BLOOM collaborated with the Province of Ontario and the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute (CPPI) to develop the Redevelopment Framework for Former Service Stations in the Province of Ontario. The Framework clarifies and streamlines the process of redeveloping a typical service station site in Ontario. It is anticipated that an effective Framework will result in more sites being returned to safe use in a more timely manner and at a reduced cost.

The Framework was developed as a guide for municipalities and stakeholders who are interested in understanding and implementing the steps or process of redeveloping and revitalizing typical service station sites. It is important to recognize that municipalities are key facilitators in motivating the redevelopment of brownfields such as service stations.

Service stations are a specific type of brownfield site commonly found throughout Canada. Key industry and government stakeholders from across Canada have emphasized the need for more effective guidance on how to address process barriers and successfully navigate the redevelopment of under-utilized and abandoned service stations.

The basic process for the remediation of former service stations and other hydrocarbon related facilities, subject to site specific conditions, is perceived as a relatively straightforward activity and yet many sites still remain contaminated and undeveloped. One of the main challenges involved in redeveloping service stations is how to create value given that conventional cleanup methods for petroleum hydrocarbon contamination (e.g., "dig and dump") on service station sites can typically range in cost from $75 to $125K per hectare, while land values, especially in rural areas, can be as low as $25K per hectare. In many cases, more creative approaches and exit strategies for former service station sites are needed for successful redevelopment to occur.

Framework Partners include: Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Canadian Petroleum Products Institute, City of Hamilton, City of Kitchener, Town of Marathon, Environment Canada, Golder Associates, Imperial Oil Ltd., Jacques Whitford, Kilmer Brownfield Equity Fund, and Technical Standards and Safety Authority.

The development of the Framework was carried out in two phases:

Phase 1: Literature Review and Project Scoping

BLOOM conducted the Literature Review and Project Scoping Project with an objective to identify the relevant legislation, tools, technologies, and approaches used in Ontario and other jurisdictions for service station remediation and redevelopment. Funding support for this phase was provided by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The major findings and recommendations from Phase 1 include:

• The Framework should emphasize the importance of conducting site characterization studies in accordance with the specific jurisdictional requirements. Simple decision trees and steps should be prepared to guide the stakeholders through the redevelopment process. The Framework should be written in non-technical terms to ensure its usefulness as a public communication tool.
• Risk based approaches should be described in the Framework, including a flow chart of a simplified risk assessment process that is recognized by the relevant jurisdiction.
• The Framework should identify and describe the proven technologies that are recognized by the specific regulatory body. Providing guidance on these technologies will help to streamline the approval process and allow remediation and redevelopment projects to meet critical timelines.
• The Framework must reflect the existing regulatory regime while being flexible enough to allow for easy updates, revisions, and potential adaptations for use in other Canadian provinces.

Phase 2: Framework Development

BLOOM developed and implemented a multi-stakeholder engagement process to conduct an arms-length, third-party consultation to facilitate public and private sector input. BLOOM managed the development of the Framework in collaboration with funding partners and with advice from an Advisory Team and the participation of key experts (Development Task Groups).

To make the Framework easily accessible to Ontario Municipalities, it has been developed as a feature on www.aboutREMEDIATION.com and displayed in modular format. New tools have been specifically developed for the Framework including:

• Framework Diagram: Key Elements of the Redevelopment Framework for Former Service Stations in the Province of Ontario
• Guiding Principles and Best Practices
• Screening Matrix for Property Use and Redevelopment Potential
• Screening Matrix for Selection of Remediation Technologies and Risk Management
• Guide to Implementing Remediation and Risk Management

The Framework provides additional information and resources that have been extracted from various sources. The Framework will be updated over time as new information is identified and new tools are created.

The Framework guides Ontario municipalities through the stages of successful redevelopment and includes:

• The Framework Diagram: Key Elements of the Redevelopment Framework for Former Service Stations in the Province of Ontario
• The Four Stages to Redevelopment
  • Stage 1: Setting the Stage
  • Stage 2: Evaluation and Planning
  • Stage 3: Implementation
  • Stage 4: Management
• The Guiding Principles for the Redevelopment of Typical Service Stations