On The Blog

Stay informed by reading our regularly posted articles on industry updates.

Brownfield Remedial Options Evaluations

Brownfield Remedial Options Evaluations

by Richard Johns, P.Eng. Once you have investigated a contaminated site and determine the presence and extent of contaminants, a determination on the preferred remediation option needs to be made....

read more

How Engineers stay Relevant in 2019

by Francisco A. Perelló, P.Eng. The Role of Engineering in the World of Industry 4.0 As part of National Engineering Month, on March 5, 2019, I attended the UBC Student and Industry Night which was...

read more
Contaminated Soil Relocation in BC

Contaminated Soil Relocation in BC

Current and Future Changes Previously, soils that exceeded the former Schedule 7 standards of the Contaminated Sites Regulation (CSR) could only be moved to a site other than a permitted landfill...

read more
Women in Environmental Science

Women in Environmental Science

At Keystone Environmental we know how important it is to see diversity in the workplace and to celebrate the accomplishments of all of our staff. In honour of International Day of Women and Girls in...

read more
Bird Nesting Season

Bird Nesting Season

As spring approaches, so do sensitive timing periods for a variety of wildlife. Recently, spring bird nesting has become the focus for many local municipalities during the permitting process for...

read more

Contamination Impact on Land Value

The 2018 Property Assessment information has now been announced. Commercial property values in Greater Vancouver increased between the 5% - 50% range. BC Assessment's evaluation of Greater...

read more
Hydrogeological Study

Hydrogeological Study

Hydrogeological Study Requirement for the City of Vancouver and other Jurisdictions The City of Vancouver (COV), Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability Department recently issued a Groundwater...

read more
Rain Gardens and Infiltration Systems

Rain Gardens and Infiltration Systems

Designing Infiltration Systems to Return Rainwater to the Ground With the rising density of housing in Metro Vancouver, many Municipalities are promoting the use of rain gardens and infiltration...

read more
Acoustic Bat Monitoring

Acoustic Bat Monitoring

Bats are an important, but often an overlooked part of many natural and urban ecosystems, as they consume nuisance insect populations such as mosquitoes and beetles that impact crops and forestry....

read more
Environmental DNA (eDNA)

Environmental DNA (eDNA)

A new and exciting opportunity to discover what species are living in a habitat has arrived! The process is called environmental DNA, or eDNA, and involves the analysis of environmental samples...

read more
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation

Reliable Operators Available 24 Hours a Day Keystone Environmental Ltd. has nearly thirty years of experience in wastewater treatment plant operation across British Columbia, from the Lower Mainland...

read more
Off Site Migration

Off Site Migration

What to do if Someone has Contaminated your Site by Michael Geraghty, P.Geo. Senior Technical Manager You have just received a Notification of Likely or Actual Migration from your neighbor saying...

read more
Spill Response

Spill Response

Keystone Environmental assists clients in spill response activities ranging from initial impact assessment to directing and implementing response actions to protect the environment, effect clean up,...

read more
Sointula Ferry Terminal Replacement

Sointula Ferry Terminal Replacement

The Sointula Ferry terminal replacement included removal of the existing wharf, life cycle improvements to the trestle and transfer span, and construction of a new berth in the area of the existing...

read more
Lawson Foreshore Enhancement Project

Lawson Foreshore Enhancement Project

John Lawson Park, on the waterfront in the Ambleside West Vancouver community was in danger of damage from ocean wave action during King Tides.   Keystone Environmental worked with the District of...

read more
New Industrial Wharf & Shiploader

New Industrial Wharf & Shiploader

Keystone Environmental completed the environmental investigations and approvals for this facility upgrade. The plan was to replace the nearly 100-year-old wharf facility with a new Panamax bulk...

read more
Shoreline Protection Project

Shoreline Protection Project

Keystone Environmental completed a marine habitat assessment of 16 foreshore and backshore locations around the William Head Institution in Metchosin, BC in 2014/2015. We collected baseline habitat,...

read more
Vancouver Shipyards Modernization Project

Vancouver Shipyards Modernization Project

The Vancouver Shipyards Modernization Project involved the development of a shipbuilding and ship repair centre, which included reconfiguring existing buildings, eight new buildings and a load‑out...

read more
Discharge Permitting

Discharge Permitting

Discharge Permitting: Engineers Making Compliance Easier Does your business have an air or liquid discharge to the environment? Does your process generate air particulate or chemicals...

read more
Spring Bird Nesting

Spring Bird Nesting

by Jayme Brooks, B.Sc., R.PBio. Intermediate Biologist As spring approaches, so do sensitive timing periods for a variety of wildlife. Recently, spring bird nesting has become the focus...

read more
New Metal Groundwater Standards

New Metal Groundwater Standards

The recently adopted Stage 11 Amendments to the Contaminated Sites Regulations (CSR) included new groundwater standards for metals such as cobalt, lithium and thallium that are less than...

read more
New Keystone Environmental Staff

New Keystone Environmental Staff

Keystone Environmental continues to enjoy rapid growth and a healthy pipeline of projects and as such, we are always on the lookout for the best and brightest in the environmental field....

read more
Contamination Impact on Land Value

Contamination Impact on Land Value

Commercial property values in Greater Vancouver increased between 15 to 30%. BC Assessment's evaluation of Greater Vancouver includes Vancouver, the North Shore, Squamish, Burnaby, the...

read more

National Pollutant Release Inventory

The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) 2016 reporting deadline of June 1, 2017 is fast approaching, and Keystone Environmental Ltd. offers the skills, resources and experience to improve...

read more
Project Manager New Years Resolutions

Project Manager New Years Resolutions

With 2017 right around the corner, brands and businesses are putting the finishing touches on their strategies for the New Year. Whether it’s exceeding revenue targets over 2016,...

read more
Chatterton Chemicals

Chatterton Chemicals

At this former Dow Chemical plant site, Chatterton Chemical's soil and groundwater were contaminated, the main source being a major toluene spill during plant operation.  Following more than 10...

read more
Squamish Barge Spill

Squamish Barge Spill

In early April, the Canadian Coast Guard took control of two derelict barges after one barge was found sinking in the Mamquam Blind Channel. After spill containment booms were placed...

read more

Similkameen River Diesel Spill

In early April 2016, a fuel tanker truck with trailer and pup traveling east on the Crowsnest Highway was involved in a motor vehicle accident, which caused the pup trailer to rupture and veer over...

read more

Alberta Wildfire Relief Fund

It has been a longstanding tradition at Keystone Environmental to give back to the community, supporting local charities and causes. This tradition is a strong component of our Company Culture and...

read more
Reporting Requirements NPRI

Reporting Requirements NPRI

Since 1999, Environment Canada has collected data from Canadian companies regarding the release of known pollutants to air, water and land within Canada. Using the National Pollutant...

read more