Homeowners Guide to Soil Management
Soil management is one way to reduce exposure to metals in your home and yard environment. THEP soil management began in 2007 and thousands of yards have since been tested and hundreds have received soil management.
The soil management process
Soil management plans are unique to each property and depend on the layout and size of the yard, lead levels in soil and ground cover. The whole process can take over a year from initial planning to completion. Yards with difficult access take longer to plan and manage.
For qualifying properties, soil management is one way to reduce exposure to metals in your home and yard environment.
There are a few ways THEP manages soil in yards:
- improving lawns to fill in bare spots
- covering soil with mulch, rocks, or landscape fabric
- replacing contaminated soil with clean fill
Each of these options reduces exposure to lead and other metals in soil.
What’s excluded?
Possible exposure to metals in soil is generally low as these areas are hard to reach or have permanent cover. In some cases work in these areas could create hazards.
How long does the soil management process take?
From start to finish soil management can take approximately a year to complete. Most of the time is spent planning and scheduling and then wrapping up the reporting and documentation for the project. The onsite work typically only takes a few weeks.
Resident Safety During Soil Management
Key safety tips are:
Keep kids and pets out of the active work areas.
Hose down outdoor surfaces and children’s toys before accessing them during soil management.
Water your lawn to reduce dust.
Store or secure personal belongings.
Watch out for increased traffic.
Keep clear of equipment and materials.
Many people make soil management successful
Homeowner
- Review the soil management process
- Participate in the work planning and make decisions
- Ask questions
- Communicate directly
with Community Program Office
Contractor
- Complete the work according to the soil management plan
- Ensure the work is done safely
- Identify issues and concerns and bring them to THEP’s Community Program Office
THEP (Community Program Office)
- Answer questions from the homeowner and contractors
- Plan, coordinate and schedule the work
- Communicate with homeowners, contractors, Teck & Ministry of Environment
- Monitor contractors and sample the soil
- Keep records, document the work and provide reports
Teck
- Responsible party for Soil Management Program under the BC Contaminated Sites Regulation
- Provides technical support and funding for the Soil Management Program
- Hire the soil management contractor and Community Program Office