Canada-Wide Standard for Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil (PHC CWS) Analytical Methods Workshop II 2002

Leduc/Nisku, Alberta - November 18, 2002

Alberta Environment’s workshop on the Canada-Wide Standard for Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil (PHC CWS) Analytical Methods was held on November 18, 2002. Invited speakers were from Alberta Environment, Alberta Research Council and Alberta’s environmental laboratories. This was the second of two workshops held on this topic.

The first workshop was held on May 31, 2001. Alberta Environment sought input from Alberta laboratories and consultants on implementation options for Alberta. Participants agreed to implement the PHC CWS method as written for compliance testing. They also recommended an inter-laboratory evaluation of the PHC CWS method and a validation process for performance-based aspects of the analytical method. Learn more about the first workshop (report and presentation).

During 2002, the Canadian Association for Environmental Analytical Laboratories (CAEAL) completed an inter-laboratory study of the PHC CWS analytical method. Alberta Environment convened a second workshop to discuss the study results and to identify appropriate steps for developing a performance-based validation process. The Alberta Research Council (ARC) was contracted to provide background on the necessary elements of a validation protocol.

Participants at the second workshop raised a number of issues that were summarized in four recommendations. View the report and recommendations. Alberta Environment will consider this report when making implementation decisions related to the method.

Participant groups presented the following materials during the workshop on November 18, 2002 to support their perspectives:
 

Presentations

Presentation 1: Overview of PHC CWS, Ted Nason, Alberta Environment

Presentation 2: Development of the PHC CWS Analytical Method, Richard Turle, Environment Canada

Presentation 3: Recap of May 31/01 PHC CWS Analytical Workshop I, Ted Nason, Alberta Environment

Presentation 4: Design, Implementation and Results of CAEAL Interlab Study, Richard Turle, Environment Canada

Presentation 5: Validation of Performance-Based Options, Henry Bertram, Alberta Research Council

Presentation 6: Comments on the Present Status of CWS PHC Method, Mark Hugdahl, ALS Environmental (Canada)

Presentation 7: CCME CWS Norwest Labs Experience, Chris Swyngedouw, Norwest Labs

Presentation 8: Comments and Experiences with CCME-PHC Method, Don Laberge, Enviro-Test Laboratories

Presentation 9: Observations, Phil Heaton, Maxxam Analytics Inc.

Presentation 10: Performance Based Methods and In-House Method Validation - CCME PHC’s Validation Issues, Barry Loescher, PSC Analytical Services

Presentation 11: Performance Based Method, Henry Bertram, Alberta Research Council