EJQ6 - Fall 2025 - Journal - Page 14
in Western Canada based on a Southern Ontario benchmark may not be
re昀氀ective of the actual risk.”
He emphasized the importance of avoiding too much technical jargon and clearly
communicating risks to the various stakeholders.
When it comes to metals, one of the things PTAC is looking at is
selenium in soils: “I think everyone would agree that, in its elemental
state, it can be quite toxic and very detrimental to the environment,
but when it’s in a molecular form, it can be much less so. The challenge
there is the way labs test samples is they bring everything down to the
elemental level and say, ‘This is how much selenium is in the soil,’ not
what form it’s in.”
“It’s an area where we need to improve, not just to the regulator, but to the
landowner, to the First Nations, to the various groups involved, because the
underpinning of all of it is getting a site to an equivalent level of risk that’s
acceptable,” he said.
When we’re looking at our benchmarks and our processes, according to
Fogwill, we should be considering the risk associated with it and meet
the risk that people are expecting to be met.
Engaging stakeholders in sustainable soil management
How are project managers engaging with stakeholders and reaching out
to communities to 昀椀nd mutual solutions?
From a contaminated sites practitioner perspective, Purves said
the main challenge is always around stakeholder communication.
“I want to be careful, and I’m not speaking on behalf of any Indigenous groups or First
Nations groups, but I will say that soil management in B.C. in particular has always
provided an economic opportunity, whether you’re Indigenous or not,” said Meikle.
“This is a big business.”
Continuing the conversation in Calgary
Before the webinar concluded, attendees were
polled about the appetite for a Western Canadian
edition of the Excess Soils Symposium and
there was a healthy response. Join us on June
11, 2026 to continue the conversation at Excess
Soils Symposium Calgary. The call for abstract
submissions is open until November 28, 2025.
COMING SOON!
EXCESS SOILS SYMPOSIUM CALGARY
E N V I RON M E N T J OURN A L QUA RT E RLY RE PORT • FA L L 2 02 5 • P AGE 1 4
