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June/July, 2020 - Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine
New regulations may help control the cost of dealing with excess construction soils
January 14, 2020 - The Daily Commercial News
Crosslinx digs for Caledonia station excess soil solutions
December 31, 2019 - The Daily Commercial News
Province clarifies rules for appropriate reuse of excess soils
December 30, 2019 - The Daily Commercial News
Ford government initiatives top list of 2019 Ontario construction newsmakers
December 18, 2019 - Novae Res Urbis
EXCESS SOILS REGULATIONS - BENEFICIAL RE-USE
May 30, 2019 - RCCAO and SOiiL Comments re ERO Instrument #013-5000
Ontario Excess Soil Regulatory Proposal and Amendments to RSC Regulation
May 20, 2019 - HazMat
Ontario's Proposed Excess Soil Regulations: Effects & Benefits
April 29, 2019 - CANECT 2019
CANECT 2019: Brownfields Regulation and Compliance Course - May 7, 2019
Venetian Banquet and Hospitality Centre, 219 Romina Drive, Vaughan, Ontario
This popular one-day compliance "clinic" provides an essential update to enable consultants, governments, proponents, developers, municipalities and environmental professionals to successfully navigate practical issues arising from the new rules for excess soil, contaminated sites, risk assessment and liability.March 18, 2019 - The Daily Commercial News
Ontario's environment ministry takes multi-pronged excess soils approach
February 25, 2019 - Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine
Construction soil is a valuable resource that should not be wasted
December 31, 2018 - The Daily Commercial News
Change in government Ontario's top 2018 newsmaker
December 5, 2018 - NRU Publishing Inc.
Regulations Needed: Excess Soil Management
Posted with permission of the publisher of NRU Publishing Inc. Original article first appeared in Novae Res Urbis - GTHA Edition, Vol. 21, No. 48, Wednesday, December 5, 2018.November 28, 2018 - Presentation by Al Durand
Presentation at the CUI Excess Soil Symposium - Ajax, Ontario
November 22, 2018 - Thunder Bay Ontario, Presentation
Presentation to Municipal Engineers Association of Ontario
November 5, 2018 - Ontario Construction Report
Ontario construction groups issue video series on excess soil management
November 3, 2018 - Toronto Sun
October 30, 2018 - HazMatmag.com
Ontario construction groups launch video series on excess soil management
September 28, 2018 - Press Release
New video series uncovers dirt on excess soil management
September 18, 2018 - Press Release
The Real Dirt on Dirt: Ontario construction groups launch video series on excess soil management
March, 2018 - Article by Andy Manahan - Executive Director, RCCAO
New Regulations are Being Developed for Reuse of Excess Construction Soils
December 22, 2017
Environmental director addresses proposed excess soil changes
December 19, 2017
Changes announced for excess soil regulatory package
December 1, 2017
Excess Soils Engagement Group and Market Group Meeting Presentation.
August 14, 2017
Construction leaders commend Murray as he steps down
July 6, 2017
Excess soil regulations headed down a 'rabbit hole'
May 4, 2017
Excess soils report stresses quantity and quality
April 26, 2017
2017 UPDATE: QUANTIFICATION of Excess Construction Soils in Ontario
February 16, 2017
Province 'doing nothing to protect' environment from soil dumps: OSRTF
December 21, 2016
The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change finalized the Excess Soil Management Policy Framework December 19, 2016. This framework is based on input provided through meetings, listening sessions, working groups and through the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) proposal notice, posted on the Environmental Registry on January 26, 2016. As stated this a policy framework for soil management that supports the reuse of excess soil for beneficial uses, in a way that protects human health and the environment.
The final framework contains two key goals related to excess soil:
1. Protect human health and the environment from inappropriate relocation of excess soil
2. Enhance opportunities for the beneficial reuse of excess soil and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the movement of excess soil
The final framework also includes a set of principles to guide policy and program development, a description of existing policy, roles and responsibilities and a series of policy needs, actions and priorities to move forward on.
EXCESS SOIL MANAGEMENT POLICY FRAMEWORKDecember 20, 2016
Cities need attitude adjustment on soil say stakeholders
November 28, 2016
Excess Soil Management: Ontario is Wasting a Precious Resource
October 19, 2016
New online resource helps dig into excess soil issues
September 28, 2016
September 8, 2016
July 18, 2016
Industry Perspectives: Let's get moving on excess soils framework ASAP
June 20, 2016
Industry awaits impacts of the Waste-Free Ontario Act
May 25, 2016
The Dirt: Province Moves to Regulate Excavated - and Toxic-Soil
May 2, 2016
New Ontario soil regulations getting down and dirty
April 12, 2016
Excess Soil Handling - Implementing best practices for the construction industry
March 27, 2016
RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSED EXCESS SOIL MANAGEMENT POLICY FRAMEWORK
March 24, 2016
EBR 012 - 6065 Excess Soil Management Policy Framework
March 24, 2016
Proposed Excess Soil Management Policy Framework/EBR consultation
February 26, 2016
ONEIA's Excess Soil Seminar
Province drafts framework to ensure "soils get to where they should go"February 19, 2016
Dumping ground: Ontario moves to clean up excess soil management policies
January 28, 2016
Province set to overhaul regulations on construction site soil removal
January 26, 2016
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) released on January 26, 2016 their Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) review of the need for excess soil related policy in Ontario.
The MOECC, along with a number of supporting Ministries, has concluded that a clarified and improved policy framework is necessary to support implementation of the directions set out in MOECC's existing "Management of Excess Soil - A Guide for Best Management Practices" (BMP).
Based on the results of the review, the province has developed a proposed Excess Soil Management Policy Framework which is now posted for a 60 day period on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry (Registry # 012-6065) at www.ebr.gov.on.ca.
The province intends to complete consultations on the proposed framework and develop priority policies in accordance with that framework.
If you have any questions regarding the review or proposed framework, please contact Atif Durrani, Senior Policy Advisor, Land and Water Policy Branch (416) 314-3888 or by email at Atif.Durrani2@ontario.ca
SOiiL, RCCAO, ONEIA and other industry associations will be responding to the MOECC's proposed Excess Soil Management Framework as part of ongoing consultation.
November 27, 2015
The Town of Whitby under section 142 of the Municipal Act, 2001 is amending their Site Alteration By-law to regulate the dumping of fill in Whitby. The Town's Legal and Public Works Departments have been conducting public and industry consultations on a proposed Site Alteration By-law and supporting revisions to their Fill Control By-law. These consultations have been underway since June 2015 with planned implementation in early 2016. November 27, 2015 SOiiL and RCCAO provide the following letter to the town of Whitby outlining the need to reference and incorporate MOECC provincial recommendations included in their Soil Management - A Guide for Best Management Practices in proposed Fill Control By-law.
November 26, 2015
On Thursday November 26, 2015 ONEIA (Ontario Environmental Industry Association) hosted their second annual soil management event. The session had more than 100 attendees and included a briefing by the MOECC on their excess soils policy study review status, an update on the recent soil movement survey being conducted by RCCAO and OSPE (Ontario Society of Professional Engineers) as well as a practitioner's panel discussion on a number of soil movement developments including soil matching. For more information from the ONEIA session including presentations made and photos . . . .
October 26, 2015
The Toronto Star published a story October 26, 2015 regarding plans for a proposed new Mississauga waterfront park on the site of the old Lakeview generating station. Councilor Jim Tovey of Mississauga, an interested champion for beneficially reusing excess "clean fill" from local construction projects, is referenced in the article.
August 20, 2015
Excess Soils Management - Multi-Ministry Meeting
August 19, 2015
RCCAO and CL:AIRE Excess Construction Soils in Ontario Workshop
August 17, 2015
Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference
August 11, 2015
EBR Review Excess Soil Policy in Ontario
June 10, 2015
Who's responsibility is it when dirty dirt surfaces?
Contaminated soil found at the Greenbank Airways site in Durham Region has unearthed a bigger question on the reuse of excess soil: Who should take responsibility when issues surface, the province or municipalities?
Recently, Scugog Township pulled the plug on the delivery of soil to the airport site, which is located at Highway 47 East just outside of Port Perry, Ont.
Twelve of 16 bore holes tested by Golder Associates in March were found to have exceedances beyond Table 2, a standard set out by the province.March 5, 2015
INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES: Ontario can act on excess construction soil by Andy Manahan
Many infrastructure projects are underway across Southern Ontario. Construction crews are building and repairing rapid transit lines and roads, and extending and replacing old sewers and watermains.
These excavations have resulted in 20 to 25 million cubic metres of excess soils each year in Ontario - enough to fill the Rogers Centre in Toronto more than 15 times. There is a growing recognition by municipalities, the public and the construction sector that the current approach to managing excess soils is not working as effectively as it should. Construction companies and contractors have few options for disposing of excess soils, which means that it has to be hauled long distances to designated landfills in rural Ontario. Across the province, this creates an additional tax burden of up to $1.7 billion every year.Avenues Magazine
A better approach to soil managementOGRA Milestones Magazine
Beneficial Re-use of Excess Construction Soils - An opportunity for Ontario municipalitiesJanuary 7, 2015
Improved soil practices need action now: expert
It took years to get the best management practices (BMP) hashed out to deal with excess soils, and one stakeholder fears these practices will get buried if not implemented now by municipalities and encouraged by government
Andy Manahan, Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) executive director, says the concern stems from the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's (MOECC) decision to review the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) with reference to soil policy in Ontario.December 15, 2014
Re: EBR Application for Review: Excess Soil Management Policy Session
Follow-up recommendations from RCCAO Listening Session hosted October 16, 2014
On behalf of RCCAO and the Listening Session attendees we would like to thank you for the opportunity to meet with MOECC representatives and discuss the issues surrounding excess soil management policy needs in Ontario. As you know, over the past number of years RCCAO has jointly and actively participated with MOECC as a stakeholder in providing realistic and pragmatic solutions to excess soil handling challenges in Ontario.October 20, 2014
thestar.com
Toxic dirt dumped in Ontario's prime farmland
With lax rules and no tracking system, Ontario sits idly while Toronto's contaminated dirt is dumped in the countryside.September 9, 2014
The Ontario Environmental Industry Association (ONEIA) hosted a half day session on Soil Management at the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel, Toronto. The session was well attended with in excess of 120 individuals from government, industry and citizen groups participating. The Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) provided an update on the implementation of their recently released soil best management practices as well as an outline on their planned Ontario soil policy review being carried out by MOECC over the next eighteen months. A presentation was made by SOiiL on activities related to excess soil handling best practices developments including a proposed municipal soil handling model by-law, pilot testing opportunities, the need for soil metrics, soil handling depots and municipal contracting and supporting procurement practices. An update on the SOiiL soil matching registry was also given including a summary of learning's to date and experiences coming out of the United Kingdom pertaining to the soil matching registry process and funding. Presentations were also made by the Region of Waterloo, Waterfront Toronto and Metrolinx on their soil handling perspectives. There was also a construction industry contractors panel session and discussion. Copies of all the Soil Management session presentations are available at the following ONEIA link -- http://www.oneia.ca/page-174029
August 29, 2014
Goodbye Column: The DCN and construction leave lifelong impact
"I certainly never thought one of my favourite topics of conversation would be excess construction soils and the soil matching service from SOiiL."July 6, 2014
Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine
By A.J. (Al) Durand
Handling excess soil - how we got to where we are and where things are goingJuly 3, 2014
Daily Commercial News
Industry to focus on the effects of climate change on infrastructure with new ministerMay 9, 2014
Organizations, municipalities and companies involved in managing and handling excess soil in Ontario have an opportunity to input into the development of excess soil management policies in Ontario. SOiiL and the Ontario Environment Industry Association (ONEIA) are working with MOE to further understand and assess the implementation and effectiveness of the recently introduced Soil Management Best Management Practices Guide in Ontario. SOiiL is looking for examples and "real life" case studies involving the movement of excess soils and the application of the recently released BMP's. This information will provide necessary feedback and learnings on issues involved in BMP application as well as provide inputs to the recently announced MOE policy review on excess soil management. This is your chance to participate and have your voice heard based on real life examples.
Please contact the SOiiL Administrator soiiladministrator@soiil.com for further information regarding the publishing of case studies or providing recommendations on the subject of best management practice approaches for excess soil handling in Ontario.
April 30, 2014
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has announced that a review will be conducted on fill practices at the request of the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario under the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR). This is to be a broad review covering other Ministries involved in fill operations (MMAH, MTO, MNR, MOI) as well as municipalities. This process is expected to take eighteen months and should be completed by the summer of 2015. MOE representatives provided a brief overview of the planned review at the RCCAO / SOiiL Excess Soils Workshop held March 3, 2014 - See SOiiL Events section. This review will look at current policy gaps and make recommendations for a more comprehensive excess soil policy approach in Ontario.
SOiiL will continue to follow the progress of the planned MOE policy review and keep readers up to date on developments.
January 24, 2014
Management of Excess Soil - A Guide for Best Management Practices
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment is pleased to advise that the final, Management of Excess Soil - A Guide for Best Management Practices is now available on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry and the ministry's website. The guide can be accessed at:
http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment/en/resources/STDPROD_110253.html or
http://soiil.com/news/files/STDPROD_110253.pdfThe document provides essential guidance on many aspects of managing soil for site owners, developers and contractors and promotes a consistent approach to managing excess soil across the province. The document outlines the MOE's expectations for the beneficial management of excess soil in a manner that promotes sustainability and protects the natural environment.
The ministry will also be undertaking a review of the need for additional soil management policy which will consider these best management practices and what the ministry heard through our engagement with the public, stakeholders and other ministries.
December 4, 2013
A presentation was made by SOiiL and RCCAO December 4th to the City of Toronto's Planning and Growth Management Committee. This presentation was a follow-up to the previous September 23, 2013 meeting held with Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker, along with a number of GTA municipalities and conservation groups. These presentations were made with respect to ongoing discussions City Councillors and City staff regarding a City of Toronto report covering recommendations on the Management of Excess Soils from Large Redevelopment and Construction Projects in Toronto.
Download a copy of the RCCAO / SOiiL presentation made December 4, 2013
A copy of the most recent version of the City Of Toronto recommendations and report proposal regarding the Management of Excess Soils from Large Redevelopment and Construction Projects is available at the following link http://soiil.com/news/files-news/Agenda-Item-History-2013-MM37-25.pdf
November 13, 2013
Daily Commercial News
Ontario soil matching now possible thanks to SOiiLNovember 4, 2013
Soil "dating service" matches supply & demand
New industry matching registry finds uses for surplus soilNovember 4, 2013
Daily Commercial News
Industry digs in U.K. for soil management and remediation solutions for Ontario
Ontario construction soil matching tool unveiledSeptember 18, 2013
The Brantford Expositor published an article in its Saturday, September 14, 2013 edition covering planned soil remediation pilot project to be carried out by a consortium of companies led by Groundwater Technology at Mohawk Street in Brantford, Ontario.
April 5, 2013
Daily Commercial News
Inconsistent municipal soil framework needs work