Contaminated soil found during excavation

Treat petroleum odour, suspicious fill, ash, debris or discoloured soil as a characterization/traceability signal rather than clean fill.

VERT / GREEN = documenter · JAUNE / YELLOW = vérifier · ROUGE / RED = arrêter/faire valider.

Strong odour, free product or suspect soil
Pause off-site movement and obtain characterization/management guidance. Listed site or risky former use
Check environmental file and obligations before excavation. Soil leaving site without classification
Determine destination and traceability before hauling. Characterization/destination documented
Archive reports and disposal records.

What the professional checks

Characterize soil/water and contaminants
Determine remediation, reuse or authorized destination

Official sources

Québec — déclaration de conformité, terrains contaminés

Checked: 2026-08-22

V15

Remaining system checks not to miss

V15 covers issues that can block a project, cause a loss or become expensive once concealed.

Before closing wallsUnderground utilities before diggingOil, propane and tankPost-renovation commissioningCodes + climate by province

Blind spots before proceeding

V36 checks that can change methods, insurance, testing or work sequence.