On The Blog

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

Keystone Environmental Announces Two New Shareholders

Keystone Environmental Announces Two New Shareholders

We are delighted to announce a significant milestone in the growth of Keystone Environmental. Two leaders in our Biological Services Department, @Warren Appleton and @Jeremy Nilson, have officially been named as shareholders of the company.Warren – Department Head for...

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Updates on Species and their Regulations

Updates on Species and their Regulations

Photo Credit: RawpixelOur Biological Services department is made up of professional biologists and technicians with expertise in providing updates on biological regulations – we help our clients understand these updates and how to navigate changes to ensure their...

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NPRI Reporting for 2022 Calendar Year Due in June

NPRI Reporting for 2022 Calendar Year Due in June

The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) reporting deadline for the 2022 calendar year is June 1st, 2023. The NPRI reporting program is managed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and tracks data on the amount of pollutants released from Canadian...

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35 Year Anniversary Celebration

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...

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Letter From The President

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...

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Is Contamination Affecting your BC Property Assessment?

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...

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Permit to Practice: Understanding the New Framework

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...

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Keystone Environmental Expands into Ontario

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...

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Bird Nesting Season is Here

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.

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Contamination Can Impact Your BC Assessment Value

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...

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Get Radon Testing for your Home to Reduce Health Risks

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...

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Water Sustainability Act (WSA) Section 10 Use Approval

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...

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Meet Our Engineers

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...

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Tank ERPs | Petroleum Storage Tank Emergency Response Plan

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...

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Women in Science 2021

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...

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Keystone Environmental Ltd. Announces 4 New Shareholders

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...

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British Columbia Wetlands | A Cause for Celebration

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...

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Site Disclosure Statement Process Changes

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...

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Site Identification Process Changes

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...

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International Day of Women in Engineering

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...

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Environmental Emergency Regulations Amendments

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...

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Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for Small Mines

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...

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NPRI Reporting Deadline Changed Due to COVID-19

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...

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Mitigating Invasive Species Damage

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...

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Site Profile System Changes in BC

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...

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Amendments to the Riparian Areas Regulation of BC

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...

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Amendments of the Fisheries Act Become Law

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...

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Groundwater Dewatering Discharge in the City of Vancouver

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...

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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. This is where the Keystone Environmental remediation engineers step in....

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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...

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