President’s Message
I’m honoured to share my inaugural message as President. While we’ve been fortunate to have many accomplished leaders in this role, I’m proud to be only the second woman to serve as President since our founding in 2008, following Cindy Ott. As someone deeply committed to supporting women in STEM and advancing gender equality, this milestone is personally meaningful.
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our Annual General Meeting in June, we had an impressive 71 (of 99) Members, 12 Associate Members, and two Appointed Directors in attendance. We’ve heard your feedback about the brevity of the AGM portion and the desire for more detailed updates from our committees. We’re taking this to heart and will plan for more comprehensive reporting at our next AGM. The afternoon professional development workshop was a great success. A big thank you to all our presenters, including our colleagues from the Ministry. The presentations were informative, and thanks to the Ministry for the heads up regarding the imminent launching of the SRS Web App (REMINDER: get your BCeID). Further, I think we all appreciated—and learned a lot from—Dave Mitchell’s engaging session on Schedule 2 uses.
Like many organizations, we’re feeling the effects of the current economic downturn. Our fiscal year has started slowly, with only 35 submissions received since March 31; this is approximately 2/3 of the average number of submissions received over a three-month period. That said, thanks to the strong volume of submissions in recent years, our financial position remains solid. Despite a slower start to the year, our Society remains strong and resilient, and the Board continues to work with BC ENV to identify new opportunities for the Society.
I hope you all have a wonderful summer and take time away from work to enjoy the warm weather and time with loved ones.
Tara Siemens Kennedy
Ministry Updates
The number of incoming applications for contaminated site services was slightly lower last year compared to previous fiscal years. In the most recent quarter, ending June 30, 2025, the Site Remediation Program received 162 applications—consistent with seasonal trends and supporting the projected annual total of at least 600 applications.
The Ministry continues to make progress in reducing the application backlog, with a 15% reduction since last year. Overall processing times for ministry certification have also decreased slightly.
Below is a status update on priority projects.
Site Remediation Services (SRS) Web App
The Site Remediation Services (SRS) Web App is set to launch on September 16, 2025, bringing a major upgrade to how contaminated site applications are submitted and processed in BC. Designed with users in mind, this new digital platform will streamline workflows, enhance communication, and improve transparency across the board.
The current system relies on two separate databases—one for contaminated site data and another for tracking applications. While this setup has served its purpose, it’s no longer efficient in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven environment. The SRS Web App replaces this outdated model with a unified platform that automates manual processes and simplifies form submissions.
Increased Efficiency
The SRS Web App introduces a centralized digital platform that significantly enhances the efficiency of contaminated site application processes. By eliminating the need for email submissions, users will submit their applications directly through the app and monitor their progress in real time. This streamlined approach not only simplifies the user experience but also enables ministry staff to process applications more quickly and accurately, reducing delays and improving overall workflow.
Direct Communication
One of the standout features of the SRS Web App is its ability to facilitate direct, real-time communication between applicants, local governments, and the ministry. Whether you’re submitting a site disclosure statement or a release application, the app ensures that all parties are kept informed with timely updates and decisions. This helps eliminate confusion, speeds up response times, and fosters greater transparency throughout the process.
Integrated Forms
As the launch of the SRS Web App approaches, the website’s existing forms page will be phased out. All necessary application forms will be built directly into the new system, allowing users to complete and submit documentation within a single, unified interface. This integration not only simplifies the submission process but also ensures consistency and reduces errors, making it easier for users to navigate requirements and stay compliant with regulatory standards.
To ensure a smooth transition, the Ministry is rolling out a comprehensive training program. This includes webinars, in-person sessions, demonstration videos, and user manuals.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to register for a BCeID so you’re ready to access the app when it goes live. Visit the BCeID website to learn more and apply.
For more information visit SRS Webpage. If you have questions, contact [email protected]. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the launch of this exciting new tool.
Standards Project
The Science, Standards and Risk Assessment Unit of SRP is working towards updating the CSR sediment standards. The Unit has invited practitioners to complete an online survey running until July 31, 2025 and apply to support the sediment standards project as a volunteer on the Technical Working Group. Highlights from the analysis and synthesis of the survey will be shared in October at the Canadian Ecotoxicity Workshop (CEW) 2025, followed by a white paper in December 2025. The Unit is also preparing for the for the CEW session “Holistic Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems – Modern Sediment Quality Assessment” and welcomes attendance by CSAP members.
Site Remediation updates and announcements will be made through the Site Remediation News email subscription service.
A summary of previous Ministry updates is available here.
Performance Assessment Committee Updates
There was one Q&A question received within the last quarter. This question was pertaining to the use of acronyms on the first page of the updated certification document. The acronyms for soil are well defined for land uses, but are not fully defined for select water uses such as AWf and various vapour and sediment uses. This topic was raised with the PAC Detailed Screening Sub-committee for discussion with ENV for standardized nomenclature.
Lessons Learned include:
- Develop sampling plans following the developed conceptual site model. For example, if surface spills are a potential concern, then groundwater wells should be screened near the top of the water table and not initially below confining layers.
- If new contamination is identified during the remediation process, develop a sampling program to confirm delineation of the new contamination.
- Be sure to evaluate all potential vapour receptors with applicable vapour attenuation factors for both current and reasonable future uses.
- Include various photographs of existing infrastructure as it helps to explain and support the site conceptual model.
- Investigate vapour for off-site APECs with volatile PCOCs even if groundwater meets standards or provide rationale to support that vapour migration is unlikely.
- If multiple vapour scenarios are applied, include the vapour attenuation factors for both of these scenarios in figures and tables.
- If there is infrastructure that limits sampling on site such as a heritage building, describe the investigation plan in detail and rationale that the variation from guidance is reasonable.
- Within the conceptual site model include fate and transport of PCOCs in soil and groundwater based on hydrogeological conditions in addition to vapour scenarios.
A summary of previous PAC Updates is available here.
Detailed Screening Sub-Committee Updates
Preliminary Screening
- Please make sure an explicit statement on drinking water is provided in section 4.2 of the SoSC. This should be straightforward and clear, i.e. “drinking water use does/does not apply.”
- Please ensure the most up to date certification document templates are being used, as they have been updated again recently. The current templates can be found in the Members’ Portal.
- Please also be aware that the CSAP fees for some certification documents changed recently. You can check the fees that apply to your submission on the fee schedule.
- After saving a document as a PDF or editing an existing PDF, please verify the signatures are still displaying if it has been signed digitally.
In our spring issue, we had a request for the Transmittal Letter to make use of the “Is there anything CSAP and ENV need to know about this application?” box on the first page. We have seen more of this in recent submissions. Thank you! A reminder that anything pertinent to the submission screening (e.g. site subdivision or merging, change in civic address, etc.) should be noted. This box can also be used to provide explanations for any inconsistencies in submission documents to get ahead of potential screening questions.
Detailed Screening
With a lower number of submissions received, things have been relatively quiet for the Detailed Screening Sub-committee. The ministry has indicated that with the release of the SRS Web App will come an updated e-version of the Summary of Site Condition. The committee will be reviewing the revised SoSC and revising the DS checklist to ensure it aligns. As a reminder, there will be no grace period once the SRS Web App goes live, so be sure to get your BCeID in advance.
Review Services Sub-committee Updates
CSAP Review Services Sub-committee reviews non High-Risk Reports prepared in response to Director’s requirements which are typically specified and required by clauses in Schedule B of AiPs and CoCs.
Schedule B wording typically requires the Report to be signed by an Approved Professional (“AP Statement”), unless the certification document is rather dated.
Any reports/AP Statements forwarded to CSAP Society for review should follow the process summarized on the RSC webpage.
Please note that the following should be sent directly to ENV for review:
- Reports/AP Statements prepared for High-Risk Managed and High-Risk sites (unless ENV has requested that you send them directly to CSAP Society).
- Requests to modify any Schedule B conditions.
- Requests to extend AiP timelines (i.e. remain valid for longer).
- Any reports associated with the Site Disclosure Statement (SDS) process.
A reminder to please make sure to include a copy of the certification document when submitting an AP Statement or Monitoring Report.
Review Services submissions are largely on par with the previous year, currently sitting at 20 RSC submissions as of July 25, 2025.
Seventeen of those 20 submissions have been reviewed and transferred to ENV, and we have received five Acknowledgment Letters back as of July 25. All five of these Acknowledgment Letters have confirmed the requirements were satisfied for the reporting period. Thank you to all our Review Services Sub-committee members for their work on these reviews.
| Total Submissions |
Sent to ENV |
Review in Progress |
Acknowledgment Letters Received |
| 20 |
17 |
3 |
5 |
Technical Review Committee Updates
The TRC most recently met as a whole on April 24, however, several meetings involving subgroups of the TRC met in May and June to select a successful proponent for one of the new Special Projects for the 2025/26 year, as well as finalize an RFP for the second Special Project and select scholarship recipients. Further details on these items are included below.
2024/2025 Special Projects Status – The previous year’s special projects — Background Soil Concentrations, Background Groundwater concentrations and the Plume Stability Assessment — have all been finalized and their reports are available on the CSAP website for members’ use.
Emerging Contaminants Special Project – The purpose of this project is to evaluate emerging contaminants with a focus on Schedule 2 uses, and to provide guidance and information to ENV to be used in future amendments to the Contaminated Sites Regulation. After receiving six proposals to consider, the TRC selected Active Earth as the winning proponent for this project. A kick-off meeting was held on July 2 with Active Earth, with additional update meetings scheduled for later in the summer. A presentation of the project findings will be given at the Spring 2026 CSAP PD workshop.
Lower Mainland Soil Arsenic Background Concentrations Project – The purpose of this project is to build off of the Background Soil Concentrations project completed last year and provide a more detailed description of the arsenic concentrations in the Lower Mainland and to determine if there are sub-regions where background arsenic concentrations exceed those published in ENV’s Protocol 4 – Table 1. This project is currently out for tender, with the deadline for proposals being July 28, 2025.
Scholarships – CSAP provides three scholarships per year, totalling $17,000, to applicants enrolled in a science or engineering graduate program with a focus on contaminated sites. This year we had eight applicants that met the application criteria. The recipients were announced at the June AGM and Workshop – Sorour Nasimi was awarded the Mike Macfarlane Award, and Cole Merrill and Amanda Reside were awarded the other two scholarships.
If you have any suggestions for a topic that you would like the TRC to tackle, please send your ideas to [email protected].
Membership Committee Updates
The Membership Committee would like to remind Associate Members, as well as CSAP Society’s mentoring prospective members, to review the Membership Guidelines and eligibility requirements. In particular, we encourage careful attention to:
- the requirement to document experience, and
- the expectations for participation in the submission of applications for Ministry certification documents.
These details are outlined in Sections 3 Eligibility Criteria of the Membership Guidelines. Templates for how to present experience can be found in Appendix 4. By reviewing these materials early, we hope more practitioners will begin documenting their experience in advance, making the application process smoother when the time comes to apply. Membership Guidelines are located here.
CSAP 2025 Candidate Experience Review
The 2025 Candidate Experience Review process has concluded. All candidates have been notified of their results. Those approved to write the exams have received details regarding the date, time, and location of their respective exams.
Exam dates:
- Numerical: November 4, 2025
- Risk: November 4, 2025
- Regulatory: November 5, 2025
Approved candidates:
- Total Candidates: 5
- Numerical Exam: 1
- Risk Exam: 2
- Regulatory Exam: 5
Please note: The deadline to apply for the Regulatory Exam is July 31, 2025, for members who were unable to complete a CSAP submission as part of their renewal requirements.
Acknowledgements
The Committee extends its sincere thanks to all Committee Members, Experience Reviewers, and Exam Content Developers for their valuable contributions to the membership and examination processes.
Professional Development Committee Updates
Our committee has recently welcomed a new chair, Erin Robson, and sends a huge thank you to our outgoing chair, David Mitchell, for all of his hard work providing meaningful PD and thoughtful input into each session he moderated over the past four years. Based on member input, Dave also initiated the lunch and learn sessions which have been very well received and will be continuing. We would also like to thank outgoing committee members Paul Gardner, Gavin Leung, and Rob Lauman for their contributions to the committee.
We are happy to introduce several new committee members as well. Michelle Anderson, Tony Gillett and Audrey Wagenaar, will be joining continuing committee members Tadd Berger and Blair King.
AGM & PD Workshop
Our annual event was held on June 12 at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend, including our colleagues from the Ministry of Environment and Parks.
The session presentations can be found on the CSAP website, with the ENV presentations in the Members’ Portal.
Lunch and Learn
We held two well-attended lunch and learn sessions this spring, including a webinar on April 15 covering the CSAP submission screening process with David Mitchell, David Newton, and Tara Siemens Kennedy as well as staff from the Ministry of Environment and Parks. A second session was held on May 29 covering the risk assessment process with Scott Steer and Beth Power. Find the recordings of these sessions here.
In addition, on July 16 the Ministry of Environment and Parks provided an update and demo of the Site Remediation Services Web App.
The next session, on soil disposal case histories, will take place in the fall. Watch for an email with the date and Zoom link.
For the most up-to-date details on all Lunch and Learn sessions, bookmark the webpage.
Submission Statistics update (as of July 22, 2025)
What’s new at CSAP
- A reminder effective July 1, 2025, the fees for the following certification documents increased:
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- Certificate of Compliance with an Approval in Principle in place: from $2,000 to $4,000
- Preliminary and Final Determination from: $2,000 to $5,000.
Please note, there are no changes to other CSAP submissions fees or BC Ministry submissions fees. The revised fee schedule is available here.
- Updated certification document templates are now available in the Members’ Portal. The updated templates reflect the requirement for a land surveyor should a site or part-site be defined by metes and bounds. There is also a slight modification to the first page of the CoC, to help clarify land use vs. evaluated substances. Please ensure to use these updated templates.
- The 2024-25 annual report is now available on the website.
In the news
Professional development opportunities
Please note, these are virtual unless otherwise noted.
