IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR BCEIA MEMBERS

Over the next several months, the BC Ministry of Environment (MOE) intends to continue its review and revision of the Environment Management Act (EMA) as it pertains to Hazardous Waste Regulation in the province. 

This EMA review will take place in two-stages.  The first stage encompasses those changes identified and discussed in the Ministry’s intentions paper released this past January, while the second stage of the review, seeks to explore more complex and integrated issues as identified by stakeholders in the hazardous waste sector.

A second-stage intentions paper has been posted on the MOE website here.  Comments and suggestions from BCEIA members, industry stakeholders and the public are strongly encouraged and may be submitted using the appropriate forms - no later than June 5, 2008.

The appropriate forms, as well as prior commentary concerning the Ministry’s January intentions paper, are available for download from the MOE website.

Note: January’s commentary will be compiled in a Consultation Summary Report and posted shortly.

Information received will be treated with confidential­ity by ministry staff and contractors.  However, please note that information you provide and information that identifies you as a source of comments may be publicly available if a Freedom of Information request is made under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

The ministry has contracted Cindy Bertram of C. Rankin & Associates to manage the information collection process.  If you have any questions regarding the information-gathering process, check the ministry website or contact Cindy Bertram at:

Email: cindybertram@shaw.ca 
Fax: 250 598-9948

Sustainable Cool - EP!C Expo 2008

Vancouver’s coolest green-living show wrapped up this weekend at the Vancouver Exhibition and Convention Center.  EP!C attendees were wowed by a host of eco-inspired technologies and sustainable choices from a broad range of home, health, transportation, food and beauty products & services.

This year’s event featured special guest handyman Mike Holmes from Home & Garden Television’s, Holmes on Homes and live auditions for inclusion on CBC’s Dragon’s Den, the reality TV series where entrepreneurs compete for angel funding from a celebrity panel of business savvy professionals. 

The Capers-Whole Foods Kitchen Stage cooked up a storm, local fashion designers modeled the latest in retro-recycled chic and Toyota and GM provided audiences with a glimpse of what scaled-down, efficient auto transport looks like.

Call for Abstracts - Tools, Techniques & Technologies

The Environmental Services Association of Alberta (ESAA) invites BCEIA Members to submit papers and presentations focusing on technologies for the remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater in, but not limited to, the following areas:

• In-situ and Ex-situ Treatment • Physical Treatment • Biological Treatment • Chemical Treatment • Soil Washing and Scrubbing • Thermal Desorption • Incineration • Stabilization / Solidification • Immobilization • Aeration • Soil Venting • Air Stripping • Membranes • Encapsulation • Vitrification • Natural Attenuation • PhytoRemediation • Cold Climates • Unique Locations • Nanotechnology

The preliminary selection of papers and presentations will be based on submitted abstracts and reviewed by a panel of peers.  Abstracts should be no more than 500 words, should include a presenter biography and must be received by May 9, 2008.

Please send submissions to Joe Chowaniec via e-mail to: abstracts@esaa-events.com.

Notification of acceptance will be given by June 30, 2008. Full papers must be submitted by September 26, 2008.

• BC MoE to Develop Ambient Air Quality Criteria
  The Ministry of Environment intends to establish provincial ambient air quality criteria for PM2.5 (particulate matter 2.5 µm or smaller) addressing objectives for 24-hour and annual averages, and longer-term planning goals.  As part of this process the ministry developed a policy intentions papers for consultation (intentions papers).  The intentions paper for the Provincial Ambient Air Quality Criteria for Particulate Matter (PM2.5) was posted in January of 2007.

  A summary document of all comments received has been compiled by an independent contractor.  A copy of the “Summary of Consultation Comments” has now been posted on the ministry website here.

• Going for Olympic Green
  Daryl-Lynn Carlson, Financial Post. As construction ramps up in preparation for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, lawyers are searching for creative means to ensure parties involved with property and infrastructure development comply with British Columbia's rigid and far-reaching environmental laws. More

• Climate Change in Canada
  The first in a series of climate change impact reports on the Canadian environment was released by the Department of Natural Resources recently.  Titled, From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate 2007, the report examines a host of climate change issues, the challenges they present and the mitigation strategies being explored by government and industry.  A full write-up is available at www.globe-net.com

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• Hazardous Waste Never Looked So Good!
• GLOBE2008 - Another Smashing Success!
• Interim Guidance For Contaminated Sites
• 2010 Business Network
• Ivey International Earns Business Achievement Award
• Environment Ministry seeks views on Hazardous Waste Amendments
• Strategies for Competing in China in 2008