An Information Service for Alberta’s Environment Industry The Week Ending April 10th, 2015 WaterTech 2015 – Delegate Space Available April 20-22, 2015 Delta Lodge at Kananaskis U Inside this Issue: WaterTech Starts in 11 Days Waste Management Companies to Pay New Location - Same Great Conference Fine for PCB Spill Spill Results in Lower Delegate Conference Fee Penalty for Well Lower Room Rates Servicing Company Free Outdoor Parking How Western No Park Pass Required Canada’s Glaciers Will Melt Away Nearly 300 delegates have now registered for WaterTech 2015. Additional delegate California Drought Update spaces have been added. Have you registered? Check out the attendee list: Upcoming Events http://www.esaa.org/watertech/agenda/delegate-list/ and much more …. The 2015 program includes 53 technical presentations that include U Special Oil Sands Session The ESAA Weekly 12 other technical sessions focusing on Pipelines, Wetlands, Groundwater, News is published Municipal, Water Management, Modelling, Wastewater, and more. weekly by: Environmental Services WaterTech 2015 will also feature three keynote presentations: Association of Alberta 102, 2528 Ellwood Opening Keynote Drive SW Edmonton, AB T6X 0A9 "Hydroclimatic Change" (P) 780.429.6363 (F) 780.429.4249 Robert Sandford [email protected] UTTTH T Director of the Western Watersheds Research Collaborative, and an associate of the www.esaa.orgHTTTU UTTH T Centre for Hydrology at the University of Saskatchewan Comments & submissions Tuesday Lunch Keynote are welcome! Bob McDonald Please submit your announcement Host of CBC's Quirks and Quarks via e-mail to: [email protected] UTTTH T Wednesday Lunch Keynote ...environmental integrity through Philippe Cousteau innovative Co-Founder and President, EarthEcho International business solutions Registration: To register visit: www.esaa.org/watertech/ AN EVENING WITH DR. JANE GOODALL, DBE presented by Environmental Services Association of Alberta (ESAA) Wednesday, September 9th, 2015 Winspear Centre, Edmonton Tickets On-Sale Now: Winspear Box Office Tickets and Sponsorship Opportunities Still Available The Environmental Services of Association of Alberta (ESAA) is pleased to announce An Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE in support of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada (JGI Canada) and the Ilsa Mae Research Fund at Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Full proceeds from the event will be split between JGI Canada and the Ilsa Mae Research Fund. ESAA is making no proceeds from this event and donating all time and efforts to both causes. The event will include a presentation by Dr. Jane Goodall, followed by a Q & A session with the audience, and a book signing in the Winspear Lobby. Ticket are now on sale at start at $41 (incl. GST). Tickets can be purchased directly from the Winspear Box Office. A limited number of VIP Tickets will also be available and will include a private meet and greet with Dr. Goodall and wine & cheese reception. Thank you to all of our current sponsors and supporters: Paragon Soil and Environmental Consulting (VIP Reception), AGAT Laboratories (Event Sponsor), CERF Corp. (Event Sponsor), MCL Waste Systems and Environmental (Event Sponsor), Audrey's Book (Official Book Seller), Capital Colour (Printing/Programs), Fairmont Hotel MacDonald (Official Hotel), Fred Keating (Emcee), FrischkornMEDIACO (AV), Dale Ladouceur and Bev Fowler (Pre-Show Music) Sponsorship Opportunities Available: A limited number of sponsorship opportunities remain for this incredible evening. Your company name, logo and profile will be in front of 1,700 people. Main Event Sponsor – $10,000 (One Available) Acknowledged on all material as ESAA’s partner in presenting Dr. Jane Goodall (including front cover of program) Acknowledged on Winspear Centre website (event information page) Acknowledged on screen throughout event as ESAA’s partner in presenting Dr. Jane Goodall 4 passes to the VIP “Meet & Greet” Reception prior to the start of the event (includes VIP seating in Enmax Hall) 8 additional passes to the event MC recognition throughout the evening 12 signed books by Dr. Goodall Ability to have your picture taken with Dr. Goodall after the event Logo and short profile in the program Event Sponsor - $3,500 (Four Remaining) Acknowledged on all material as an event sponsor Acknowledged on screen as an event sponsor 4 passes to the event MC recognition during event 4 signed books by Dr. Goodall Logo and short profile in the program For more information contact Lorrine Hamdon ([email protected]) or Joe Chowaniec ([email protected]) Full event details also available online at: http://www.esaa.org/events/#id=163&wid=401&cid=153 Tickets On-Sale Now: Winspear Box Office WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES TO PAY $87,000 FOR PCB SPILL In Saskatchewan provincial court on January 14, 2015, representatives of Custom Environmental Services Ltd., and Aevitas Inc., entered guilty pleas to an offence under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA, 1999), resulting from a spill of oil containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). On April 1, 2015, sentencing resulted in penalties of $50,000 for Custom Environmental Services Ltd. and $37,000 for Aevitas Inc. The combined penalties of $87,000 will be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund (EDF). The two companies had been charged following the discovery of a spill of approximately 100 litres of oil containing PCBs from a tractor trailer at a weigh scale near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on February 2, 2012. At the time of the incident, Custom Environmental Services Ltd. was a separate corporate entity, transporting a shipment on behalf of Aevitas Inc. The company has since been acquired by Aevitas Inc. Environment Canada’s enforcement officers conducted an on-site inspection and determined that an oil-like substance was leaking from the wooden floor of the trailer. A subsequent investigation by Environment Canada’s Enforcement Branch revealed that the truck lacked a proper secondary containment system to prevent oil containing concentrations of PCBs from being released into the environment. A lab analysis confirmed that the oil released contained concentrations of PCBs at approximately 200,000 times the minimum level subject to a prohibition against release under paragraph 5(1)(a) of the PCB Regulations. As a result of this conviction, the companies’ names will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry. Quick Facts Polychlorinated biphenyls, commonly known as chlorobiphenyls or PCBs, are toxic industrial chemicals which were used in the manufacturing of electrical equipment, heat exchangers, and hydraulic systems, often to keep the units from overheating. PCBs cause harm in aquatic ecosystems and in species that eat primarily aquatic organisms. CEPA, 1999, is an Act respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development. The Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) is administered by Environment Canada. It was created in 1995 to provide a mechanism for directing funds received as a result of fines, court orders, and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit our natural environment. The Environmental Offenders Registry lists information regarding convictions of corporations registered for offences committed under certain federal environmental laws since June 18, 2009—when the Environmental Enforcement Act received Royal Assent. SPILL RESULTS IN $185,000 PENALTY FOR ENSIGN WELL SERVICING INC. On April 2, 2015, Ensign Well Servicing Inc. was ordered to pay a penalty of $185,000 in Alberta Provincial Court after pleading guilty to the deposit of a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish, which is an offence under the Fisheries Act. The offence stems from a diesel spill that occurred on June 18, 2013, in Nisku, Alberta, into Blackmud Creek, a tributary of the North Saskatchewan River. An Environment Canada investigation determined that an out-of-service diesel tank (owned by Ensign Well Servicing Inc.) was the source of the spill. A broken plastic tube, attached to the tank, allowed 300 to 600 litres of diesel to spill onto the ground. An unknown amount of fuel made its way into nearby Blackmud Creek. Of the $185,000 penalty, $180,000 will be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund (EDF). The remaining $5,000 will be paid as a fine. The EDF is administered by Environment Canada. It was created in 1995 to provide a mechanism for directing funds received as a result of fines, court orders, and voluntary payments to projects that will benefit our natural environment. As a result of this conviction, the company’s name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry. Quick Facts Diesel is considered one of the fuel types most acutely toxic to fish, invertebrates and plants. The Environmental Offenders Registry contains information on convictions registered for offences committed by corporations under certain federal environmental laws. The Registry contains convictions recorded for offences committed since June 18, 2009–when the Environmental Enforcement Act received Royal Assent. AER: CHANGE IN BUSINESS PROCESS RELATING TO THE REVIEW OF UPSTREAM OIL AND GAS RECLAMATION CERTIFICATE APPLICATIONS Effective immediately, the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has implemented a change to an internal business process regarding the review of upstream oil and gas reclamation certificate applications. Application deficiencies affect our ability to review and process reclamation certificates