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Dr. Konstantin Volchek, ESTD:
ESTD Scientists Organize and Co-chair International Research Workshop - Response to
Chemical Emergencies Including Terrorist Attacks and Industrial Accidents
- The Emergencies Science and Technology Division of ESTC has organized an international
research workshop Response to Chemical Emergencies Including Industrial Accidents and
Terrorist Attacks. The workshop will be held in St. Petersburg, Russia on September
18-20, 2007.
- The event, which is sponsored by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada,
Defense Research and Development Canada, and the International Science and Technology
Center, will bring together more than eighty leading experts from Canada, USA,
European Union, Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union.
- The workshop will provide a forum for technology transfer among professionals in
the field of chemical emergency response, dealing with accidental or malicious releases
of toxic substances. It will assist participants, including Environment Canada, in
strengthening their research and emergency response capabilities. It will also
demonstrate Environment Canada’s role as a world leader in environmental science
and technology.
- The Department participated and helped organize similar workshops in 2005 and 2006.
This activity led to several research partnerships and resulted in externally-funded R&D.
In St. Petersburg, Environment Canada will be represented by Dr. Carl E. Brown
(ESTD/ESTC/STB) who will co-chair and make a presentation during the session on
Decontamination of Territory and Personnel Exposed to Hazardous Chemicals, Asit
Hazra (EEB/EPO/ESB) who will present a Report on the OECD Workshop on Risk Assessment
Practices for Hazardous Substances Involved in Accidental Releases and Dr. Konstantin
Volchek who is the workshop co-chair (ESTD/ESTC/STB), co-chair of the session on
Hazardous Chemical Waste Disposal. Specific Aspects of Response and Recovery and
presenter during the Detection session. Workshop materials will be published and
available in late September 2007.
Caroline Ladanowski, DO:
Cécile Cléroux visits the Environmental Science and Technology Centre
- Cécile Cléroux, ADM, Environmental Stewardship Branch (ESB), and some of
her executives (Ian Matheson, Gord Owen, Margaret Kenny, Pat Dolan, and Tom Foote)
visited the Environmental Science and Technology Centre (ESTC) on Monday, August
27, 2007 as part of an initiative to visit and meet with staff located at 335
River Road.
- Dr. Brian Gray, ADM, Science and Technology Branch and Caroline Ladanowski,
Director of ESTC, accompanied Cecile and her ESB colleagues on their tour of the
various divisions which included both presentation of posters and hands on science
and technology demonstrations.
- The tour included stops to learn about our stationary and mobile emissions
research and measurement activities to support CEPA and CARA (Fred Hendren,
Greg Rideout, Dominic Cianciarelli); research, monitoring (including the
National Air Pollution Monitoring Network), and level of quantification
development to support the Chemical Management Plan and CEPA (Richard Turle,
Lee Beaudette); and environmental emergencies and contaminated sites
scientific research and support (including the alternative service
delivery mechanism) to support the 1973 cabinet directive and CEPA
given EP Board priority to develop a 5 year strategic plan for advancing Environmental
Emergencies Research & Development within Canada (Mike Goldthorp).
- This was a great opportunity to showcase and discuss ESTC expertise,
infrastructure and contributions to regulatory and policy decision-making
which also benefits the public. Cecile left the tour a bit earlier due to
a commitment and will likely complete the tour along with some of
her other executives in October 2007.
Patrick Lambert, ESTD:
Health and Safety Training for Environmental Field Work
- The Emergencies Science and Technology Division (ESTD) has developed
and delivered Health and Safety Training for more than 25 years for people
undertaking various types of environmental field work. This training is
mandatory for EC Emergencies and Enforcement staff who are the primary
participants although others (e.g., Canadian Coast Guard, provincial and
municipal governments, private sector) also participate on a cost recovery
basis to fulfill their obligations to ensure staff are adequately trained
to fulfill their job duties. "HAZWOPER" health and safety and portable instrument
courses are scheduled over the coming weeks.
- The first course is on September 18 & 19 with participation of about 17 EC
staff from across the country along with personnel from RCMP and HC at ESTC while
more than 30 others will attend subsequent courses later in the fall. The
objective of the training is to review practical issues related to hazardous
material response.
- The theme of this year’s course is site assessment and air monitoring.
Examples of the topics included in the training include regulations, risk
assessment, site safety planning, personal protective equipment, respiratory
protection and confined spaces as they relate to environmental emergency
activities. The course is lead by Patrick Lambert with the assistance of
Mike Goldthorp, Ben Fieldhouse and Natalie Jones.
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September
