• Pollutech GeoEnvironmental Limited provides a range of services related to the study of natural environment. Principal among our areas of activity are Environmental Audits, Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESA), Decommissioning and Remediation of contaminated Sites, Remedial Technology Evaluations for soil and groundwater contamination, Environmental Risk Assessment and Management, Hydrogeology, Waste Management, Environmental Assessments, Biological Monitoring, Water Resource Evaluations and Computer Modelling of real world conditions. Our association with Pollutech Environmental Limited and Pollutech EnviroQuatics Limited provides for a complete team of environmental consultants and in-house laboratory facilities.

The following profile highlights some of the capabilities and services which are available to our clients:

Conducting Environmental Site Assessments

Property Transfer Evaluations (PTE's) are becoming an increasingly important step for buyers, sellers, financiers, real estate agents and lawyers involved in real estate transactions. The role of the PTE in these transactions has been a direct result of increasing concerns regarding environmental liabilities.

Pollutech undertakes a PTE, comprising Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), in order to point out areas of potential liability associated with past or present waste management practices. The investigation, as a minimum, includes buildings, machinery, soils and groundwater. The evaluation provides information to:

• the purchaser who wants to avoid any costly remedial action;
• the seller who is interested in a profitable sale and transfer of liabilities;
• the financier who is interested in protecting the investment and collateral values of the property; and
• the agents and lawyers who wish to protect the interests of their clients.

In general, the PTE is a step-wise process, the level of detail being governed by the state of the property. The process consists of a background data review, visual inspection, sampling/analysis and preparation of a report. Collecting the background data is key to establishing past practices - often necessary to developing sampling programs and verifying operating permits. Visual inspections often provide evidence of environmental discharges and establish paths of waste migration. Sampling and analysis confirm visual inspections or detect hidden problems.

PTE’s can be structured in accordance with Canadian (CSA Z768-94) standards, United States (ASTM E1527-94) standards, or customized to suit the need of the client.

Property transfer evaluations are completed by Pollutech to assist the client with a business decision. The liability of the site is not transferred to Pollutech as a result of any such service and we do not make recommendations on the sale, purchase, or investment in the property.

Soil & Ground Water Contamination Studies

Legislative controls and the attitude of the Canadian public towards the environment has made soil and ground water contamination an issue of increasing concern during recent years. Pollutech GeoEnvironmental assists not only industrial clients investigation possible spills tot he natural environment, but also clients in the financial sector which routinely deal with property transfers and the liability which can result from involvement with contaminated land.

Selected Investigative Techniques

• tracing of historical land use to identify possible contaminants;
• evaluation of the applicability of provincial and federal environmental regulations;
• assessment of local geology to determine susceptibility to contaminant transport;
• use of ground penetrating radar for identification of contaminant plumes;
• computer based literature searches to define contaminant behaviour under specific geological conditions;
• sampling of the upper soil profile using hand coring devices & concrete cutters;
• soil gas sampling to assess and delineate possible areas of contamination;
• design & implementation of drilling programs for extraction of soil samples;
• design, installation and monitoring of ground water wells; and
• evaluation of remediation strategies for soils and ground water.

Examples of Previous Investigations

• investigation of leakage from underground chemical and fuel tanks
• delineation of migration pathways resulting from subsurface breaching of chemical holding and treatment ponds
• examination of in-plant spillage and migration to the environment
• determination of the influence exerted on ground water by contamination on neighbouring properties
• delineation and quantification of contaminated soil resulting from past operations, previous owners, or use of tainted fill
• assessment of effects of spray irrigation on ground water
• investigation of potential contamination resulting from airborne emissions from neighbouring properties
• evaluation of remediation strategies for soils and ground water

Decommissioning and Remediation

Pollutech has organized and managed numerous site remediation activities including, but not limited to, preparation of remediation plan, underground and above ground storage tanks removal, industrial sites decommissioning and remediation, sediment remediation, soil vapour extraction and treatment system, monitoring and clean-up of mercury spills, and groundwater extraction and treatment system.

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has developed guidelines for use at contaminated sites in Ontario. To assist our clientele with the interpretation and implementation of these guidelines, we offer professional services for preliminary site investigations, the development of terms of reference for site decommissioning, and confirmation of the site clean-up.

The tasks required to complete a decommissioning study are summarized as follows:

• preparation and dissemination of a corporate commitment statement;
• development of decommissioning program for review by MOE;
• completion of preliminary inventory of plant area and natural environment;
• establishment of clean up criteria, including handling and disposal of contaminants and target levels for residuals;
• detailed site assessment and modification as required; and
• verification by regulatory officials.

Pollutech has worked closely in establishing the MOE requirements for a number of industrial processors, giving due regard to obligations under existing legislation and common law. In that regard Pollutech has worked closely with major Ontario law firms, receivers, financial institutions and clients' advisors.

Pollutech’s experience staff work closely with the client to select the most efficient remedial technique, by analysing innovative remedial techniques as well as conventional methods.

Pollutech team can provide a complete service package; including the inventory; MOE proposal; sampling and testing of surface water, groundwater, sediment, soil, rock, and building material; estimate of remediation cost; remedial options evaluation; risk assessment; decommissioning and remediation plans; negotiation with the MOE and other regulatory authorities; environmental assessment and public meetings; inspection and consultation during decommissioning/remedial works; confirmatory sampling and testing; monitoring of site environmental conditions during and following decommissioning/remedial works; and Record of Site Condition at completion of the works, as required by the MOE.

Pollutech has carried out cost estimate for several remediation projects. In doing this, various remedial options were analyzed as potential alternatives to remediate the site. The selection of the preferred remedial option was based on technical, administrative and financial criteria. These criteria were ranked or weighted to determine their importance for a particular project.

Risk-Based Site Specific Remediation Plans

Pollutech has hands-on experience in the application of a risk-based site specific remediation plans. Risk assessment is a tool that can be useful for estimating the potential for adverse effects that could arise from the presence of contamination at a site. As such, information derived from risk assessment can be of assistance in determining remediation criteria. The process can also help risk managers evaluate and compare the effectiveness of site specific remedial alternatives and technologies to reduce risk and to design a remediation plan.

When environmental contamination is encountered at a site, a decision is required on what actions must be taken in order to reduce human and ecological health risk. The decision is often based on the evaluation of alternatives (e.g. various remediation levels) in terms of their impact on the health and well being of human and non-human biota, in terms of socio-economic impact, and taking into consideration technical feasibility and legal considerations. The process leading to a decision on whether to use MOE generic criteria or to select the SSRA approach normally consists of some or all of the following steps:

• assessment of contaminant concentrations relative to generic criteria in the MOE guidelines;
• identification of any Potentially Sensitive Sites (as defined in the guideline) that could be affected by contaminants on-site; and
• technical economic feasibility assessment of meeting the appropriate generic criteria.

Where the assessment indicates that it is not feasible or economically possible to meet the MOE generic criteria, or on the basis of other considerations, the client may decide to proceed with an SSRA.

Where the SSRA approach is selected in lieu of using a generic criterion, it may be used either to modify one or more of the components of the MOE generic criterion, or to develop all components for a site specific criterion.

The risk-based remediation may involve risk management, which includes the development and implementation of a strategy to control, mitigate or manage the risk. It is the process during which the relative merits of the alternatives are compared to each other and the most appropriate is selected from among them for implementation. Risk management integrates the results from risk assessment, including its uncertainty, with information about technical resources, socio-economic factors, and control options to reach a decision.

Conducting Environmental Risk Assessment

Risk assessment refers to the technical, scientific assessment of the nature and magnitude of risk and uses a factual base to define the health effects of exposure of individuals or populations to hazardous contaminants and situations. It uses tools of science, statistics and modelling to analyze risk-related information. Generally, risk is defined as the probability of an adverse event due to disturbances in the environment.

All ecological and human health endpoints, including both cancer and non-cancer, must be assessed. The quality of the assessment is governed to a large degree by the quality of the supporting toxicological and exposure information and the expertise of the professionals who conduct the assessment. Uncertainty is inherent in the process. Risk assessment is only one of a number of assessment tools that can be applied to a problem. It may be the most appropriate tool in some instances, but may not be the method of choice in others.

Pollutech is well equipped and could utilize its staff resources to conduct environmental Site Specific Risk Assessments (SSRA), including administrative requirements and peer review.

Conducting Environmental Audits

A large number of corporations are becoming increasingly concerned with presenting the image of a "good corporate environmental citizen". To this end, the plant audit is a key step to ensuring compliance with all federal, provincial and municipal regulations.

Pollutech has completed a large number of plant audits for small and medium-sized industries throughout Southwestern Ontario. The step-by-step process includes a preliminary review of background information, followed by identification of areas of concern. Field testing and laboratory analyses are then undertaken to confirm findings, where necessary.

Actual tasks undertaken in the completion of the plant audit include the following:

• investigation of plant site;
• documentation of all process and contaminant discharges;
• review of discharge applications and permits (Air -Reg. 346, Water - municipal or C of A, solids - Reg. 347);
• summary of files and meetings with Regulatory officials;
• modelling of worst case discharges and compliance;
• preliminary report;
• detailed field testing, where required; and
• final report.

The plant audit is designed to provide a reliable, reasonably-priced evaluation of the environmental status of the facility. Identification of concerns is the emphasis of the program and not implementation of solutions. Options generally arise out of the audit based on a common sense approach to identified problems.

Detailed testing in the latter stages of a complete audit are likely to include composite sewer sampling, leachate testing, and isokinetic stack sampling.

With the increasing concern for environmental protection and the costs associated with pollution abatement and cleanup, a large number of industries wish to evaluate the environmental consequences of a new or expanded operation prior to start-up. Unlike the "environmental audit" which establishes existing conditions, the "risk assessment" evaluates planned processes prior to implementation. This enables the client to allocate costs to the manufacturing process and risks to any environmental liabilities.

Environmental risk assessments generally involve input from several categories. For example, a new facility may be planned to increase plant capacity. The risk assessment should then include:

• evaluation of increased hydraulic and contaminant loads to the sanitary sewer system (must have sewer connect permit);
• atmospheric emissions which could impact on worker health and safety, or ambient discharges regulated by the MOE (must have "Certificate of Approval", as per Section 8 of the Environmental Protection Act R.S.O.);
• control of chemicals used in the process, as per WHMIS protocols;
• waste liquids and solids disposal as controlled by Regulation 347 R.S.O., or equivalent; and
• aqueous emissions to the natural environment and applicable "Certificate of Approval", as required by the Environmental Protection Act.

In all evaluations, whether it be a unit operation or a new facility, attention must be paid to the need for the change, what controls can be used to minimize costs (ie. product recovery) and what residual risks remain. This information can then be used by management in the evaluation of the project. Specification of control technologies allow for establishment of an "environmental cost" to the project.

In addition to programs completed for compliance assessment, Pollutech assists clients in the development of Environmental Management Systems and ISO programs. Pollutech provides clients with several approaches to Environmental Management. Regulatory compliance is the basic goal of most Environmental Management Systems (EMS) that are developed. Once a company has compliance under control, a focus on continuous improvement is administered.

A typical auditing protocol employed by Pollutech to develop and maintain an EMS is as follows:

• Client engages Pollutech;
• Pollutech performs Regulatory Compliance Audit at facility;
• Pollutech prepares draft technical report for client Corporate and facility;
• Corporate reviews draft and facility reviews draft with internal meeting creating an action list;
• Meeting minutes sent to Corporate and Pollutech;
• Pollutech conducts summary meeting at facility; and
• Pollutech prepares final report for Corporate and facility.

Standard EMS audit programs conducted by Pollutech incorporate both Environmental and Health and Safety components. Pollutech works closely with corporate and plant management during initial site visits and follow-up meetings to address concerns including compliance, Ministry and regulatory changes, and training. EMS site audit reports address the following areas:

• Audit Reporting Protocol;
• Hauled Waste Disposal;
• Air Quality and Emissions;
• Liquid Wastes;
• Controlled Products and Wastes;
• Health and Safety Programs;
• Spills Monitoring and Control;
• Other Legislated Requirements;
• Training;
• Plant Interior; and
• Plant Exterior.

Pollutech provides ISO 14001 Services to help clients achieve conformance in a cost effective and practical manner. The overall objectives of standard ISO 14001 work plan employed by Pollutech, are:

• to identify the extent to which the company is currently in compliance with environmental laws, regulations, guidelines, policies and principles;
• to identify and evaluate the significant environmental aspects and impacts associated with company operations, including an evaluation of he risk of accidents which could cause significant environmental impacts and breach environmental law; and
• to develop a functional/integrated environmental policy that corresponds with the clients business objectives.

Pollutech's current staff complement includes senior level ISO 14000 experts who have been involved in EMS development for over 15 years and are certified by the Canadian Environmental Auditing Association (CEAA) to perform ISO