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In This Volume

  • 55 (1) Subject to subsection (5), a person must not relocate contaminated soil from a contaminated site unless
  • (a) the person enters into a contaminated soil relocation agreement, and
  • (b) complies with terms and conditions of the contaminated soil relocation agreement.
  • (2) If, in the opinion of a director, after giving consideration to
  • (a) the suitability of the receiving site,
  • (b) the quality of the contaminated soil to be relocated, and
  • (c) the existing and future uses of the receiving site,
  • the relocation of the contaminated soil will not cause a significant potential for adverse effects on human health or for pollution of the environment, the director may enter into a contaminated soil relocation agreement with
  • (d) the owner or operator of the site proposed to receive contaminated soil, and
  • (e) a responsible person for the contaminated site from which the contaminated soil is proposed to be removed.
  • (3) The contaminated soil relocation agreement must provide that prescribed standards and procedures apply in respect of the relocation and deposit and that
  • (a) the quality of the soil at the receiving site is suitable for the use intended based on prescribed standards, or
  • (b) the conditions at the receiving site are suitable for the use intended as documented by a risk assessment conducted in accordance with the regulations and to the satisfaction of the director.

2003-53-55, effective July 8, 2004 (B.C. Reg. 317/2004); 2004-18-10, effective July 1, 2007 (B.C. Reg. 201/2007).

REGULATIONS

Contaminated Sites Regulation

Contaminated Soil Relocation

Part 8 of the regulation, Contaminated Soil Relocation (ss. 40 to 46.2), regulates the relocation of contaminated soil. Sections 46.1 and 46.2 are relevant to land title practice:

Standards for contaminated soil relocation

  • 46.1 (1) The relocation of soil from a source site to a receiving site requires a contaminated soil relocation agreement if the soil that is or will be relocated is contaminated by having any substance with a concentration that, subject to subsections (2) and (3), exceeds the following numerical standards, prescribed for the purposes of section 55 (3) of the Act, for either soil or vapour:
  • (a) in respect of the land use of the receiving site, the lowest value of the soil standards set out in Part 1, 2 or 3, as applicable, of Schedule 3.1 of this regulation;
  • (b) in respect of the land use, or other use, of the receiving site, the lowest value of the vapour standards set out in Schedule 3.3 of this regulation.
  • (2) As an exception to subsection (1), if contaminated soil has any substance with a concentration that exceeds a soil standard protective of groundwater in respect of the land use of the receiving site set out in Part 1 of Schedule 3.1 of this regulation, the numerical standards for soil protective of groundwater are not to be considered exceeded if either of the following applies:
  • (a) the site-specific soil standard protective of groundwater, derived in accordance with a director's protocol, is not exceeded;
  • (b) the water standard for groundwater set out in Schedule 3.2 of this regulation, based on the concentration resulting from a leachate test conducted in accordance with the director’s protocol, is not exceeded.
  • (3) As an exception to subsection (1), numerical standards are not to be considered exceeded for the purposes of that subsection if either of the following applies:
  • (a) in respect of the numerical standards for soil, the background concentration in the soil of the receiving site, as determined in accordance with the director’s protocol, is not exceeded;
  • (b) in respect of the numerical standards for soil or vapour, a director’s interim standard for soil or vapour, as applicable, is satisfied.
  • (4) If the prescribed risk-based standards referred to in subsection (5) are met after the deposit of the relocated contaminated soil, the quality of the soil at the receiving site is suitable for the use intended.
  • (5) In respect of a background risk estimate, or a background risk-based concentration, for a receiving site, the risk-based standards prescribed for the purposes of section 55(3)(a) of the Act are those set out in
  • (a) section 18 of this regulation, or
  • (b) section 18.1 of this regulation, if the receiving site is a wide area receiving site.

B.C. Reg. 196/2017, effective November 1, 2017.

Procedures for contaminated soil relocation

  • 46.2 For the purposes of section 55(3) of the Act, the following procedures, if required by the director, are prescribed in respect of the relocation of soil under a contaminated soil relocation agreement:
  • (a) testing, in accordance with a director’s protocol, the leachate from the soil to be relocated to determine whether the leachate from the soil contains a substance with a concentration that exceeds
    • (i) the water quality standards applicable to the receiving site set out in Schedule 3.2 of this regulation,
    • (ii) the site-specific numerical water standard of the receiving site, or
    • (iii) a risk-based concentration for water at the receiving site;
  • (b) if risk-based standards are applied at the receiving site, the following procedures:
    • (i) monitoring impacts of the substances in the relocated soil;
    • (ii) inspecting and maintaining works considered necessary to manage contamination at the receiving site and to protect human health or the environment;
    • (iii) site registry notations;
    • (iv) preparation and registration of a covenant under section 219 of the Land Title Act.

B.C. Reg. 196/2017, effective November 1, 2017.