On The Blog
Stay informed by reading our regularly posted articles on industry updates.
35 Year Anniversary Celebration
In 1988, Keystone Environmental opened its doors, and this year, the company enters its 35th year of business. In March, we celebrated this anniversary milestone at the elegant Rosewood Hotel Georgia for an evening of great food, drinks, and conversations. Thank you...
Understand How the Migratory Birds Regulation can Affect Your Development Project
The Migratory Birds Regulation (2022) (MBR), prohibits the capture, kill, take, injure or harassment of migratory birds without a permit and protects migratory bird nests when they contain a live bird or viable egg. As of July 2022, there is also year-round protection...
Stage 14 Amendments to the BC Contaminated Sites Regulation: Reminder and Update
Stage 14 Amendments to the BC Contaminated Sites Regulation: Reminder and Update To streamline the soil relocation process and improve ministry oversight, the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) has proposed changes for the province’s soil...
Letter From The President
Message From the PresidentRaminder Grewal, P.Eng. Keystone Environmental is extremely proud to be marking its 35th anniversary this year – a significant milestone that only a few companies can achieve. We are celebrating this anniversary on the heels of what is...
Is Contamination Affecting your BC Property Assessment?
Last week BC Assessment released real property assessments to owners based on market values as of July 1, 2022, and physical condition of the property as of October 31, 2022. The deadline to file an appeal on an assessed property value is January 31st. When...
Permit to Practice: Understanding the New Framework
Permit to Practice: Understanding the New Framework What is the New Framework On February 5, 2021, the Professional Governance Act (PGA) came into force and replaced the Engineers and Geoscientists Act. It establishes a framework for professional regulators including...
Upcoming Contaminated Sites Regulatory Changes for BC and Ontario
British Columbia: Stage 14 Amendments to the Contaminated Sites Regulation To streamline the soil relocation process and improve ministry oversight, the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) has proposed changes for the province’s soil...
Keystone Environmental Expands into Ontario
Keystone Environmental Ltd. is proud to announce the opening of a new office location in Ontario effective October 1, 2022. With increasing demand of environmental services across the nation, we are committed to delivering technical excellence and prompt service...
Japanese Beetle Soil Movement Restrictions – Updates for 2022
Source: www.Gardentech.com What is the Japanese Beetle? On March 19, 2022, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) made several updates to its response to control the Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica). This invasive insect was introduced to North America from...
National Day of Mourning – Taking Time to Pause and Reflect
Photo credit: WorkSafeBC The National Day of Mourning is observed in Canada on April 28th. It’s a day to honor workers and their families who have lost life or have suffered injuries or illness due to workplace related hazards and occupational exposures. Keystone...
Keystone Environmental Named one of Canada’s Top Small and Medium Employers for 2022
Burnaby, BC – April 5, 2022 – Keystone Environmental is proud to once again be named one of Canada’s Top Small and Medium Employers for 2022. This is the fifth consecutive year the company has been awarded this title, making it one of the nation’s best workplaces with...
NPRI Reporting for 2021 Calendar Year Due in June
The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (BC ENV) are proposing to change the regime for soil relocation in British Columbia
Bird Nesting Season is Here
As spring approaches, so do sensitive timing periods for a variety of wildlife. In British Columbia, the majority of native birds and their nests are protected under the provincial Wildlife Act and federal Migratory Birds Convention Act.
Proposed Regulatory Changes for Soil Relocation in BC
The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (BC ENV) are proposing to change the regime for soil relocation in British Columbia
Contamination Can Impact Your BC Assessment Value
Every year, BC Assessment produces independent assessments for all property owners in the province. Information for 2022 was released on January 4th and is based on market values as of July 1, 2021, and physical condition as of October 31, 2021. The deadline to...
Get Radon Testing for your Home to Reduce Health Risks
DID YOU KNOW? Radon - a natural occurring gas from the ground - can build up indoors and is the second leading cause of lung cancer What is Radon? Radon is an active and dangerous gas that is released from the ground when uranium breaks down in soils and rocks. When...
Keystone Environmental enters into Partnership with Indoor Air Quality Specialists, Sterling IAQ
Keystone Environmental President, Raminder Grewal, with Sterling IAQ President, Michael Glassco.Burnaby, BC – October 4, 2021 – Keystone Environmental Ltd. is pleased to announce that they have entered a partnership with Sterling IAQ Consultants Ltd. (Sterling IAQ)....
Water Sustainability Act (WSA) Section 10 Use Approval
The Use Approval under Section 10 of the Water Sustainability Act (WSA) have caught many developers, site owners, and contractors off-guard in the past couple of years. Construction sites, mine sites, or other excavation sites where dewatering is needed, are required...
Meet Our Engineers
In honour of March being Engineering month, we are taking the time to introduce you to some of the engineers on staff at Keystone Environmental. Mathew Barker, P. Eng. and Christina Chan, P. Eng. are both valuable members of our Engineering department. We interviewed...
Tank ERPs | Petroleum Storage Tank Emergency Response Plan
Petroleum Storage Tank Emergency Response Plans (Tank ERPs) are designed to swiftly provide pertinent information about the tank, its’ contents, and its’ surrounding area to personnel for spill response. Petroleum storage tanks on federally regulated properties must...
Women in Science 2021
In 2015, the General Assembly adopted a resolution to establish an annual International Day to recognize the critical role women and girls play in science and technology communities. In welcoming the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural...
Keystone Environmental Ltd. Announces 4 New Shareholders
Today, February 1, 2021 Keystone Environmental Ltd. 33 anniversary, we are pleased to announce four new shareholders to the organization. "These team members have made a considerable impact on the success of Keystone Environmental and we are happy to announce that...
British Columbia Wetlands | A Cause for Celebration
Burns Bog, located in Delta, BC is the largest peat bog in Western Canada (Photo Credit: Nathan Bendriem) by Nathan Bendriem, Junior Biologist In British Columbia, wetlands make up about 5.28 million hectares, or 5.6% of the land mass. Simply defined, wetlands are...
Site Disclosure Statement Process Changes
The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (BC ENV) has recently been granted changes to the Site Profile process within Bill 17 (May 2019) which contained amendments to the Environmental Management Act (EMA). These changes to the EMA will come into...
Understanding the types of Environmental Risk Assessments in the BC Contaminated Site Regulations
by Adam Radlowski, M.Sc., R.P.Bio The BC Contaminated Sites Regulation (CSR), under the Environmental Management Act, specifies the requirements for site remediation in the province. The BC CSR allows substances to be remediated to numerical standards and risk-based...
What is a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and why do I need one?
The purpose of a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is to determine if there is a potential for contamination to be present on a site. Schedule 2 of the BC Contaminated Sites Regulation (CSR) provides a comprehensive list of commercial and industrial...
At a Snail’s Pace | Considerations for the Oregon Forestsnail during Development
By: Corrie Allen, M.Sc., R.P.Bio. Species at Risk are a central consideration in the early design phases of a proposed development project. While the large, charismatic megafauna like grizzly bears and killer whales garner substantial interest during proposed...
Site Identification Process Changes
The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (BC ENV) has recently been granted changes to the Site Identification process within Bill 17 (May 2019) which contained amendments to the Environmental Management Act (EMA). These changes to the EMA will come...
International Day of Women in Engineering
International Day of Women in Engineering is an international awareness campaign to raise the profile of women in engineering and focus attention on the amazing career opportunities available to women in this exciting industry. International Day of Women in...
Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM Code) in BC; A Quick Guide to the Code of Practice
On February 28, 2019 the Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM Code), under the BC Environmental Management Act, came into effect. This new regulation applies to all agriculture operations in British Columbia, including small hobby farms and...
Keystone Environmental Named One of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers for Third Consecutive Year
Keystone Environmental Ltd., the go to environmental consulting firm, announced today that it has once again been named one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc., for the third year in a row. We are grateful to not only receive this...
Environmental Emergency Regulations Amendments
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) introduced new amendments to the Environmental Emergency Regulations in August 2019. The Environmental Emergency Regulations bring changes that reinforce good environmental emergency management to better protect Canadians...
Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for Small Mines
Erosion and Sediment Control Plan(s) (ESCP) are required as part of the permitting application, through the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and are regulated under the Mines Act and the Environmental Management Act. There are two different groups...
Groundwater Management Bulletin Revisions by City of Vancouver
Originally published in 2018, the Groundwater Management Bulletin from the City of Vancouver provides rezoning and development permit applicants with information on the process and submission requirements related to groundwater management at development sites...
NPRI Reporting Deadline Changed Due to COVID-19
The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) reporting deadline has been changed from June 1st to July 31st, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NPRI reporting program is managed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and tracks data on the amount of...
A Message from Raminder Grewal, Keystone Environmental President
We know that keeping teams aligned is top of mind for organizations around the world right now as we all adapt our working arrangements to slow the spread of COVID-19. We know that many of your teams may be preparing or making the shift to work remotely (including our...
Mitigating Invasive Species Damage
Invasive species are non-native plants and animals that have been introduced to British Columbia and are understood to cause, or likely cause economic, social, or environmental damage. In addition to causing harm to native ecosystems, invasive species can negatively...
Site Profile System Changes in BC
Site Profiles are a form used as a screening tool to identify potentially contaminated sites in British Columbia. They require readily available information about the past and present uses of a site as well as basic land description. Sites that are flagged for...
Keystone Environmental Named Top Employer at ECO Impact Awards
Keystone Environmental Ltd. (Keystone Environmental), the go to environmental consulting firm, announced today that they have been named Top Employer at the ECO Impact Awards last week in Calgary, Alberta. The ECO Impact awards were developed to create visibility and...
Amendments to the Riparian Areas Regulation of BC
Streams, lakes, wetlands and their riparian areas (i.e., streamside vegetation) are protected in BC as instream habitat in the form of water, trees, shrubs. Protection is provided under the Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR), which was enacted under Section 12 of the...
Why are we Seeing More Municipalities Moving Toward Stormwater Infiltration?
The rapid and continued development of Metro Vancouver’s municipalities has changed the approach to stormwater management and its integration with watershed health. The commitment of member municipalities to the Integrated Liquid Waste Resource Management Plan...
Amendments of the Fisheries Act Become Law
On February 6th, 2018 bill C-68 proposed amendments to the Fisheries Act to restore lost protections as a result of previous changes to the Fisheries Act in 2012, while creating new protection for Canada’s marine resources. On June 21, 2019 these amendments to the...
Groundwater Dewatering Discharge in the City of Vancouver
Groundwater and stormwater are required to be managed during site construction activities in the City of Vancouver (COV). For a property that had industrial or commercial activities or is a contaminated site, the water would be required to be managed under a Waste...
Keystone Environmental Biologist Embarking on 29 Day Fraser River Adventure
Corrie Allen a fish and wildlife biologist at Keystone Environmental Ltd., is one of six individuals who have been selected from across the province to participate in the 2019 Sustainable Living Leadership Program with the Rivershed Society of British Columbia. The...
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. This is where the Keystone Environmental remediation engineers step in....
Keystone Environmental Named One of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers for Second Consecutive Year
Keystone Environmental Ltd., the go to environmental consulting firm, announced today that it has once again been named one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc., for the second year in a row. We are grateful to not only receive this...
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 an excellent opportunity to socialize, share knowledge and career...
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 with a Contaminated Soil Relocation Agreement. These instruments were...
National Engineering Month Feature | Zahra Pirani & Nigel Grewal
March is National Engineering month! This month Keystone Environmental professionals of engineering share what an exciting and fun career choice engineering really is. Last month we featured some of the amazing women in science we have on staff, and this month we are...
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 Science, which was celebrated on February 11, we interviewed some of...