Site characterization study
 52. (1) If this Regulation requires an agricultural operation to be subject to a GNF strategy or GNF plan, no permanent GNF storage facility shall be constructed or expanded for use at the agricultural operation unless, (a) a professional engineer or professional geoscientist is retained to carry out a site characterization study that consists of a hydrogeological or geotechnical investigation of the site of the proposed facility that complies with the requirements set out in subsection (2); and (b) the results of the investigation confirm that the site conditions set out in subsection (3) exist beneath and adjacent to the site of the proposed facility. (2) The following requirements apply with respect to the investigation mentioned in clause (1) (a): 1. The person who carries out the investigation shall be a professional engineer or a professional geoscientist or a person working under the supervision of a professional engineer or a professional geoscientist. 2. The investigation shall identify the soil types and the presence of any aquifer or bedrock, all to a depth of at least, i. 1.5 metres below the lowest elevation of the excavation required for a structure made of concrete, steel or other materials that a professional engineer determines will provide protection equivalent to concrete or steel, or ii. 2.5 metres below the lowest elevation of the excavation required for a structure made of earth. 3. The professional engineer or professional geoscientist shall analyze the data collected during the investigation to confirm that the site conditions set out in subsection (3) exist beneath and adjacent to the site of the proposed facility. 4. The investigation shall involve using a minimum of one test hole per 1,000 square metres of the ground floor area of the proposed facility to determine the characteristics of the soil. 5. All test holes must be located in the zone that is at least three metres and not greater than 10 metres from the perimeter of the footprint of the proposed facility. (3) For the purposes of clause (1) (b), a proposed permanent GNF storage facility that is described in Column 1 of the Table to this subsection shall meet the site conditions set out opposite the facility in Column 2 of the Table. Table   site conditions  Item   Column 1 Description   Column 2 Site conditions 

  1.   It meets one of the following descriptions: 1. Unlined concrete with reinforced concrete floors. 2. Unlined steel with reinforced concrete floors.   The facility must have, between the bottom of the facility and bedrock or the uppermost identified aquifer, a minimum of, (a) 0.5 metres of hydraulically secure soil, or (b) 1.0 metres of soil comprised of a clay content of at least 10 per cent. 

  2.   It meets one of the following descriptions: 1. Lined concrete with reinforced concrete floors. 2. Lined steel with reinforced concrete floors, other than lined steel placed on a concrete floor in a greenhouse. 3. Unlined rigid plastic placed outdoors on a reinforced concrete base or placed indoors on a concrete floor in a greenhouse.   The facility must have, between the bottom of the facility and bedrock or the uppermost identified aquifer, a minimum of, (a) 0.5 metres of native undisturbed material, or (b) 0.5 metres of compacted granular material. 

  3.   It meets one of the following descriptions: 1. Unlined concrete with unreinforced concrete floors. 2. Unlined steel with unreinforced concrete floors.   The facility must have, between the bottom of the facility and bedrock or the uppermost identified aquifer, a minimum of, (a) 1.0 metres of hydraulically secure soil, or (b) 1.0 metres of soil comprised of a clay content of at least 15 per cent. 

  4.   It meets one of the following descriptions: 1. Lined concrete with unreinforced concrete floors. 2. Lined steel with unreinforced concrete floors, other than lined steel placed on a concrete floor in a greenhouse. 3. Unlined rigid plastic placed outdoors on an unreinforced concrete base.   The facility must have, between the bottom of the facility and bedrock or the uppermost identified aquifer, a minimum of, (a) 1.0 metres of native undisturbed material, or (b) 1.0 metres of compacted granular material. 

  5.   Unlined rigid plastic placed directly on the ground.   1. The facility must be located on ground that has been prepared to prevent uneven settling and heaving. 2. The facility must have, between the bottom of the facility and bedrock or the uppermost identified aquifer, a minimum of, (a) 1.0 metres of hydraulically secure soil, or (b) 1.0 metres of soil comprised of a clay content of at least 15 per cent. 

  6.   Lined rigid plastic placed directly on the ground.   1. The facility must be located on ground that has been prepared to prevent uneven settling and heaving. 2. The facility must have, between the bottom of the facility and bedrock or the uppermost identified aquifer, a minimum of, (a) 1.0 metres of native undisturbed material, or (b) 1.0 metres of compacted granular material. 

  7.   Lined earth.   The facility must have, between the bottom and sides of the facility and bedrock or the uppermost identified aquifer, a minimum of 2.0 metres of hydraulically secure soil. (4) For the purposes of this section, permanent GNF storage facilities that are designed to have a combined system, such as a facility that has walls made of earth and concrete, must satisfy the most restrictive site conditions mentioned in subsection (3) for the types of material used in the construction of the facility. (5) The person supervising the construction or expansion of a permanent GNF storage facility shall ensure that the test holes excavated for the purposes of an investigation mentioned in this section that are not required for any further purpose are plugged and sealed to provide a level of hydraulic conductivity that is the same or less than the hydraulic conductivity of the surrounding undisturbed soil.