EJQ2 - Fall 2024 - Journal - Page 10
Regulations concerning excavated contaminated soil in Quebec
In Quebec, the legal regime for excess contaminated soil has been under the
purview of the Environment Quality Act, CQLR c Q-2, for close to 20 years.
Applicable contamination limit values for land are set out in the Land Protection
and Rehabilitation Regulation, CQLR c Q-2, r 37. Soil that exceeds applicable
regulatory limits must be relocated to an authorized site.
Further, the Regulation respecting contaminated soil storage and contaminated
soil transfer stations, CQLR c Q-2, r 46, establishes rules for the operation of
contaminated soil storage and soil transfer stations to reduce pollution related
to the handling of contaminated soils.
Finally, the Regulation respecting the burial of contaminated soils, CQLR c Q-2,
r 18, sets out the rules for operating and monitoring soil land昀椀ll sites, and
prohibits the disposal of heavily contaminated excavated soil that has not
undergone treatment.
CUTLINE
FOR THE TURCOT EXCHANGE
PROJECT IN MONTREAL, QUE.,
AN INCREDIBLE VOLUME OF 3.2 MILLION CUBIC METERS OF
CONTAMINATED SOILS WAS REMEDIATED, FROM WHICH
A VAST MAJORITY WAS KEPT SAFELY ON-SITE THROUGH A
RISK-ASSESSMENT APPROACH. PROJECT TEAM:
WSP CANADA INC. AND KPH TURCOT.
In 2021, Quebec introduced two new regulations governing excess
contaminated soil:
1) the Regulation respecting the traceability of excavated contaminated soils,
E N V I RON M E N T J OURN A L QUA RT E RLY RE PORT • FA L L 2 02 4 • P AGE 1 0
