Land Use
Different land uses carry different risk assumptions. A residential site usually has stricter limits than an industrial property because people may live there long-term.
Purpose
What is bccsrtool?
bccsrtool uses B.C.'s Contaminated Sites Regulation (CSR) Schedule 3.1 to screen whether a site needs remediation. Schedule 3.1 provides the concentration thresholds of 40 human & ecological contaminants of concern, commonly found chemicals at B.C. contaminated sites. This tools allows users to quickly screen the concentration thresholds of these chemicals & even compare measured values against Schedule 3.1.
bccsrtool screens against human health protection standards, with environmental protection standards coming soon.
Phase I
Site review
Phase II
Measured vs threshold concentrations
Phase III
Active remediation
Why I built this
Reduce time & eliminate human error.
Before developing this tool, I completed a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) project. While doing my research, I realised how tedious & complicated Schedule 3.1 was. 40 pages of 40 chemicals, each with a large table, 8 site specific factor for each chemical and 8 protection standards. Cross checking however many chemicals against however many standards would be a nightmare. There had to be a more straightforward way to do this.
bccsrtool was born. I wanted to streamline this process & also act as an educating tool. My goal was to build a straightforward screening tool that would allow users to quickly check Schedule 3.1 thresholds, compare the measured concentrations against the thresholds and understand the logic behind the thresholds. With this whole process done in just mere minutes.
Workflow
Four decisions, one screening path
Each step mirrors a small part of how early ESA information gets organized.
Contaminants
Site history points toward likely contaminants. A former gas station suggests BTEX and petroleum VOCs; a dry cleaner suggests chlorinated solvents.
Lab Data
Measured concentrations are entered with units. Non-detects can be marked when a lab did not detect a substance above its reporting limit.
Screening Results
The tool compares the value against the selected threshold and flags below, borderline, exceedance, non-detect, or review.
Site history clues
Site history gives the contaminant list a starting point
Phase I observations rarely give a final answer, but they help narrow the first screening list.
BTEX and petroleum VOCs often become the first substances to check.
Why it matters: fuel releases can affect soil, groundwater, and vapour pathways.PCE/TCE chlorinated solvents are common screening candidates.
Why it matters: solvents can be mobile and persistent.PAHs, metals, and creosote-related contaminants may be relevant.
Why it matters: historical handling areas can leave mixed impacts.Metals and miscellaneous regulated substances are often worth reviewing.
Why it matters: imported fill can carry a different site history.
Method
Threshold logic
Different land uses, matrices, and units change which Schedule 3.1 standard is used.
Proposed land use selects the standard.
The same concentration can screen differently under residential, commercial, or industrial assumptions.
Units point to the matrix.
Soil units compare against soil thresholds. Water units compare against groundwater thresholds.
Near-threshold values deserve attention.
Borderline means the value is close to the threshold and should be reviewed carefully.
Non-detect does not mean zero.
It means the lab did not detect the substance above its reporting limit. In this educational screen, non-detects are not treated as exceedances.
Threshold moment
The same lab value can pass under one land use and exceed under another.
ESA context
Where this fits in a real assessment process
This tool simplifies it into an educational screening interface.
- Phase I ESA
- Potential contaminants identified
- Applicable land use selected
- Preliminary lab results screened
- Potential exceedances flagged for review
Current tool data
Schedule 3.1 — Oct 27, 2025 amendment
This badge signals the dataset version used by the tool, but users should always verify against official BC regulations before professional use.
Responsible use
Simplify early screening decisions.
Educational simplifications
- Not all regulated substances or exposure pathways are included.
- Background concentrations are not evaluated.
- Pathway applicability is intentionally simplified.
Regulatory limitations
- Thresholds must be verified against official regulations.
- Schedule 3.1 is the current focus; more standards may be added later.
- This is not a replacement for a qualified professional or Approved Professional review.
Official resources
Verify the source material
Use official BC resources for regulatory decisions and professional work.