Language selection

Search

Technical Requirements for a Non-Contiguous Burial Site Permit:
Specified Risk Material Confinement

This page is part of the Guidance Document Repository (GDR).

Looking for related documents?
Search for related documents in the Guidance Document Repository

  1. Base: The burial site must be located in an area of geological material with a hydraulic conductivity of less than 1 x 10-8 m/s (1 x 10-6 cm/s). Clay is highly suitable. Available local geological or agronomics information may be used to document the acceptability of the site. Otherwise, hydraulic conductivity testing must be performed by a qualified professional at the site or on a sample taken from the proposed site at the bottom of the burial pit. Alternatively, geomembranes (industry-approved plastic sheeting or high-density polyethylene) can be used with a hydraulic conductivity and thickness combination that provides a breakthrough time of at least six years.
  2. Groundwater protection: Burial sites must not be located near potable water supplies, near surface water, or in an area known to be subject to flooding. Information from the provincial authority regarding the location of aquifers, wells, and groundwater must be provided to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) with the application for permit. The bottom of the burial pit must be located at least 1.5 m above any groundwater.
  3. Surface water management: The site and surface of the pit should encourage rain runoff.
  4. For background information and general landfill site requirements, refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Policy: Permits for Landfill Sites Receiving Specified Risk Material.
Date modified: