Regional Municipality of York - Forestry Division

XCG was invited to bid on a soil characterization project to support the planned boulevard excavation work for tree planting with the Region of York Forestry Division, and was the successful candidate.

The original 2021 project scope included getting a road work permit and sampling the upper 0.5 metres of soil in the boulevards at 13 sites that were planned for tree planting. Soil analyses included metals and hydride metals, other inorganics [pH, electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) (Fractions F1 to F4), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)]. Leachate analyses through modified synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (mSPLP) were also completed.

The soil characterization was completed to ensure compliance with Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 406/19 but also to determine the reuse or disposal options for the excess soil. Assessing the topsoil quality was also completed to determine the success of the tree growth. In addition, XCG was requested to visit three boulevard sites to sample and analyze the engineered growing media placed with trees to confirm the quality against the Region of York specifications.

The project scope was expanded to include an additional seven boulevard excavation sites. XCG compared the analytical result of the soil samples to the O. Reg. 406/19 Excess Soil Quality Standards for reuse to assist the Region of York and the selected excavation contractor in determining the management options for the soil from each boulevard site.

In preparing for the 2022 boulevard excavation activities, the Region of York further called upon XCG’s expertise to prepare a soil management plan document. The soil management plan was needed to support the contractors bidding the 2022 boulevard excavation and tree planting project. The soil management plan was developed to identify items for compliance with O. Reg. 406/19, as well as determining the specific excess soil management options for each boulevard site. As the soil quality varied from boulevard excavation site to another, as well as being impacted with road salt detected through analyses of EC/SAR, specific management recommendations were made for each boulevard site planned for 2022.