Name: ESC Conference 2019
Start: 2019-11-06T08:30-16:30
End: 2019-11-07T08:30-16:30
Location: Executive Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre

Sessions

Presentations

ESCA BC is proud to offer the following presentation lineup for this years conference. Session information that is colour coded Blue will be held in the breakout rooms.

Keynote session are coded yellow and will be held in the Main Ballroom. For detailed information about each session please click on the "show more" wording under the session title.

Wednesday, October 24

8:45am - 9:45am Keynote 1	keynote 1 Fin Donnelly, Member of Parliament, Port Moody - Coquitlam (2009 - 2019) show more Description Pending Speaker Bio. Fin Donnelly has been the MP for Port Moody—Coquitlam since 2009 (previously named New Westminster-Coquitlam) and is the NDP’s Critic for Fisheries, Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard. He is the founding co-chair of the All-Party Oceans Caucus and the vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. Known for his grassroots, consultative approach, Fin is committed to building sustainable communities and is a strong voice for healthy oceans and fisheries.
10:15am - 11:00am Session 1	Stormwater BMP Pre-treatment – Lessons Learned from Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes Lance Hoff, Momentum Environmental. show more Description Lance will present on the importance of pre-treatment upstream of permanent stormwater BMPs in the context of Minnesota’s ever evolving stormwater management regulations. He will present on commonly used pre-treatment practices – including settling devices, pre-treatment screens and vegetated filter strips – and discuss cost considerations, applicability and compatibility with downstream BMPs. He will also discuss pre-treatment case studies recently published by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Speaker Bio. Lance Hoff, PE is a civil engineer with over 20 years of experience managing and consulting on a variety of water resource projects for federal, state, municipal, and private clients. He is CEO of Momentum Environmental – a stormwater design, product development and manufacturing company Paradigm Shift: Change your Thinking to Reduce Costs While Improving Compliance Brian Free, Profile Products show more Description The status quo has always been the greatest obstacle to innovation. A paradigm shift is defined as an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way. We will demonstrate how shifting the way we think about erosion control and sequencing construction projects can lead to opportunities to save time and money while increasing regulatory compliance. Speaker Bio. Brian Free is the Market Development Manager for Profile Products in Western North America and is a Certified Professional in Erosion & Sediment Control (CPESC), Certified Professional in Storm Water Quality (CPSWQ) and a Certified Inspector of Sediment and Erosion Control (CISEC).
11:15am - 12:00pm Session 2	Erosion Control that Builds Site Restoration David Polster, Polster Environmental Services Ltd. show more Description Natural processes have been controlling erosion and providing conditions that lead to recovery of the naturally disturbed site (landslides, shoreline erosion, etc.) for millions of years. By understanding how these systems operate we can make use of them on our disturbed sites. Speaker Bio. Dave Polster is a restoration ecologist with over 40 years of experience. He has developed a variety of soil bioengineering and restoration techniques that have been shown to be very effective. On-site Water Treatment: Science, Strategy, Safety Eric Bradley, Dober Chemical show more Description In this presentation, we will review the science and environmental impacts of particles in water; discuss water treatment techniques in passive, semi-passive, and active treatment systems using naturally-sourced water treatment chemistry; and review dosing strategies and evaluate application techniques to maximize efficiency and safety. Speaker Bio. Eric Bradley has designed and managed water treatment projects across North America. Dober Chemical is the industry-leader for natural water treatment chemistries for environmental remediation, stormwater treatment, and industrial wastewater.
1:00pm - 1:45pm Session 3	Water Management on Industrial Waste Facilities along Impaired Waterbodiest Kristine Sommer, Clear Water Services, LLC. show more Description This presentation will focus on solid waste/recycling handling facilities that discharge either directly or indirectly to the LDW or Blair Waterway, utilizing active and passive treatment systems to comply with stringent water quality regulations. Each solid waste/recycling handling facility resembles unique sources, type, and volume of contaminated stormwater and process water. This presentation will demonstrate technologies that are capable of meeting extremely low benchmarks/limits for persistent pollutants and contaminants of concern consistent with the industrial stormwater regulation and ESC practices at these waste facilities. Speaker Bio. Kristine is currently the Marketing Manager and Project Manager at Clear Water Services, a Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner (QISP) and CPESC with 8 years of environmental consulting experience in industrial and construction projects, specifically related to water treatment and erosion and sediment control. She holds a B.S. degree in Chemistry and is the PNW Chapter President for IECA, a US national erosion control association. She’s also a national rugby player and plays for the USA Women’s rugby team. Measuring TSS and Turbidity in Support of Erosion and Sediment Control Monitoring: When, Where, How, and Why? Paul Villard, Geo Morphix Ltd. show more Description Monitoring of turbidity or Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is an integral part of effective erosion control. In this presentation, examples of monitoring protocols are taken from both active construction sites and permanent stormwater facilities, to highlight how the monitoring strategy including timing, targets and even sampling collection/measurement protocols can inform or bias our observations and interpretation of results. Speaker Bio. Dr. Villard is the Director and Principal Geomorphologist at GEO Morphix Ltd. In research and industry, he specializes in sediment transport, channel evolution, measurement techniques, urban impacts, and river restoration.
2:00pm - 2:45pm Session 4	Insiders Look at Mechanical Water Treatment Systems Leonard Firkus, Stormtec Filtration Inc. show more Description Designers, Regulators and Monitors are tasked with ensuring construction water discharge meets compliance while often requiring the use of Mechanical Water Treatment Systems. The challenge is the gap in information on what to specify during design or how to check once on site. This interactive session will provide an inside look at the core components of mechanical treatment along with how to confirm the system on site is up to the job. Speaker Bio. Leonard Firkus is the President and CEO of Stormtec Group and current member of ESCABC Board. He is an engaging speaker and passionate problem solver that is driven toward finding practical solutions. Protecting the Environment while Building the Future Alex Zimmerman, Creative Courses. show more Description Pending Speaker Bio. Alex Zimmerman has been working in the construction and restoration industry for over 25 years. With experience in heavy civil, residential, and environmental project delivery.
3:15pm - 4:00pm Session 5	Data Quality: It’s Essential for Compliance Jessica Boily, Gowling WLG & Lee Nikl, Golder Associates show more Description The presenters will draw on their courtroom experience to provide legal and scientific considerations for ESC professionals, focusing on a recent case that put the results of ESC monitoring under the microscope. In that case, lack of appropriate training, poor understanding of instrument operation (including calibration) and the failure to establish a data quality management program resulted in the court not accepting any evidence of the water quality monitoring. Speaker Bio. Jessica Boily is an environmental lawyer in the Toronto office of Gowling WLG. She specializes in assisting clients involved in environmental litigation, including defending clients charged with environmental offences. Lee Nikl is a biologist (RPBio) with Golder Associates, Vancouver. He has over 30 years of professional experience in natural resource damage assessment, toxicology, water quality and aquatic habitat management. Environmental Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement at the Port of Vancouver Anika Calder, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority show more Description VFPA has launched a Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Program to monitor compliance with permit requirements. A few of the recent case studies that have had challenges with erosion and sediment control will be presented, including an overview of the enforcement actions that were taken to resolve the situation and ensure environmental protection. Speaker Bio. Anika is the Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Specialist at VFPA. She has conducted environmental assessments for the past 10 years, and spent three of those years focusing on stormwater initiatives.

Thursday, October 25

8:30am - 9:45am Keynote 2	Keynote 2 Jennifer Hildebrand, Director of Environmental Compliance, WSB show more Description Pending Speaker Bio. Jennifer Hildebrand has been involved within the stormwater and erosion industry for over 26 years. She has a masters degree in Business Management, and specializes in compliance strategies within the private sector market. She has made it her goal to educate and inform the public and private sector markets regarding compliance principals and specification techniques.
10:15am - 11:00am Session 6	Value Engineering of Re-vegetation and Erosion Control Projects Utilizing Biotic Soil Amendments and Other Innovationss Damon Sump, Profile Products show more Description Changing the ECS Status Quo - A look at new ways to accomplish erosion control and re-vegetation project goals while saving dollars and time. Case studies from the region will be presented along with real world cost analysis.. Speaker Bio. Damon has spent the last twenty-five years in the landscape and erosion control industries. He is a long-time resident of Oregon and currently spends his time consulting on projects providing effective, innovative reclamation and erosion control solutions.. Why Projects Fail (to Meet Water Quality Requirements) David Jenkins, Port of Seattle show more Description There are at least ten reasons that projects fail to meet water quality compliance requirements. Some or all of these ten reasons will be found on any failed project. Using a past failed Port of Seattle project as a case study, these ten reasons will be presented as well as solutions for each. Speaker Bio. David Jenkins, CPESC, has developed and managed the Port of Seattle Erosion and Sediment Control Program since 1999 and has overseen over 7 billion dollars’ worth of maritime and airport facility upgrades.
11:15am - 12:00pm Session 7	Stormwater Treatment Risks and How to Manage them During Planning and Execution Phases Elena Ranyuk, Flowlink Environmental Inc. show more Description Stormwater treatment is a vital part of construction site ESC planning. While sediment control is a fairly commoditized service, most project managers have difficulties estimating water treatment and managing the risks, which include cost overruns, delays and pollution incidents. Attendees will learn how to draft a more effective RFP, what questions to ask in the bidding stage, and what tools to use to control this scope after the contract award. Speaker Bio. Dr. Elena Ranyuk has vast experience in complex storm and ground water treatment. She is a co-founder and CEO of Flowlink Environmental, specializing in remote, continuous water quality monitoring systems. Integrated Audit of a Major Infrastructure Project: The Benefits of Large Datasets Joanne Letkeman, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure & Lee Nikl, Golder Associates show more Description Earthworks are common to transportation infrastructure projects and ESC is a key part of public project delivery. MOTI construction contracts include payment to the contractor to build responsibly and as project owner, MOTI audits compliance with those expectations. An integrated audit, including sediment sources, pathways and effects, supported by extensive data will be presented. These data revealed that natural events affected turbidity in the Colquitz River more than the project. Speaker Bio. Lee Nikl is a biologist (RPBio) with Golder Associates, Vancouver. He has over 30 years of professional experience in natural resource damage assessment, toxicology, water quality and aquatic habitat management. Joanne Letkeman is the Regional Manager for Environmental Services for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure in the South Coast Region. She has 12 years’ of experience managing environmental protection aspects of transportation projects.
1:00pm - 1:45pm Session 8	New Standards for ESC and the Water Sector at Large Brian Zupancic, CSA Group show more Description There are a growing number of standards being developed for the ESC and stormwater sectors across Canada, even Canada’s North! This presentation will focus on CSA/W202, Erosion and Sediment Control Inspection and Monitoring, and CSA/W208, Erosion and Sediment Control Installation and Maintenance. Related projects dealing with ESC in the North, green stormwater infrastructure, flood resiliency, wastewater management, and a research project on turbidity monitoring, will also be highlighted. Speaker Bio. Brian Zupancic is a senior project manager with CSA Group focused on the development of standards in the water, mining, and carbon capture and storage industries. Writing Contract Specifications to Achieve Environmental Compliance David Jenkins, Port of Seattle show more Description Poorly written specifications lead to claims, cost and schedule overruns, as well as tension and frustration. Environmental specifications are frequently inadequate for achieving permit compliance. One of the primary reasons for this lack is a fundamental misunderstanding of the differences between permit language and contract language. This presentation will identify and address some common mistakes made by specification writers when putting together an environmental bid package. Speaker Bio. David Jenkins, CPESC, has developed and managed the Port or Seattle Construction Erosion Control Program since 1999 overseeing over 7 billion dollars’ worth of maritime and aviation facility upgrades.
2:00pm - 2:45pm Session 9	What the Fe? John R Taylor, Core6 Environmental Ltd. show more Description John will present a recently-constructed underground distribution line in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, BC. The presentation will cover the regulatory framework, the permitting process, groundwater assessment, options for groundwater management and how groundwater was ultimately managed with close involvement of the local First Nation during construction. The presentation will focus on key challenges that project proponents face in light of the recent changes in the Water Sustainability Act, how the challenges were overcome, and what the future holds for these types of project moving forward. Speaker Bio. John Taylor is a professional engineer with over 28 years of experience in environmental engineering. He has a thorough understanding of how environmental standards and criteria are developed and their use in environmental projects. He is one of the six founding partners of Core6 Environmental. Writing Environmental Contract Specifications Workshop David Jenkins, Port of Seattle show more Description As a follow up to the "Writing Contract Specifications to Achieve Environmental Compliance" presentation, this workshop will focus on interpreting environmental requirements and writing contract specifications. Attendees are encouraged to bring actual project examples to work on. Speaker Bio. David Jenkins, CPESC, has developed and managed the Port or Seattle Construction Erosion Control Program since 1999 overseeing over 7 billion dollars’ worth of maritime and aviation facility upgrades.
3:15pm - 4:00pm Session 10	Flocculant Toxicity and Risk: Sometimes it's What you Can’t Measure that Matters Lee Nikl, Golder Associates . show more Description A partial breach of the tailings storage facility at the Mount Polley Mine caused a debris flow along Hazeltine Creek, exposing underlying materials to erosion. Fourteen candidate flocculants were tested for safety (toxicity) and efficacy in lab tests. Achievement of correct doses under field conditions, the absence of analytical methods and an absence of fate and effects data versus risks from turbid water resulted in the rejection of flocculants. Speaker Bio. Lee Nikl is a biologist (RPBio) with Golder Associates, Vancouver. He was responsible for directing Golder’s response to the breach at Mount Polley, including erosion and sediment control works. A Modernized Fisheries Act: What's Changed and Next Steps Gabrielle Pang, Fisheries and Oceans Canada show more Description The fish and fish habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act outlined in Bill C-68 came into force on August 28th, 2019. This presentation provides an overview of the changes and DFO’s plans to implement and support the modernized Fisheries Act. Speaker Bio. Gabrielle Pang is an Indigenous Engagement Coordinator in the Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program (FFHPP) at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Sessions

Presentations

BC's premier ESC event.