Canadian Brownfields Network

CBN e-newsletter
October 2007

 
Canadian Brownfields Network e-newsletter
 
MEMBERS AREA
CBN Mandate
  

To advocate brownfields redevelopment as an essential component of sustainable communities and urban revitalization in Canada

  
CBN

CBN Mission

  
  • Act as enabling mechanism to implement recommendations made by the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy for a national brownfields strategy
  • Deliver outreach and capacity-building initiatives to raise awareness on the benefits of brownfields redevelopment
  • Create linkages and connectivity between private industry, government agencies and non-governmental organizations
  • Consolidate regional and local issues into an integrated plan for national and provincial action
  
CBN CONFERENCE

CBN Select Achievements

  

 

For more brownfields/remediation conferences and events visit
Upcoming Events on www.aboutREMEDIATION.com


  • Review of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund Brownfield Request for Proposal Experience
    OCETA, on behalf of the Canadian Brownfields Network and in conjunction with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), conducted a review of FCM's Green Municipal Fund Brownfield Loan Request for Proposal (RFP) experience and results to date. This review included a survey of municipalities, developers, and consultants as well as a review of the previous Brownfield Loan RFPs that FCM issued in 2005 and 2006. Opportunities were identified to improve the "value proposition" of the Brownfield RFP as well as to streamline the process. A report on the results of this study and recommendations has been provided to FCM.
  • Building Capacity in Ontario's Municipalities: Brownfield Training Workshops, June 2007
    The Canadian Brownfields Network (CBN) collaborated with the Province of Ontario to develop and deliver three highly interactive Brownfield Training Workshops in the return of the very successful workshops that were offered last spring. This year, the workshops were held in Barrie, Burlington, and Ottawa and were once again facilitated and chaired by OCETA. More details are provided under the Ontario News and Updates section below.

  
CONTACT INFORMATION

Announcements

  


Tel: (905) 822-4133
Fax. (905) 822-3558

info (@canadianbrownfieldsnetwork.ca)

2070 Hadwen Road, Unit 201-A
Mississauga, ON, L5K 2C9

CBN Contacts


Tammy (@canadianbrownfieldsnetwork.ca)


Kevin (@canadianbrownfieldsnetwork.ca)

Wayne Coutinho
Project Manager
905-822-4133 ext. 235
Wayne (@canadianbrownfieldsnetwork.ca)


Angus (@canadianbrownfieldsnetwork.ca)

 

  • Canadian Brownfields 2007, October 18 & 19, 2007
    On behalf of the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), you are invited to attend Canadian Brownfields 2007: Partners in Sustainable City Building this October 18 & 19 in Montreal, Quebec. The program will focus on four interlocking themes: Economic Revitalization, Leadership, Technological Innovation and Integrated planning. View the program online at http://www.canadianbrownfields.ca     . This annual conference is a "must attend" event for anyone involved in brownfields redevelopment and sustainable city building. This year's conference will bring together over 400 delegates and 60 exhibitors from across Canada at the Palais des congrès in downtown Montreal. The 8th Annual Canadian Brownfields 2007 event is being held in cooperation with the Canadian Brownfields Network (CBN), the Montreal Centre for Excellence in Brownfields Rehabilitation (MCEBR), and the Urban Development Institute of Quebec.
  • CBN Strategic Direction Review
    The CBN is currently involved in a strategic planning exercise to review its current mandate, governance, revenue model and operational structure. A small task group of the CBN Advisory Panel was formed to assist in this process. Two successful strategic planning sessions have been completed and a separate review is currently being undertaken on alternative governance and revenue models. It is anticipated that recommendations on the future direction, strategic priorities, revenue model and structure of the CBN will be shared with CBN Members in the near future. We would like to thank the members of the Task Group for contributing their time and expertise to this important strategic planning exercise.

  • Jurisdictional Review of Contaminated Site Qualified Persons (QP) Programs
    OCETA, on behalf of the CBN, and in conjunction with the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute (CPPI), the Cement Association of Canada, Kilmer Brownfield Equity Fund L.P., and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters is conducting a Jurisdictional Review of the Contaminated Site Qualified Professionals Programs. The jurisdictional review of the contaminated site QPs will provide an overview and analysis of the QP programs currently in place to identify "best practices". The outcomes from this review can be used by government and industry stakeholders in Canada that are developing or redesigning their QP programs.


Other News and Updates

National

  • ECO Canada-Contaminated Sites Demand-Side Labour Market Study
    ECO Canada has completed the demand-side labour market study for contaminated sites and is now moving forward with the second part of its study - the supply-side, to enable Canada to meet the human resource requirements associated with the cleanup of non-federal and federal contaminated sites in Canada. During August, work was done on the data analysis and data interpretation phase and a series or reports were generated for review by National Steering Committee members and ECO Canada. Work is now underway to identify key findings which will be validated through focus group discussions that are planned for October. CBN is represented on the National Steering Committee.

  • Soil and Groundwater Remediation Mission to the Netherlands and meet with the Dutch @ REMTECH2007
    A Trade Mission to the Netherlands is scheduled for May/June of 2008 (subject to pending approval for funding). The focus of this mission will be on soil and groundwater remediation practices in the Netherlands and Europe. The mission’s delegates will represent government and private sector interests from various provinces in Canada. This mission will provide Canadian delegates with opportunities to exchange knowledge, identify potential partners and projects, introduce Canadian expertise and technology to partners in the Netherlands and learn about Dutch innovation, soil remediation practices, demonstration projects and policies. Contact: Mr. Karim Tejani, Consulate General of the Netherlands, e-mail: karim.tejani@minbuza.nl

    In addition, this mission coincides with the 10th Annual ConSoil conference on June 3-6 of 2008 in Milan, Italy. The Canadian delegates have the option to continue to Italy or return to Canada. The focus of CONSOIL2008 will be on contaminated soil and groundwater, soil-water systems in accordance with the EU policies. Early registrants to this mission will receive assistance with speaking opportunities and exhibitions if required. For further information, please see http://www.consoil.de/.

    There is also an opportunity to meet with Dutch delegates for a one on one meeting around Remtech2007 in Banff, Alberta. TNO, the Netherlands Soil Partnership, BioSoil and HMTV will be present at Remtech and on October 25th will host 4 presentations on the Holland In Situ demonstration programme. Contact:Mr. Maarten den Ouden, Consulate General of the Netherlands, Tel: 604-697-5532, e-mail: Maarten-den.Ouden@minbuza.nl

Alberta

  • New Fact Sheet from Alberta Environment on Contaminated Sites Management
    Alberta Environment has released a new Fact Sheet, R&R/07-01, Contaminated Sites Management: Tier 1 and 2 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines. The document provides an overview of the guidelines and implementation policy. The address below links to the Fact Sheet by clicking on "Learn the facts..". www.gov.ab.ca/env/protenf/landrec/gw_remediation_guidelines.html

Atlantic Canada

  • New postings on the Atlantic RBCA Web site include:
    - Science Forum on Solidification and Stabilization
    - New Brunswick Property Based Environmental Information Survey
    - Ecological Screening Task Group
    - Nova Scotia Atlantic RBCA Training
    Visit http://a    tlanticrbca.com

British Columbia

  • B.C. Ministry of the Environment Releases New Version of Protocol 6 "Eligibility of Applications for Review By Approved Professionals"
    Earlier this summer a new version of Protocol 6 "Eligibility of Applications for Review by Approved Professionals" was released on our web site in advance of its effective date. It came into effect on September 1, 2007. Now all contaminated sites service applications submitted to the ministry will be administered according to the provisions of this updated document.

    The Protocol establishes which types of contaminated sites service applications must be submitted to the ministry with the recommendation of an Approved Professional. This latest version delegates responsibility to Approved Professionals for a wider range of non-high risk sites. A key change is to require Approved Professionals to make recommendations to the ministry for certain sites being remediated to the risk-based standards of the Contaminated Sites Regulation.

    The new version is located at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/remediation/policy_procedure_protocol/proto
    cols/pdf/protocol_6.pdf    .     For further information please contact us at site@gov.bc.ca.

Ontario

  • Building Capacity in Ontario's Municipalities: Brownfield Training Workshops, June 2007
    The Canadian Brownfields Network (CBN) collaborated with the Province of Ontario to develop and deliver three highly interactive Brownfield Training Workshops in the return of the very successful workshops that were offered last spring. This year, the workshops were held in Barrie, Burlington, and Ottawa. These workshops were once again facilitated and chaired by OCETA.

    Designed exclusively for municipal staff, these 1½ day training workshops provided participants with the practical knowledge required to encourage redevelopment activities. Participants learned the latest on brownfields, including legislative and regulatory developments; municipal financing tools; and the use of technology as a decision-making tool. These workshops were well received, with much positive feedback.

    Networking receptions were hosted for participants to enjoy and network. Special thanks to our sponsors CMHC, EcoLog ERIS, OREA, and the Cement Association of Canada for helping to make this event possible.

    Members of the Canadian Brownfields Network may download the workshop presentations by logging in at http://www.canadianbrownfieldsnetwork.ca .
  • Development of a Redevelopment Framework for "Typical" Service Stations
    A multi-stakeholder Advisory Team has been formed to develop a standardized approach for the redevelopment of service stations in Ontario. This framework will accelerate the service station redevelopment process for typical sites by providing a clear, transparent, and streamlined mechanism in a user-friendly format, which will be based on existing best practice information within the existing regulatory framework. The service station redevelopment framework will be made available on the www.aboutRemediation.com website and integrated into the existing Brownfield Redevelopment Toolbox. Five Task Groups are being formed to develop the content for the five sections of the Framework. The Task Groups will participate via in-person meetings and teleconferences between September and December. OCETA is the project leader for this multi-stakeholder initiative.
  • Brownfield Financial Tax Incentive Program (BFTIP)
    As of July, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) will now be administering the Brownfield Financial Tax Incentive Program (BFTIP). MMAH regional offices will be the point of contact (rather than the Ministry of Finance) and the current on-line program information and application form are being redone to make it all more user-friendly and clear. Look for this to be available on the Brownfield Ontario website www.ontario.ca/brownfields in early to mid July.

     In May the Brownfields Coordinator Office met with a number of municipalities to talk about how best to administer the program so that we get more applications moving more quickly to approval, and more money being spent on brownfields. If you have any comments/suggestions on BFTIP as we proceed with this shift, contact Shawn Parry, MMAH (shawn.parry@ontario.ca or 416-585-6265).
  • Proposed Update in Environmental Standards
    The 60-day Environmental Bill of Rights posting on the proposed update to brownfield soil and ground water standards closed on May 22, 2007. Thanks to everyone who responded; MOE is currently reviewing the comments and suggestions found in all submissions. As you likely already know, the ministry has also commissioned an expert review of the science and methodology that was used to develop the standards and will be reviewing the resulting report over the next few months.

    Over the summer and into the fall, MOE will continue to work with your technical experts to understand the issues raised in the EBR consultation. If you have any comments/concerns, contact Adam Leus, MOE (adam.leus@ontario.ca or 416-327-2702).
  • Developing Regulations related to Bill 187
    Over this summer and fall, MOE will be assessing the information requirements and developing policy options associated with the range of regulations needed to support implementation of the new legislation (amendments to the Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act recently passed through Bill 187). As part of this process, MOE is planning meetings with stakeholders in the fall around specific groupings of regulations (e.g. those supporting the off-site liability provisions or those related to upfront RSC review) to ensure that we receive wide input early in the policy development process and well before the formal EBR consultation process. Some of this discussion will also take place at the November Brownfields Stakeholder Group meeting.

    Over this summer, MOE will be working informally with other Ministries and individuals to develop the background information to support policy discussions in the fall. If your organization would like to provide information supporting regulations development for any of the regulatory matters outlined at the May 1st stakeholder meeting, such information is welcome and should be provided to Susan Howard, MOE (susan.howard@ontario.ca or 416-212-1145).

    Similarly if you are aware of an individual with particular technical expertise around a certain regulatory matter, and that person is willing to provide their expertise, again please make that person known to Susan Howard.

    On a related but non-regulatory matter, a considerable amount of effort is required to upgrade information technology (IT) systems, including the brownfields environmental site registry, to support implementation of the new legislation. This provides an opportunity to address deficiencies with the existing systems. It is expected that a stakeholder workshop will be set up in the fall to discuss this registry to help ensure it is user friendly and meets stakeholder needs as much as possible.

Quebec

  • The Quebec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks announces "ClimatSol", a new governmental program to foster and subsidize rehabilitation of contaminated land in Quebec.
    This remediation "subsidy" program replaces " REVI-SOL" program that existed a few years ago. The program’s objective is reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. Essential characteristics of eligible projects include maintaining and/or establishing wooded and green areas and incorporation of green technologies in the construction of buildings. ClimatSol has a budget of $50 million over 3 years; maximum contribution per project is $1 million. For more information contact Henry J.Orban Tel: (514) 493-7059.

     

 
REVITALIZING CANADIAN COMMUNITIES

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