Engineers and Geoscientists BC

Theory and Application of Contaminant Migration in Groundwater at Contaminated Sites in BC

Date(s):
Thursday, April 30, 2020
8:00 AM–8:30 AM: Registration and Breakfast
8:30 AM–4:30 PM: Theory and Application of Contaminant Migration in Groundwater at Contaminated Sites in BC
Format:
Vancouver, BC
Status:
This seminar has been postponed. A new date is to be announced.

Eligible for 7 CE Hour(s) of Formal Learning

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Event Details


Cost

Engineers and Geoscientists BC Registrant Early Bird Price: $419.00 + GST = $439.95 until Apr 16, 2020

Engineers and Geoscientists BC Registrant Regular Price: $519.00 + GST = $544.95

Non-Registrant Price: $519.00 + GST = $544.95

Student Price: $259.50 + GST = $272.48

Contact

Allison Smith

Event Presenter(s)


Stephen Munzar, P.Geo.

Reg North, P.Eng./P.Geo.

Event Description


Evaluating contaminant migration in groundwater is critical when assessing current and future impacts to the environment. These evaluations are required when defining applicable regulatory assessment criteria, conducting human health and ecological risk assessments, submitting applications for regulatory instruments, and develop monitoring programs. This work is commonly completed at contaminated properties such as service station and dry cleaner sites, and other commercial/industrial sites.

About the Event


Session Description

This session will cover how potential and/or known contaminant sources are characterized, including how to define proper applicable water uses in accordance to the BC Contaminated Sites Regulation; how to determine the contaminant-specific mobility in groundwater based on inherent physical and chemical properties, their release mechanism to the environment, and their migration pathway and fate in the environment. The session will emphasize the mechanisms of contaminant transport in the subsurface and how to qualitatively and quantitatively predict contaminant migration towards potential sensitive receiving environments. The benefit and use of conceptual site models will be presented; as well as, common contaminant transport modelling techniques. This session should allow individuals to understand how to undertake a groundwater contaminant fate and transport assessment, minimum data that should be collected, and methods used to quantify contaminant transport towards a receiving environment. This topic will interest those who review fate and transport assessments conducted by consultants such as Government Regulators and Industry project managers. It will also be of interest to hydrogeologists and risk assessors who are carrying out fate and transport assessments on their projects.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will learn how to:

  • Design a site characterization program to identify a contaminant source;
  • Research and assess the mobility of specific contaminants in the environment;
  • Identify the likely release mechanism of various contaminants to groundwater;
  • Assess the primary and secondary contaminant transport mechanisms acting on the contaminant in the environment;
  • How to develop a conceptual site model describing contaminant transport in groundwater; and
  • Determine appropriate methods to quantify contaminant transport towards a receiving environment.

Audience Level

  • Novice, Intermediate

Target Audience

  • Government regulators reviewing environmental reports prepared by consultants;
  • Industry professionals managing environmental projects (e.g., mining, oil and gas, land development, municipality); and
  • Consultants (hydrogeologists, engineers, and risk assessors) carrying out fate and transport studies.

Presenters

Stephen Munzar, P.Geo.

Core6 Environmental Ltd.

Stephen has a Bachelor of Science in geology and Master of Science in hydrogeology from the University of British Columbia. He is a registered professional geoscientist in BC and has presented on technical hydrogeology topics at conferences in Canada and the US. Stephen has over 19 years of combined geology and hydrogeology experience, specializing in hydrogeologic site characterization and remediation with particular expertise in evaluating the fate and transport of petroleum hydrocarbons, non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs), and inorganic substances. Stephen is also a member of the BC Science Advisory Board for Contaminated Sites where he has provided senior technical review of regulatory guidance documents, including draft guidance on investigations in fractured bedrock. He has also provided technical support to the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Yukon on reviewing hydrogeologic assessments. Over his career he has focused on applying advanced physical and contaminant hydrogeology to find strategic, scientifically-based solutions to complex hydrogeologic problems.

Reg North, P.Eng./P.Geo.

Core6 Environmental Ltd.

Reg has a geological engineering degree from the University of British Columbia and 29 years of experience designing, implementing, and managing groundwater investigations and remediation programs throughout western Canada and the United States. He has acted as an expert witness/reviewer for both the public and private sectors. Reg has managed hydrogeologic investigations on sites ranging from small City properties to large mine sites and has experience with a wide variety of contaminants, including organic and inorganic compounds and light and dense non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPL and DNAPLs). Reg also has considerable experience in public meetings, negotiating with regulators, and effectively managing multidisciplinary technical teams involving other consulting firms on large projects. Reg’s technical expertise includes hydrogeologic site investigation, groundwater monitoring design, hydraulic testing, including slug and pump test design and interpretation, groundwater modelling, contaminant fate, and transport and groundwater remediation. He is a member of the Contaminated Sites Approved Professional (CSAP) Society and a member of the Science Advisory Board for contaminated sites in BC.