Alberta soil and groundwater remediation guidelines
Alberta Environment works with the public and industry to maintain soil and groundwater to the highest quality, applying codes of practice, guidelines, policies, and programs to protect them. Assessment and monitoring tools for restoring the quality of soil and groundwater to their full potential are also developed.
Alberta Environment released revised soil and groundwater remediation guidelines in February 2009:
- Alberta Tier 1 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines (2009)
- Alberta Tier 2 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines (2009)
These guidelines update the documents released in 2008. Updates include:
- Revised soil remediation guidelines for barite-barium.
- A new analytical method for true total barium to be used at barite sites.
Learn the facts about the revisions and view the barite guidelines rationale document.
Review a list of the updates in 2008 to the Alberta Tier 1 guidelines and Alberta Tier 2 guidelines.
Learn the facts about the Tier 1 and 2 guidelines, and read the frequently asked questions.
The Tier 1 guidelines represent the most current guidelines from a number of sources (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, Health Canada, and Alberta Environment) into a single reference document.
The Tier 2 guidelines describe how to modify the Tier 1 guidelines using site-specific information.
Applying for a reclamation certificate:
Alberta's Tier 1 and Tier 2 guidelines replace the Alberta Soil and Water Quality Guidelines for Hydrocarbons at Upstream Oil and Gas Facilities (2001 Upstream Guidelines). However, Alberta Environment will continue to accept applications for upstream oil and gas sites that are compliant with the 2001 Upstream Guidelines as long as the laboratory analytical data report(s) from a Phase 2 environmental site assessment or confirmatory sampling event is dated on or before December 1, 2007.
Approved facilities:
Soil monitoring and management programs at approved facilities will transition to the Alberta Tier 1 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines or the Alberta Tier 2 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines as required by the facility operating approval and the Soil Monitoring Directive.
