b'HANDLING EXCESS SOIL HANDLING EXCESS SOILIN ONTARIO: AN OVERVIEWBY KRISHA RUCHLEWICZI n December 2019,clean soil going to landfills as afor projects involving the excava-the Ministry of thewaste, and prevent inappropriatetion of soil requirements for soil Environment, Conservationdisposal of contaminated soil. sampling and characterization and Parks (MECP) releasedreports; clear excess soil reuse a new regulation under theKey elements of the regulation,rules and clarity around when Environmental Protection Act,tasked with clarifying andexcess soil is not a waste; clarifying titled On-Site and Excessimproving excess soil management,when excess soil can be reused Soil Management to supportinclude: creating new obligationsand replacing or simplifying improved management of excessfor persons ultimately responsiblewaste-related approvals with construction soil. In support of this regulation, the Ministry has, too, developed a document adopted by reference in the On-Site and Excess SoilOntarios comprehensive excess soil management regime was set Management Regulation titledto be phased in beginning on July 1, 2020; however, Rules for Soil Management andin light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry Excess Soil Quality Standards,announced it was delaying implementation the Excess Soil Best Management Practices Guide, as well as theof the requirements under the new Excess Beneficial Reuse Assessment ToolSoil Regulation for six months, to January 1, (BRAT), to name a few. 2021. The Association will continue to keep its membership informed on how Ontario Primarily, this regulation, andwill manage excess soil following the first its supporting documentation, isimplementation dateJanuary 2021. intended to recognize excess soil as a valuable resource, reduce 14 H 2 OSWCAFall 2020'