With over 25 years of experience in environmental consulting, AEL environment has extensive experience in excess soil management.  We use of state-of-the-art testing equipment for accurate and reliable soil analysis and offer end-to-end service from initial assessments to final reporting.

What is Excess Soil?

Excess soil refers to soil that is displaced, removed or excavated from its original location during construction, landscaping or other activities. This soil typically needs to be managed and sometimes transported to another location, due to regulatory requirements or project specifications. Excess soil can vary in quantity and quality, depending on its origin and the type of project. Examples of excess soil can include subsoil, sand, clay, organic matter, and more. Management of excess soils often involve considerations such as environmental impact, transportation logistics, regulatory compliance, and potential reuse or disposal options.

Where is Excess Soil Typically Generated?

Excess soil can be generated through any project where soil excavation or displacement is taking place. Here are some examples of where excess soil can originate:

1. Construction Sites: Excavation for infrastructure foundations, basements or underground utilities often result in excess soil that needs to be managed or disposed.

2. Road and Highway Projects: When new roads, highways or bridges are being constructed, soil is excavated to create roadbeds, soil embankments or to accommodate drainage systems.

3. Landscaping and Earthworks: The reshaping of terrain, creating garden beds or constructing settling ponds or hills often involves excavation that produces excess soil.

4. Pipeline and Utility Installations: Digging trenches for laying pipelines, cables or other utility infrastructure generates excess soil that must be managed.

5. Brownfield Remediations: Remediating contaminated sites often involves the excavation of soil that is then classified as excess and requires “special management or treatment”.

Why is the Testing of Excess Soil Necessary?

The testing of excess soil plays a critical role in safeguarding environmental quality, ensuring regulatory compliance and promoting sustainable soil management practices. As soil is excavated from construction sites, road projects and various other activities, it may contain contaminants or exhibit characteristics that necessitate thorough evaluation. Testing of excess soil is necessary for several important reasons:

1. Environmental Protection: Excess soil can contain contaminants such as heavy metals, hydrocarbons or other hazardous materials. Testing ensures that soil destined for reuse or disposal meets environmental standards to prevent contamination of land, water and air.

2. Regulatory Compliance: Many jurisdictions have regulation standards governing the management, transport and disposal of soil, especially if it is contaminated or classified as waste Testing of soil ensures compliance with these regulations and helps avoid legal liabilities.

3. Health and Safety Considerations: Some contaminants in soil can pose severe risks to human health if exposure occurs through direct contact, inhalation of dust, or ingestion. Testing of soil can help to identify potential health hazards and determines appropriate handling and disposal measures.

4. Reuse Potential: Testing can assess the quality of excess soil for potential reuse in other construction projects or landscaping activities. Understanding the soil’s characteristics (such as contained chemical levels, texture, organic matter content, pH levels, etc.) helps determine its sustainability for specific reuse applications.

What if my Excess Soil is Contaminated?

• Compare “dig and dump” to in-situ vs. ex-situ and other innovative remedial options
• Construct barriers to isolate the contaminated soil from the surrounding environment
• Long-term monitoring and management plans to ensure that any residual contamination does not pose serious risks over time
• Ensure that all activities relating to handling, transporting, treating and disposing of contaminated soil comply with local environmental regulations and permits

AEL’s Excess Soil Services

At AEL environment, we specialize in excess soil testing and characterization in compliance with Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 406/19, the On-Site and Excess Soil Management regulation, offering soil sampling, Soil Characterization Reports (SCRs), Excess Soil Destination Assessment Reports (ESDARs) and more.