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Performance verification plans

Last updated on February 24, 2025

 

A performance verification plan (PVP) is a stand-alone document that describes the risk controls and actions needed at a site to ensure risk-based standards are met.

A PVP may be required when:

PVPs can also be a condition of a release notice.

A risk control is an institutional, intrinsic, engineering or monitoring control that exists or is put in place to mitigate, remove, or observe risks from exposure to contaminants.

An example of risk control is a pavement cover placed over shallow contaminated soil to eliminate the risk to humans and animals contacting that soil.

On this page

Determine whether a Performance Verification Plan is required

Sites are classified into Type 1 or Type 2 based on the type of risk control needed to meet Contaminated Sites Regulation (CSR) risk-based standards. A PVP may or may not be required depending on the site type. 

If a site is Type 1

A PVP isn't needed for Type 1 sites unless specified by the director

Examples of a Type 1 site include:

  • A site that meets risk-based standards under current and future standards without risk controls 
  • A site that is serviced by a treated municipal water supply and institutional controls must be in place to limit the presence of future drinking water wells nearby
  • A site that has engineered control of a paved cap covering soil contamination in a municipal roadway or sidewalk

Example of risk controls for Type 1 sites

No risk controls:

  • Passes screening level risk assessment or detailed risk assessment despite operative exposure pathways.

Institutional controls:

  • Site groundwater must not be used for drinking water purposes.
  • The site will remain a municipal roadway and the asphalt cap will be maintained on a routine basis

If a site is Type 2

You must submit a PVP if you plan to use institutional and/or engineering controls. 

A Type 2 site meets risk-based standards under current and future uses through use of institutional or engineered risk controls (apart from the risk controls noted in Site Type 1).

Example of risk controls for Type 2 sites

Institutional controls:

  • Fencing
  • Signage restricting use (for example: no trespassing)
  • Lack of receptor occupancy or contractual restriction of receptor, or Land Title restriction on soil disturbance or land use

Engineering controls:

  • Vapour barrier
  • Pavement or soil cap for deeper soil contamination
  • Secure containment of leachable contaminated soil in a lined cell
  • Groundwater extraction and treatment system
  • Soil vapour extraction and treatment system
  • Engineered barrier system or reactive wall
  • In situ soil treatment system
  • In situ water treatment system and ex situ soil treatment system

If you aren't sure whether your site is Type 1 or 2, contact the ministry for further guidance at remediationFAQs@gov.bc.ca

Create a Performance Verification Plan 

You can create a PVP after you've determined whether a site is Type 1 or Type 2. A PVP should be included with your application for certification or reclassification of a site, or as part of conditions for a release notice. The ministry expects a PVP to include the following:

  • The necessary risk controls with the rationale for their selection
  • The actions required to implement, operate and monitor the identified risk controls
  • Detailed specifications on any engineering work to be implemented

A PVP may be modified based upon application to, and at the discretion of, the ministry.

The information on this web page does not replace the legislative requirements in the EMA or its regulations and it does not list all provisions for contaminated site services.

If there are differences between this information and the Act, Regulation, or Protocols, the Act, Regulation, and Protocols apply.