and provide some baseline monitoring

results • Timeline to start of injection of CO2.

Presenter: Mr. Sean McFadden, P.Eng., Quest Project Sequestration Manager Mr. McFadden is a Petroleum Engineer and Development Planner with Shell Canada Energy. He has worked on oil and gas field development with Shell for 35 years in numerous locations across the globe including Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, USA and Canada . He has been involved with the technical management of the storage aspects of Shell‘s CCS projects for the past 8 years both in the USA and Canada. Sean has a degree in Physics from University College Dublin (Ireland). Sean's pastimes are biking, competitive waterskiing and since coming to Canada – the other kind of skiing! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Notice~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To speed up registration, we asked that attendees sign up online, in advance, at the following link: http://cpans.org/events/ Advance registration is quick and easy. Payments will be processed with a credit card through PayPal and receipts are printable right away. Note, only cash or cheque will be accepted at the door this season. No credit cards will be accepted at the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About the Luncheon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The luncheon is scheduled for Friday, December 5, 2014. The luncheon will be a short reception followed by a buffet lunch. I am accepting reservations from now until noon, Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 12 noon. Please note that we reserve the right to invoice you if you registered, but did not cancel your registration prior to this date. Location: The University of Alberta Faculty Club (11435, Saskatchewan Drive), Papaschase Room (upstairs, right) Date: Friday, December 5, 2014 Time: 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. (registration starts at 11:30) Cost: $30 - A&WMA Members / $40 - Non-Members / $15 – Students (includes hot lunch & coffee). All prices include GST. Payment: Online through PayPal or during the day of the luncheon through cash or cheque. Contact e-mail - edmontonluncheon@cpans.org if you like to attend the event. The U of A campus is accessible by light rail transit and bus, a map of the campus is available at: http://www.campusmap.ualberta.ca/. I encourage you to use public transit or ride-share. Parking is available in the V-Lot (coin and credit card, $2 for the lunch hour) and Windsor ($1 for 15 minutes).

VANCOUVER 2015

Speakers & Topics Announcement! We are proud to announce the speaker line up for

SMART Remediation in Vancouver on January 27, 2015.

• Case Study: Cost Recovery under the Environmental Management Act J.I. Properties Inc.

v. PPG Architectural Coatings Canada Inc. Una Radoja, Harper Grey LLP

• Comparison of In Situ Chemical Reduction to Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination to Treat

Chlorinated Ethenes Dan Leigh, PeroxyChem Environmental Solutions • FCM Award Winning Case Study: Arsenic Groundwater Remediation Using a Zero Valent Iron (ZVI)

Permeable Reactive Barrier (PRB) and ZVI Injection Jeff Burke, Milestone • Slow Release Persulfate and MultiOx™ Cylinders for Passive, Long-term Treatment of Petroleum

Hydrocarbon Contaminated Sites Jean Pare, Chemco Inc. • High Resolution Characterizationof PHCs and VOCs using Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) and

the Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) Bruce Tunnicliffe, Vertex Environmental Inc. • Low Temperature Thermal Desorption for Remediation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soil - Garry

Ogletree, Nelson Environmental Remediation

Registration is Now Open! Click Here to Register

Venue: Hilton Vancouver Airport

5911 Minoru Boulevard Richmond, BC V6X 4C7

Hilton Hotel Reservations: Individual reservations can be made by contacting the hotel reservations department directly at 1-800-445-8667 or 604-233-3990. Callers must mention the group code (VERTEX) to ensure they receive the appropriate rate and are included in the guest room block no later than January 12, 2015.

2015 Soil and Groundwater Forum and Poster Session - From Research and Development to Results

March 2015

View Event CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

PTAC Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada invites you to submit an abstract to present at the annual PTAC Soil and Groundwater Forum. In addition to regulatory and industry research updates we are looking to feature any new research, science, methodologies, technologies, management approaches, etc. Presentation topics could include but are not limited to:

• Risk Assessment - broad application of risk assessment strategies may reduce the required management/remediation efforts

• Reclamation and remediation technology advancement. High reclamation and remediation costs need to be mitigated or reduced by the development of new technologies

• Additional Science for the Refinement of Regulatory Guidelines/Directives/Policies/Criteria. Scientific studies to support reducing conservatisms that would ultimately lead to a reduction in perceived waste going to landfill and a reduction in remedial costs

• Implementation strategies and case studies of applied research results in field application. Click here for identified Industry needs and gaps.

The day will be comprised of a series of platform and poster presentations. The technical program will be developed by industry and government stakeholders including current research results, regulatory updates and abstracts collected to incorporate new materials to address identified knowledge gaps.

If you are interested in making a presentation at this event, please submit a short abstract of your proposed presentation(s) along with the title and speaker by email to tsuch@ptac.org no later than December 12th, 2014. Abstracts will be evaluated on the basis of their technical contribution, originality, and applicability to the focus of the event. One speaker per presentation may attend the event complimentary; all speakers are responsible for their accommodation and travel.

WESTERN CANADIAN TRADE MISSION TO EXTEMIN, SEPTEMBER 21ST TO 25TH, 2015 AREQUIPA, PERU

The Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership, with support from Western Economic Diversification and the Governments of Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba, is excited to present a great opportunity to explore the Peruvian and South American mining marketplace. Widely renowned as one of South America’s premier mining trade shows, Extemin will take place September 21st to 25th in Arequipa, Peru at the Cerro Jul Convention Center. STEP is organizing a Western Canadian delegation of mining equipment and services, environmental and technology companies to attend this mission. STEP will be organizing a Western Canadian pavilion at the conference within the International pavilion area. Attending companies will have dedicated display space, access to a built in meeting area, and the pavilion will be staffed with interpreters for companies needing this service. STEP will also be running a business matchmaking program with local and international companies and facilitate networking events during the conference. Although it seems early to plan, space is selling out quickly for this conference and as there is limited space in the pavilion, companies interested will be accommodated on a first come, first serve basis. The cost to participate in this mission is $4,000 plus gst which includes a display space, access to the meeting area, matchmaking program, organized networking events and a hotel room from September 19th to 26th. Hotel rooms have sold out quickly in Arequipa, so STEP has secured the Posada Neuva Espana as the host hotel and has twenty rooms available on a first come, first serve basis. After these rooms fill, we will provide assistance finding hotels but the rates will likely be in excess of $200/night as the hoteliers increase (almost triple) rates during this time. There is also an option to attend the mission as a “visitor” which will allow access to the meeting area, a shared counter space to display your literature, invitations to networking events and limited one on one meetings. The cost for a visitor pass is $1,000 + gst and this does not included hotel accommodations. A Few Notes about the Peru Mining Marketplace Peru is ranked as the number one producer in Latin America for all metals except for copper and silver, and is ranked sixth globally for mining exploration investment after Canada, Australia, USA, Mexico and Chile. Peru is rich in mineral resources and the development and processing of these resources is a vital economic activity contributing to 64% of Peru’s exports and fuelling the consistent 14.5% GDP growth. Peru is a major player in the international metals marketplace and has consolidated this global leadership thanks to its polymetallic mining industry. In the last 15 years, the Peruvian economy has continued to grow regardless of the worldwide economic cycles and mining investment in particular has been a major driving force. Peru ranks the highest in Latin America in terms of its investment climate for mining. The estimated portfolio of mining investment is composed of 52 major projects as of 2013 with more expected to be announced, including both exploration and expansion projects as well as projects with EIS presented and/or under evaluation, which together amount to US$53.4 billion for the period 2012-2016. An estimated US$59.5 billion is expected to flow into the country over the next few years with new mines and expansion projects expected to more than double its copper production by 2016. The high level of investment announced for the Peruvian mining industry offers enormous business potential for Western Canadian mining supply and service, environmental and technology companies. Particular attention is being placed on the environmental, community relations and safety aspects of the industry. Extemin is expected to attract close to 1,000 exhibitors and attendance is expected to reach over 30,000 visitors. The convention alone brings over 5,000 experts and senior executives from the main mining corporations of Latin America. Extemin has become the meeting place of mining and suppliers of products and services looking to do business in the Peruvian and Latin American market. It is estimated that the last Extemin generated more than 3.0 billion in business deals. EXTEMIN 2015, will continue as the most important specialized fair in the mining sector. Participants can expect the 2015 edition to surpass the success attained in prior editions.

For more information contact: Holly F. Kelleher, Trade Specialist, Technology, Resources, Services Saskatchewan

Trade and Export Partnerhship Cell: + 1.306.230.2631; Email: hkelleher@sasktrade.sk.ca

Industry Positions Openings

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

Environmental Scientist or Specialist Focusing on Reclamation #14-01 RC – Full Time

Experience: A minimum of three to five (3-5) years’ experience working with resource based industries including mining, oil and gas, oil sands or petrochemical performing Environmental Site Assessments and Remediation or Reclamation services.

Reports to: Senior Project Manager, Reclamation Based at: Edmonton or Calgary, AB

Job Purpose: To work as part of MEMS Reclamation Team in the preparation of and performing of Environmental Site Assessments, Remediation and Reclamation services for upstream and downstream oil and gas sites in Alberta and B.C. This full time position requires a combination of office and some field work in a demanding consultative environment.

The position is available starting March 2014 and includes the following responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities: • planning, managing and implementing field programs, evaluating collected information; preparing professional

reports, and ensuring quality assurance and quality control; • completing file reviews and reporting of Environmental Site Assessments; • development of cost estimates based on project requirements and client needs; • file compilation, organization of field data, interpretation of laboratory results; • quality assurance and quality control; • coordination and supervision of contractors; and • supporting the reclamation discipline and actively pursue opportunities to promote the development of the

discipline and related biophysical practice area. Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma with emphasis on reclamation and/or soil science; • a minimum of 3-5 years of practical experience in the execution and management of site assessments and

reclamation, focusing on the oil and gas industry; • knowledge of AENV 2010 Reclamation Criteria and Guidelines, as well as AENV Tier 1 and Tier 2 Remediation

Guidelines; • knowledge of reclamation certificate application process; • strong understanding of agriculture and oilfield practices; • experience in tracking and managing reclamation costs; • excellent oral and written communication skills; • strong attention to detail; • willingness to travel; • excellent safety attitude; • the ability to work either independently or as a part of a team interacting with other team members and

contractors; • must hold a valid driver’s licence with experience driving in remote conditions; and • must have the ability to obtain professional membership within AIA, ASPB, CAPF or APEGA.

MEMS is a dynamic and diverse environmental consulting company offering outstanding opportunities and long term career advancement. Currently MEMS employs over 130 professionals in various disciplines. MEMS utilizes an integrated approach to its assessment and remediation projects that emphasizes cross training of

MEMS offers an excellent benefits program, profit sharing, extra time banking, a performance bonus program and opportunities for employee share ownership. Please send your resume with a covering letter/email referencing the

position number and title to the attention of Human Resources at humanresources@mems.ca . We thank all applicants for their interest however only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Office Locations:

6111 91 Street Edmonton, AB T6E 6V6 tel: 780.496.9048 fax: 780.496.9049 web: www.mems.ca

#325, 1925 18 Avenue NE Calgary, AB T2E 7T8 tel: 403.592.6180 fax: 403.283.2647 web: www.mems.ca

#106, 10920 84 Avenue Grande Prairie, AB T8X 6H2 tel: 780.357.5500 fax: 780.357.5501 web: www.mems.ca

Senior Reclamation Scientist- Full Time # 14-03 RC (Edmonton or Calgary)

Experience: Experience ( 10 years + ) in conducting, supervising and managing of standard, advanced, and complex reclamation projects including ongoing project, portfolio and client management responsibilities for conventional, non-conventional, and inter-disciplinary project workload. This position requires considerable experience as a fully accountable project manager whose responsibilities include service delivery, financial, and project management within a team environment.

Reports to: Practice Area Lead, Biophysical

Job Purpose: To work as part of MEMS Reclamation Team in providing reclamation services for upstream and downstream oil and gas sites and for non-conventional cross-disciplinary, inter-disciplinary, and mid to large scale reclamation projects. This includes the review of and familiarity with Environmental Site Assessments, management/supervision of all components of the reclamation life cycle, program/client management responsibilities, and ensuring compliance with applicable provincial and federal regulations, industry standards, and MEMS/client policies and procedures for projects located throughout western Canada. This full time position requires a combination of office with limited field work in a demanding consulting environment.

Key Responsibilities include:

• management and supervision of all components of the reclamation life cycle to achieve reclamation certification on applicable projects;

• assess reclamation projects according to applicable criteria and when appropriate define required reclamation end points;

• interact directly with clients to understand their needs and expectations and ensure that MEMS deliverables are properly aligned with these priorities;

• familiarity and awareness of existing and developing practices, studies, and techniques in Alberta and western Canada that can be applied on MEMS conventional and non-conventional reclamation projects;

• identify opportunities and/or manage cross-discipline or multi-discipline soils/reclamation components of active projects;

• ability to manage Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 ESAs as part of an overall client portfolio; • assessing project requirements and client needs for the development, preparation and management of

reclamation work plans, budgets and implementation schedules; • develop and manage field programs, evaluate the information collected and prepare professional reports; and • preparing and reviewing invoices for clients, managing MEMS WIP, and dealing with project accounts receivable

issues. Other Knowledge and Skills:

• highly organized with the ability to multitask and work towards tight deadlines; • advanced understanding of discipline best management practices, sciences and standards; • specialist level understanding of how various elements integrate to create a system; • ability to explain and defend decisions regarding systems issues; • strong client focus and the ability to influence employees at all levels; • ability to work independently, balancing conflicting priorities, as well as in a team environment; • demonstrates specialist level analytical and problem solving skills; • demonstrates creativity, resourcefulness and mature judgment to resolve problems of a complex technical

nature; and • strong written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills.

MEMS is a dynamic and diverse environmental consulting company offering outstanding opportunities and long term career advancement. Currently MEMS employs over 130 professionals in various disciplines. MEMS utilizes an integrated approach to its reclamation projects that emphasizes cross training of disciplines to allow for efficiencies in data collection and assessment, and provides MEMS professionals with enhanced technical skills and job satisfaction. Look for us on the web atwww.mems.ca.

MEMS o RRSP contribution matching program ffers an excellent benefits program, profit sharing, extra time banking, a performance bonus program, and opportunities for employee share ownership. Please send your resume with a covering letter/email referencing the position number and title to the attention of Human Resources at humanresources@mems.ca.We thank all applicants for their interest however only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Office Locations:

6111 91 Street Edmonton, AB T6E 6V6 tel: 780.496.9048 fax: 780.496.9049 web: www.mems.ca

#325, 1925 18 Avenue NE Calgary, AB T2E 7T8 tel: 403.592.6180 fax: 403.283.2647 web: www.mems.ca

#106, 10920 84 Avenue Grande Prairie, AB T8X 6H2 tel: 780.357.5500 fax: 780.357.5501 web: www.mems.ca

Senior Aquatic Scientist Matrix Solutions Inc. is a 100% Canadian-owned environmental and engineering consulting company specializing in providing practical solutions to our clients, both domestically and internationally. Over the years, Matrix has expanded both our service and geographical base and has become a recognized leader in:

• environmental and social impact assessments and audits; • environmental management, planning and regulatory compliance; • environmental site assessment, remediation and reclamation; • environmental monitoring; • hydrology and hydrotechnical engineering; and • overburden characterization and oil sands delineation.

Our client base includes all levels of government; upstream and downstream oil and gas; mining; power; forestry; agriculture; manufacturing; and commercial developments. Our Calgary office seeks a Senior Aquatic Scientist to join our growing Aquatics team. We are seeking an individual who is highly motivated and committed to working with a diverse group of senior aquatics staff. The successful candidate will contribute to business development opportunities in the field of aquatic science, fisheries biology and environmental monitoring. The primary responsibilities for the successful candidate will include:

• Manage existing and new projects including Aquatic Ecology and Fisheries components of environmental assessments and aquatic monitoring programs

• Provide technical guidance on a variety of specialized project areas pertaining to Aquatic Ecology; this may include fish population studies, lower trophic level aquatic studies, toxicity studies, fish health studies, aquatics effects assessments supporting risk assessments, and/or remediation techniques in aquatic habitats

• Provide advice to internal and external clients related to large development environmental assessments including EIA strategy, best management and mitigation practices and environmental monitoring programs

• Execute complex biological investigations and oversee field surveys • Provide senior level review of technical reporting, work plans and cost estimates • Apply current scientific knowledge to preform advanced data analysis including statistics and preparation of

technical reports. • Mentor and develop junior and intermediate staff members • Execute Health, Safety and Environmental Policies, Programs etc. as they relate to Aquatics programs.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• a bachelor’s or master’s degree in biology, environmental science, or a related field • a minimum of 12 years of consulting experience in a directly related role • eligible for professional designation in a relevant organization (i.e. P. Biol., P. Ag., etc.)

• strong project management skills including developing and monitoring of budgets, approved project scope and

schedule, organizational skills; staff supervision and team communications; • technical leadership abilities in the areas of aquatic study design, field sampling protocols, statistical analysis and

report preparation and review; • excellent business development skills and proven track record building productive client relationships • familiarity with pertinent regulatory requirements (e.g., Alberta Water Act, Federal Fisheries Act, etc.) and

processes • demonstrate knowledge of the environmental assessment process in Alberta (Environmental Protection and

Enhancement Act) and Canada (Canadian Environmental Assessment Act) as related to effects on aquatic environments

• experience scoping, completing and participating in the regulatory review process for large multi-disciplinary environmental assessments.

Matrix Solutions offers a comprehensive compensation package that includes an employee share-ownership program, profit share, employer RSP contributions, and an education fund. But, that's only a piece of what it means to work here! We are also committed to flexible work hours and schedules, team-based work, cross-training opportunities, and rewarding our star performers. Matrix is committed to providing a safe and productive work environment and to promoting the health, safety and well-being of our employees. In keeping with our Alcohol and Drug Policy, individuals in safety sensitive positions are subject to alcohol and drug testing. To apply for this position please visit our Careers site at: http://www.matrix-solutions.com/careers

Intermediate Environmental Scientist/Engineer

Matrix Solutions Inc. is a 100% Canadian-owned environmental and engineering consulting company specializing in providing practical solutions to our clients, both domestically and internationally. Over the years, Matrix has expanded both our service and geographical base and has become a recognized leader in:

• environmental and social impact assessments and audits • environmental management, planning and regulatory compliance • environmental site assessment, remediation and reclamation • environmental monitoring • hydrology and hydrotechnical engineering • overburden characterization and oil sands delineation

Our client base includes all levels of government; upstream and downstream oil and gas; mining; power; forestry; agriculture; manufacturing; and commercial developments. We are currently looking for an Intermediate Environmental Scientist/Engineer to join our growing Assessment, Remediation and Reclamation (ARR) team in Calgary. The primary responsibilities for the successful candidate will include:

• Providing technical direction and project management to execute assessment, remediation and reclamation projects

• Managing Phase II and III Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), which may include site supervision and performing a variety of field work

• Providing practical, cost-effective, and scientifically-sound solutions to satisfy the needs of our clients • Writing proposals, reports, work plans, and cost estimates • Acting as a client liaison to maintain successful, productive relationships ensuring effective communication and

project management • Contributing towards overall business development • Providing technical project direction and mentorship to junior staff

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• A minimum of 5-8 years of consulting experience in various assessment, remediation and reclamation projects • A degree in environmental science, geology, hydrogeology or engineering with the eligibility for registration in a

professional organization (i.e. APEGA, P.Ag.) • Previous experience in a consulting environment would be ideal • Service-oriented and have the ability to multi-task • Self-motivated and possess strong written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to provide effective technical direction and mentorship to other professionals • Function effectively as part of a collaborative team • Hold a class 5 driver’s license with no restrictions

Matrix Solutions offers a comprehensive compensation package that includes an employee share-ownership program, profit share, employer RSP contributions, and an education fund. But, that's only a piece of what it means to work here! We are also committed to flexible work hours and schedules, team-based work, cross-training opportunities, and rewarding our star performers. Matrix is committed to providing a safe and productive work environment and to promoting the health, safety and well-being of our employees. In keeping with our Alcohol and Drug Policy, individuals in safety sensitive positions are subject to alcohol and drug testing. To apply for this position please visit our Careers site at: http://www.matrix-solutions.com/careers

Instructor, Practicum Coordinator

Competition No: 15-2602-001

Lakeland College invites applications for a career-minded and energetic instructor to teach in our Environmental Sciences applied degree program within a multi-disciplinary team-oriented atmosphere. The Vermilion campus is located in a vibrant community with a supportive family atmosphere, great cultural and recreational opportunities, and is within 35 minutes driving distance of the City of Lloydminster.

The ideal candidate will have strong academic and practical experience in environmental consulting, oil and gas, mining or related industries, and will develop and maintain student practicum placements with industry and government host agencies. The candidate will discern key employable skills for students and employ a service-oriented philosophy with industry partners and professional organizations. The candidate shall have expertise in electronic-based editorial supervision of industry or government technical reports, including delivery ofconstructive iterative feedback. The candidate shall provide detailed science-based guidance on composition of technical reports and seminars, analysis and presentation of date, and application of common regulatory guidelines inside technical reports.

Formal instructional duties for this position include teaching classroom courses in practicum preparation and technical communications, coordinating and managing the editorial process for written capstone reports and seminars, and conducting field site visits at host agencies during practicum placements. The position includes an active role in industry liaison, student career counseling, and participation a tprogram/department meetings and committees.

The preferred candidate has a minimum of a M.Sc., or a combination of a Bachelor level degree and appropriate industry experience. The candidate shall be eligible for membership in AIA or closely related professional organization.

This is a Continuing Full-time Faculty appointment at the Vermilion campus commencing as soon as possible. Competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

Please quote the competition number and send current resume and names of three references to:

Lakeland College Human Resources 5707 College Drive Vermilion, Alberta T9X1K5 Email: hr@lakelandcollege.ca (MS Word format or .pdf) Fax: 780 853-8702

Junior Indoor Environments Technologist

3,000 Environmental Services staff. 20 technical specialties. 900 professional associations. An international team with local expertise. You could say we know a little something about the environment. Our passion for it drives our work.

Grounded by safety, quality, and ethics, we come up with solutions that perfectly fit the site. We know what it takes to balance competing project interests with creativity and efficiency. We know what to look for. And, we know how to get the job done—the right way. Join a team that has the environment down to a science.

Our Indoor Environments practice provides services associated with occupational health and safety-related work, including indoor air quality, hazardous materials and mould consulting initiatives. Our team works on behalf of our clients to implement and coordinate repair, replacement and abatement projects, often working with our other Environmental Services and Buildings Engineering groups to support required remediation and design activities. Working closely with our clients, our dedicated professionals help to establish and understand the specific needs of our clients and tailor our technical solutions in alignment with their specific business and project objectives. Clients across all sectors including commercial real estate, K-12 education, higher education, healthcare, and all levels of government have partnered with us to provide assessments for the purposes of re-financing, acquisition/disposition and capital planning.

Stantec’s Calgary office has an opportunity for a Junior Indoor Environments Technologist to work within our Indoor Environments practice.

Reporting to the Team Leader your responsibilities may include but are not limited to: • Understanding the application of occupational health and safety principles and regulations, especially as they

relate to hazardous materials and indoor environments. • Planning and conducting site assessments for hazardous materials including (but not limited to) asbestos, mold,

lead, PCBs and mercury. • Collecting samples pertaining to the above for accurate logging on chain of custody documents and submission

to independent laboratories for analysis. • Estimating quantities of hazardous materials for the purposes of abatement project planning. • Conducting indoor air quality assessments and testing. • Conducting industrial hygiene assessments and testing. • Conducting site work associated with monitoring of hazardous materials abatement projects (e.g. asbestos,

mold), including on-site supervision of contractors and collection of applicable air samples. • Assisting with the operation and calibration of air quality testing equipment. • Preparing detailed technical reports. • Assisting with the preparation of proposals for the above-noted types of projects. • Evening and weekend work will be required. • Frequent travel within Canada (primarily Western Canada) and potentially the U.S. will be required.

The successful candidate will possess the following:

• Post-secondary training, course work, diploma or degree pertaining to environmental technology, building sciences and/or occupational/industrial hygiene.

• General knowledge of buildings and building construction • General knowledge and experience with occupational hygiene testing/sampling protocols • Strong verbal and written communication skills, including exceptional MS Office skills. • Strong note-taking skills and attention to detail. • Ability to work on your own initiative as well as in a team environment is crucial. • One to two years’ experience would be considered an asset. • Experience or knowledge pertaining to occupational /industrial hygiene, occupational health & safety regulations

and/or the hazardous materials abatement industry will be given preference. • A valid driver’s license and vehicle are required.

We offer all candidates the opportunity to challenge their abilities in a dynamic work environment and your efforts will be recognized through a competitive compensation program. Interested and qualified candidates should submit their resume and cover letter online at www.stantec.com/careers Committed to the principles of Employment Equity, we thank all candidates; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Calgary Technical Leader – Upstream Oil and Gas

3,000 Environmental Services staff. 20 technical specialties. 900 professional associations. An international team with local expertise. You could say we know a little something about the environment. Our passion for it drives our work. Grounded by safety, quality, and ethics, we come up with solutions that perfectly fit the site.We know what it takes to balance competing project interests with creativity and efficiency. We know what to look for and we know how to get the job done—the right way.Join a team that has the environment down to a science.

As a result of the recently expanded Energy and Resources Business Operating Unit, the environmental remediation team has a newly developed Technical Leadership opportunity within the Calgary Business Centre. This integrated and diverse group consist of approximately 40 staff in the Calgary office for which we are seeking to fill a Technical Leader with a knowledgeable background in Upstream Environmental Site Assessment, Remediation & Reclamation.

This position will be part of Stantec’s Environmental Services technical leadership team for Alberta and will be centered in the Calgary office location. This position will work closely with Business Centre Discipline Leads (BCDLs), the operational leadership team, and the National TechnicalArea/Quality Management team.

Responsibilities: Reporting to BC leadership (BCDL) and the Operational Lead with no direct reports, the specific role and responsibilities ofthis opportunity are:

• Promote a strong health and safety culture and actively participate in Stantec’s Health &Safety Program • Demonstrate leadership, development and promotion of staff within the discipline • Promote technical excellence, quality management, and be accountable for continuous quality improvement

including the promotion of technical training opportunities for staff within the discipline • Work with the Regional and National Technical Area Leaders to develop and disseminate training, standard

operating procedures, standard practices and tools to those involved in the required technical area • Be accountable for the implementation of best practices and discipline standards from the national and regional

quality management programs to practitioners in Alberta • Potential to run upstream programs for key accounts and/or be a client liaison for upstream clients • Participate in monthly Business Centre technical leadership meetings with the appropriate BC Discipline Lead(s)

(BCDLs) as deemed appropriate • Work with Business Centre Sector Leads (BCSLs) on discipline-specific business development opportunities • and collaborate with other disciplines and business units to deliver multi-disciplinary projects • Provide technical updates to the business center during monthly meetings • Host at least one technical meeting per year and conduct monthly technical one-on-one meetings with key

personnel in the technical area • Participate in the Career Development and Review process for personnel in your technical area

(in conjunction with Team and Operational Leads) • Provide ongoing feedback to staff on their technical performance and work with Operational and Team Leads to

address personnel or project issues as they arise • Complete and execute coaching plans as required for members of your technical area • Participate in the hiring process, including identifying potential candidates, reviewing resumes and participating

in the interview process • Attract, grow, and retain quality staff • Participate in technical project work and technical peer review • Participate in Industry events and keep technical team apprised of changes in the state of practice and current

industry initiatives Qualifications: The successful candidates will possess the following:

• They will be a results-oriented individual who excelsin a multi-disciplinary environment. Strong leadership,financial management, business development, communication and team-building skills are essential for the candidate to meet the expectations of this position

• A desire to succeed, enthusiastic, with a high degree of integrity • An applicable academic background and/or professional registration • A reputation for technical excellence and effective technica lmentoring • 8+ years of experience in appropriate discipline is an asset • Superior verbal and written communication skills • Strong problem-solving skills • Demonstrated ability and desire to work with and contribute to a larger team • Strong knowledge of the regulatory environment in Alberta • Previous leadership or people management experience is desirable

Qualified, motivated and eage rcandidates should submit their resume and cover letter to www.stantec.com/careers

Committed to the principles of Employment Equity, we thank all candidates; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.