In this two-part webinar series, Associated Environmental Consultants staff journey through a fictitious linear project in northern Alberta. Our team of experts will walks through all the things that can go wrong and demonstrates how to set a project up for success.

Part 1: To Apply or not to Apply – That is the Question: A Perspective on Environmental and Regulatory Planning

You’ve heard it before, and we will say it again! Engage your environmental consulting team early in your project planning. But what does that even mean? Is there such thing as too early? (Hint: the answer is no). In this introductory webinar, we will walk you through a fictitious project example through the lens of environmental planner including a discussion around project schedule and how it relates to the potential regulatory permitting requirements. This project has it all! Wetland impacts, watercourse crossings, vegetation impacts, contaminated sites, and more! This webinar will set the stage for sessions two (Environmental Site Assessments) and three (Pre-construction wildlife surveys).

Part 2: Environmental Site Assessments – What Environmental Impacts Are In Your Project Area?

This webinar will go over the purpose of Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and why you should know what lies beneath the surface of your project area. We will walk you through the basics of ESAs and how we assess the potential for contamination on your project. Through this process, we can set you and your project up for success from beginning to end. These steps mitigate the possibility of running into unknown contamination during a project which could cause project delays, contractor scope changes, and cost overruns. Through our case study, we will show you what we look for during the feasibility, planning, and design stages, and common problems that arise during construction related to soil contamination. Join us as we talk about the mystical world of contaminated sites.  

The post Your Project Environmental Needs: How to go from Planning to Construction first appeared on Associated Engineering.

Associated Environmental Consultants is pleased to present a three-part webinar series for government project managers, planners, operators, and administrators who have projects planned around water. The series outlines how to get your project “shovel-ready”, including what environmental approvals are needed before starting construction, sustainable techniques for erosion and sediment control, and unlocking the mystery around environmental flow needs. Each webinar is presented by a Provincially recognized industry leader followed by a Q&A to answer project-specific questions. Marta, Heather, Carrie, and Drew all look forward to connecting with you.

The webinars were recorded live in June 2020. You can watch the recordings below, and you can still reach out to us with any questions, we’d be happy to hear from you.

Part 1: Navigating changes to the Environmental Regulations for construction around water: Fisheries Act, BC RAPR, and BC Water Sustainability Act

Learn about environmental regulations for projects in or around a watercourse (ephemeral streams, wetlands, and lakes). Regulations evolve, and it can be hard to keep up! Learn about recent regulation changes and updates, and get some tips, tricks, and timelines for navigating permitting requirements in different regions of the province. Topics include:

• 2019 changes to the Federal Fisheries Act
• 2019 changes to the BC Riparian Areas Protection Regulation
• An overview of the BC Water Sustainability Act

Heather will also touch on changes to the Canadian Navigable Waters Act and Impact Assessment Act. Understanding regulations will help plan your project to deliver projects on time.

Part 2: Bioengineering and wetland creation to improve community resilience to flood and drought

Learn how constructed wetlands and riparian restoration can help communities prepare, adapt, and mitigate climate change effects.   

Climate change brings fluctuations in water availability and increased flooding, which can cause wide-spread infrastructure and property damage. Natural watercourses and wetlands help provide resiliency to mitigate these effects and protect properties and infrastructure. Bioengineering is a technique used to stabilize slopes using live materials. It is a collaboration between biologists and engineers to address slope stability, restore natural ecological function, and improve watershed health and resiliency. Wetland construction is also a collaboration and requires buy-in from local governments and developers. Bioengineering and wetland creation can be a win-win scenario. 

Learn how to identify project sites, plan, design, obtain BC permits, and restore areas using constructed wetland and bioengineering techniques. This insight will help you get your projects shovel ready.

Part 3: Unlocking the mystery of environmental flow needs and how they fit in your surface water withdrawal or groundwater dewatering project 

Learn about the BC Water Sustainability Act, and how environmental flow needs (EFNs) must be considered when planning current or future surface and/or groundwater withdrawals. Municipal governments and project planners need to understand how environmental flow needs affect their applications for surface and groundwater licences. EFNs are the volume and timing of water flow required for the proper functioning of the aquatic ecosystem of a stream.

The post How to Get your Project “Shovel Ready” first appeared on Associated Engineering.