Request for Comments - Proposed Matrix Soil Standards for Sodium (Na+) and Chloride (Cl-)
December 2007
Salt as sodium (Na + ) and chloride (Cl - ) are currently listed in Schedule 10 of the Contaminated Sites Regulation, but no numerical soil standards are listed for these substances. Nor are sodium or chloride matrix soil standards available in Schedule 5 of the Regulation. As a result, those who wish to use the numerical standards approach available under the Regulation must remediate the soil to comply with the practical quantification limits for sodium and chloride in order to obtain a Certificate of Compliance.
The lack of appropriate soil standards for sodium and chloride limits the regulatory flexibility of the numerical standards approach and can lead to needless remedial expense. In addition, the absence of Schedule 5 soil standards is causing delays in the remediation of many salt contaminated sites.
In 2002, draft matrix soil standards for sodium and chloride were derived in accordance with the ministry’s Contaminated Sites Standards Task Group procedures. The draft salt matrix soil standards were subjected to extensive scientific review and detailed public comment. The review revealed that the draft salt soil standards were scientifically defensible and appropriate for use under the Contaminated Sites Regulation.
Finalization of these draft standards has been delayed however, due to the need to develop several associated analytical methods. The ministry has now completed the work required to support matrix soil standards for salt. Specific analytical methods for sodium and chloride include:
- Saturated Paste Extraction for Soils, B.C. Ministry of Environment, March 31, 2005,
- Sodium & Chloride in Soil by Saturated Paste Extraction, B.C. Ministry of Environment, March 31, 2005 and
- Determination of Site-specific Soil-Water Partitioning Co-efficient (Kd) for Chloride (Prescriptive Method), B.C. Ministry of Environment, February 14, 2006.
The 2002 draft matrix standards have now been updated. Proposed matrix soil standards for sodium and chloride and the details related to their derivation are provided in the following report:
Your comments, preferably in MS Word format, on the proposed matrix soil standards for salt should be sent no later than December 14, 2007 to:
Dr. Glyn R. Fox
E-mail: Glyn.Fox@gov.bc.ca
Environmental Management Branch
Environmental Protection Division
Ministry of Environment
P.O. Box 9342 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9M1
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