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Recommendations to reduce non-point source air emissions in Alberta

Description

Non-point source pollution originates from many different and diffuse sources, which collectively can have a significant impact on air quality. The Non-Point Source Project of the Clean Air... More ≫

Description

Non-point source pollution originates from many different and diffuse sources, which collectively can have a significant impact on air quality. The Non-Point Source Project of the Clean Air Strategic Alliance began in November 2015 with the goal of recommending management actions to reduce air emissions from non-point sources in Alberta, focusing on areas that were approaching or not achieving the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards. This report presents the findings of the project and makes recommendations related to mobile sources (transportation), construction operations and road dust, open-air burning, commercial and residential heating, industrial non-point sources, land-use planning, addressing non-point source knowledge gaps and uncertainties, and considering air quality co-benefits with climate change initiatives.

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Final report on Canada Creosote Site - 2014 North Bow supplementary subsurface investigation and vapour intrusion assessment

Description

The objectives of the 2014 investigation and monitoring program were to: Evaluate the potential for vapour migration in residences in the area; Assess exposure and risk to residents in the... More ≫

Description

The objectives of the 2014 investigation and monitoring program were to: Evaluate the potential for vapour migration in residences in the area; Assess exposure and risk to residents in the vicinity through direct measurement of indoor air; Investigate the effects of seasonality on potential vapour intrusion, soil vapour concentrations and presents of NAPL; Evaluate if attenuation and if possible biodegradation is occurring between the source and residents; and where possible, delineate the extent of NAPL in the vicinity of monitoring well MW10-6 and further characterize soil and groundwater conditions in this area.

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Report on Canada Creosote site - North Bow screening level risk assessment update

Description

This follow-up investigation and screening level HHRA update was completed to address data gaps and recommendations outlined in the HHRA previously conducted by Golder in 2010 and 201.... More ≫

Description

This follow-up investigation and screening level HHRA update was completed to address data gaps and recommendations outlined in the HHRA previously conducted by Golder in 2010 and 201. Specifically, the objective of this investigation was to collect additional seasonal groundwater and soil vapour data at the site, and to update the previous HHRA based on this new data. The soil vapour sampling events carried out as part of this investigation targeted times of year when groundwater levels were expected to be at their approximate lowest and the vapour risk was assumed to be at its approximate highest.

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Assessment of recent changes in water quality of the Bow River downstream of the Canada Creosote site in Calgary

Description

These sampling results provide no evidence that the target compounds occur regularly in river water along the left bank (facing downstream), on the north side of the river. Contaminant movement... More ≫

Description

These sampling results provide no evidence that the target compounds occur regularly in river water along the left bank (facing downstream), on the north side of the river. Contaminant movement from the remaining pool of DNAPL in the river bed close to the right bank (facing downstream) remains the likely source of compounds detected on that side of the river downstream from the Canada Creosote site.

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Evaluation of four reports on contamination of the Athabasca River system by oil sands operations

Description

This publication includes the technical evaluation, recommendations and general conclusions drawn from four reports of contamination of the Athabasca River system by oil sands operations. The four... More ≫

Description

This publication includes the technical evaluation, recommendations and general conclusions drawn from four reports of contamination of the Athabasca River system by oil sands operations. The four reports included two papers written by a team of scientists led by Drs. David Schindler and Erin Kelly of the University of Alberta, one Alberta Environment report written by T. Hebben, and a report from the Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program.

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Air pollutant and deposition monitoring networks in Alberta : a review and recommendations for potential future networks

Description

Alberta Environment commissioned Dr. John Neil Cape from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at the Edinburgh Research Station in the United Kingdom to conduct a review of current air and... More ≫

Description

Alberta Environment commissioned Dr. John Neil Cape from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at the Edinburgh Research Station in the United Kingdom to conduct a review of current air and deposition monitoring in Alberta and provided recommendations for future network development. The review was conducted to support the development of a new air monitoring strategic plan for Alberta, and considered factors such as existing air monitoring in Alberta and future air emission scenarios.

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Technical and regulatory review and benchmarking of air emissions from Alberta's kraft pulp mills

Description

The purpose of the study is to provide the technical background needed to assist Alberta Environment when considering setting air emission standards for new pulp and paper mills. It also provides... More ≫

Description

The purpose of the study is to provide the technical background needed to assist Alberta Environment when considering setting air emission standards for new pulp and paper mills. It also provides an assessment of the air emission performance of Alberta’s mills both in terms of existing mills and new world class mills elsewhere.

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An independent review of coalbed methane related water well complaints filed with Alberta Environment

Description

Alberta Research Council was contracted by Alberta Environment to conduct four reviews of complaints about coalbed methane activities affecting private water wells, to independently assess the... More ≫

Description

Alberta Research Council was contracted by Alberta Environment to conduct four reviews of complaints about coalbed methane activities affecting private water wells, to independently assess the scientific evidence and provide conclusions identifying whether or not the water wells had been impacted by coalbed methane or conventional oil/gas extraction activities.

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Refinement study of dry deposition inference methods used in Alberta

Description

Reports the results of a study that examined the performance of Alberta Environment’s inference model relative to the Environment Canada model for predicting dry deposition in Alberta and used... More ≫

Description

Reports the results of a study that examined the performance of Alberta Environment’s inference model relative to the Environment Canada model for predicting dry deposition in Alberta and used this performance comparison to recommend changes for a number of assumptions and boundary conditions in the Alberta inference model to improve its performance.

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Potential for biodegradation of sub-littoral residual oil by naturally occurring microorganisms following the Lake Wabamun train derailment

Description

On August 3rd, 2005, 46 Canadian National Railway Company rail cars derailed approximately 65 km west of Edmonton, Alberta. Approximately 712,000 L of Bunker C heavy fuel oil and 88,000 L of... More ≫

Description

On August 3rd, 2005, 46 Canadian National Railway Company rail cars derailed approximately 65 km west of Edmonton, Alberta. Approximately 712,000 L of Bunker C heavy fuel oil and 88,000 L of Imperial Pole Treating Oil were released from the ruptured cars. The oils saturated the adjacent ground, flowed on the surface, and entered the lake waters on the north shore of Lake Wabamun. A variety of scientific support surveys or activities were initiated by Alberta Environment and Environment Canada as a result of the spill, including a study to investigate the potential ability of Lake Wabamun sediment microorganisms to biodegrade spilled Bunker C oil. This report describes results of this study.

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