It is a trial initiative to provide soil management to all yards within a city block. ‘Pilot’ refers to this being the first time a block is receiving soil management at one time. This will be monitored to ensure learning is incorporated into future program design.

Blocks were evaluated using THEP’s existing soil management prioritization criteria, with a focus on children and known lead levels in the soil. Ground cover, accessibility for equipment and willingness of the neighbourhood to participate are other considerations that may factor into block selection.

The soil management process at an entire block is estimated to take up to 45 days. The timing will vary depending on access and complexity of individual yards.

THEP’s Soil Management Program addresses individual properties in priority order and in recent years has been able to offer soil management to all priority properties identified. THEP now has capacity to trial soil management at the city block scale. Research shows that neighbourhood-wide soil management is an effective way to reduce community exposure to lead and the potential impact on children.

All blocks were considered for the pilot block initiative and were prioritized based on child occupancy and lead levels in the soil. If successful, the pilot block initiative may be repeated in the future.

If you have not had your soil assessed, consider getting it tested this year so the information is included for potential future block initiatives.

Soil management of entire city blocks is a pilot initiative in 2023. The process and outcomes will be monitored to determine if this should be repeated in future years.

All blocks were considered for the pilot block initiative and were prioritized based on child occupancy and lead levels in the soil. If your block has a relatively high number of children and elevated soil lead levels, it may be a candidate for a future block program.

Other considerations that may factor into the selection of blocks in the future include ground cover, accessibility for equipment and willingness of the neighbourhood to participate.

If you have not had your soil assessed, consider getting it tested this year so the information is included for potential future block initiatives.

THEP aims to keep dust down during soil removal and replacement, and uses several methods to manage this, including:

• Homeowners will be asked to moisten their soil daily in the week prior to digging. Moist soils create less dust.
• Contractors will keep soils damp by sprinkling during digging and covering truck loads with tarps where possible.
• Residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed during the soil management process to minimize indoor dust.

THEP monitoring of airborne dust during soil management activities in Trail has shown low concentrations of metals.

The Pilot Block Initiative is an addition to the Soil Management Program and is not replacing soil management at priority properties.

All priority properties will be offered soil management in 2023, including those with difficult access for equipment.

THEP is piloting alternative solutions and equipment to provide soil management at prioritized properties with access limitations. Soil management solutions can vary and include replacing soil as well as covering bare soil and improving ground cover.