SUSTAINTECH™
CONFERENCE
Promoting sustainability, environmental responsibility, and the latest practices and technology of the environmental industry.
Regulatory Sessions
March, 19th 2026
Ministry of Environment - Regulatory Requirements for Closing Environmentally Impacted
Sites in Saskatchewan Presented by: Brent Zelensky
The Ministry of Environment will discuss Saskatchewan’s regulatory framework for closing environmentally impacted sites under the Saskatchewan Environmental Code. The presentation will focus on corrective action planning and closure requirements, culminating in the issuance of a Notice of Site Condition (NoSC) - the province’s formal acknowledgement that a site has been remediated to an acceptable level of risk. Key requirements for a successful NoSC application will be highlighted, including Qualified Person documentation, closure reporting, NCSCS scoring, and delineation of site conditions and controls. The session will use a case study to explore management of off‑site impacts, emphasizing the need for affected‑party consent and options such as risk management with future reclamation or transfer of responsibility when full remediation is not immediately feasible. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the documentation, decision pathways and regulatory expectations that guide the final steps of site closure in Saskatchewan.
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Brent Zelensky's Bio:
Brent Zelensky is the manager of the Impacted Sites and Environmental Emergencies Section of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. He is a Professional Agrologist with over 20 years of experience in the impacted sites sector. He started with the ministry in 2012 as a regulator, and previously consulted throughout western Canada, specializing in risk-based management of impacted sites. He and his team are responsible for regulating impacted sites, permitting hazmat storage facilities, responding to environmental emergencies, managing the Non-Uranium Abandoned Mines remediation program, and administering the Impacted Sites Fund for orphaned impacted sites. He has been a SEIMA board member since 2023 and is a strong advocate for advancing Saskatchewan's environmental sector.
City of Saskatoon - Municipal Perspective on Developing Impacted Sites Presented by: Wesley Wizniuk
The City of Saskatoon works along our industry partners to help manage impacted sites. We receive, approve, and file inquiries that include: applications for alternative delineation criteria, corrective action plans, and agreements/licenses/permits/protocols etc. Our Environmental Protection section supports many areas of environmental work which include: the Contractor Environmental Guidelines, expectations for right of way work (permitting/SBU/specifications), soil acceptance at the City’s landfill, and monitoring well agreements.
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Wesley Wizniuk's Bio:
Wesley Wizniuk is the City of Saskatoon’s Impacted Sites Manager. He is a professional engineer with 13 years’ experience within the environmental realm. Wesley started his career in consulting before joining the City as a Project Manager (Soils) in 2019. He has worked as an Operations Engineer within the City’s Municipal Engineer Services section and has recently returned to Sustainability to lead the City’s impacted sites portfolio. Wesley is currently a member of APEGS Council, a Delegate with the Society of United Professionals, and a new SEIMA Director.
City of Regina - Municipal Perspective on Developing Impacted Sites Presented by: Evan Wilson
Managing an impacted site within a municipality requires an understanding of the bylaws and procedures specific to the municipality. This presentation will provide a brief overview of how to manage an impacted site within the City of Regina, including how to notify the City of off-site impacts, requirements for investigating impacts on City controlled land, and the process to request authorization for a Corrective Action Plan or alternative delineation criteria. The City of Regina will also discuss other bylaws and polices that relate to impacted sites management.
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Evan Wilson's Bio:
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Evan Wilson is professional engineer with over 20 years of experience in the field of environmental site management. After spending most of his career working as an environmental consultant based out of Saskatoon and then Calgary, Evan moved back to Saskatchewan in 2023 to take on the position of the City of Regina’s Impacted Sites Senior Engineer. When he is isn’t managing the City’s impacted sites, Evan likes to get outside, often riding a bike, paddling a canoe or dragging kids into the outdoors as a Scout leader.
Impacted Sites in Saskatchewan: From Discovery to Closure - What Drives Success (Moderator - Spencer Chad (Geosyntec); Panelists: Brent Zelensky (SKMoE), Wesley Wizniuk (City of Saskatoon), Brett Reynolds (Shell)
This panel session brings together Saskatchewan practitioners to discuss the practical realities of managing environmentally impacted sites—from discovery and reporting through assessment, corrective action, and ultimately closure and Notice of Site Condition (NoSC) outcomes. The panel will follow a Ministry of Environment presentation that includes a case study illustrating an impacted site’s progression toward closure and the NoSC process. Panelists will include the Ministry of Environment's Manager of Impacted Sites and Environmental Emergencies, the City of Saskatoon’s Impacted Sites Manager, an industry representative, and a consulting moderator. Discussions will focus on common issues encountered by proponents, municipalities, consultants, and regulators in Saskatchewan, including: navigating the regulatory process from discovery/reporting through alternative solutions and corrective actions; managing off-site stakeholder considerations; aligning redevelopment options with municipal requirements (including planning and zoning interfaces); and addressing legal and financial liability considerations. The panel will also highlight ways to leverage available resources, including funding programs, to support cleanup and redevelopment decisions. Emphasis will be placed on real-world lessons – both challenges and successes – and practical “issue-spotting” questions to help attendees reduce delays, manage risk, and move impacted sites efficiently toward closure in Saskatchewan.
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Brett Reynold's Bio:
Brett Reynolds is a professional agrologist with over 18 years of experience in remediation, risk assessment, and environmental liability oversight associated with contaminated sites. He is currently a Senior Program Manager with Shell Soil and Groundwater Solutions and is responsible for managing a portfolio of contaminated sites across Western Canada. Brett is also actively involved in various technical remediation and reclamation committees across the industry. His contributions include participation with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), the Canadian Fuels Association (CFA), Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC), Canadian Brownfield Network (CBN) and the Alberta DUA Municipal Exclusion Policy working group. Brett has proudly served on the board of directors with SEIMA since 2021 and is a strong advocate for pragmatic, risk‑based, and sustainable approaches that reflect the latest science.
Canadian Brownfield Session
Drilling Down, Building Up!
Issue spotting in Land (Re)Development
Environmental, legal, business and financial advisors help our clients (re)develop land in various contexts. This work gives rise to a range of environmental issues that advisors consider to facilitate redevelopment.
Join us to explore common issues from varying advisor perspectives:
Part 1 - Environmental Issue Spotting, including
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contamination in soil, groundwater, and vapour
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hazardous materials and designated substances
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conservation and flood zone protection
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species-at-risk
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excess soil
Part 2 - Managing the development
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environmental enforcement
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regulatory requirements
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financing and financial incentives
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insurance to address past and future risks
The objective of this case study is to better equip attendees to spot issues that may give rise to concern when working on construction and land (re)development projects including when carrying out environmental investigations, excavations, and remediation and how to address and manage the business of land development.
Our 2 panels of advisors will canvass these issues at a high-level and with the objective of making attendees more aware of the complex web of environmental-related issues and laws that may be encountered.