Areas of Specialty

Environmental Services Supporting the Coal, Metal Mining, Oil & Gas and Chemical Product Sectors

Borealis offers its clients environmental consulting and management services focused on environmental impact assessments, science-based regulations and guidelines, environmental policy, sustainability assurance, ecological and human health risk assessments, and scientific communication.

Backed by over 30 years of experience, Borealis has supported environmental management programs of progressive, sustainability-focussed companies and industry organizations across Canada and the United States. We are proud to be associated with clients committed to corporate responsibility with respect to environmental and socio-economic sustainability.

Evaluating tissue bioaccumulation of selenium in salmonid eggs.

Daphnia magna, a common ecotoxicity test organism

Environmental field monitoring at an operating mine site.

Observations of fish health downstream.

Environmental Due Diligence

Borealis offers scientific advisory services in support of environmental and social due diligence activities for developing projects throughout North America, for both national and international clients. Activities include: comprehensive reviews of data and reports from various disciplines integrated as part of environmental baseline and other studies; site visits and interviews with project proponents, managers and discipline leads; rapid identification of key "red flag" issues; and high-quality, timely reporting with specific, prioritized recommendations based on these activities.

Science/Policy Promotion and Advocacy

Borealis is committed to promoting sound science as the basis for environmental policies, regulations and guidelines, for implementation by industry, and being developed by various government jurisdictions. Through active involvement in key current issues faced by industry proponents and advocacy organizations, Borealis maintains a current and focussed knowledge base pertaining to "best available practices" that helps to inform environmental policies, regulations and guidelines.

“My experience working with Borealis is based on work that the firm undertook in support of due diligence activities on several mining projects. I am delighted to say that Borealis has exceeded our expectations in various areas. I highly recommend Borealis and am confident that you will find them to be a pleasure to work with, as well as being technically adept and efficient in the implementation and completion of their work.”

Rob Curtis, BSc (Hons – Geol)

Investment Director EMR Capital
Melbourne, Australia

Water Quality Guideline/Objective Development, Evaluation, and Application

Borealis has extensive experience in the development, evaluation, and application of water and sediment quality guidelines and/or objectives in North America. Through experience working with industry, governments, academic and consulting researchers, Borealis has worked to inform water and sediment quality guidelines and objectives based on the most-up-to-date science. Borealis has provided expertise related to a number of parameters in a variety of watersheds and ecosystems throughout Canada and the United States, including: selenium, sulphate, cadmium, copper, zinc, nitrate, nitrite, and petroleum hydrocarbons.

Environmental Impact Assessment - Coordination and Integration, Regulatory Liaison

Borealis Environmental provides expertise in support of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), including the coordination and integration of research, monitoring, and assessment activities, and industry-leading expertise in the delivery of science-based impact assessments at a senior level. With over 30 years of experience related to environmental impacts in the coal and metal mining and oil & gas industries, Borealis has attained expertise in various regulatory guidelines, and permitting and environmental monitoring programs.

“Guy’s many attributes, skills and accomplishments, the following are considered highlights: strongly advocates the conducting of good science and careful planning in industrial practice; openly shares his knowledge through volunteering with a variety of mining, toxicological, ecological and environment industry-related organizations; integrates science into environmental assessment, management and water treatment; actively applies his extensive experience and expertise; and, provides strategic scientific and strategic advice to mining industry associations, in support of water science, environmental assessment, and consultation processes related to effluent regulations.”

David Thompson

Chief Geologist, Conuma Coal Resources
Tumbler Ridge, BC, Canada

Ecological Risk Assessment & Ecotoxicology

Borealis is experienced in the assessment of ecological risks associated with the biological effects of industrial pollutants. Borealis is actively engaged in both the academic and consulting ecotoxicology communities, and frequently partners with other industry experts to deliver high-quality data, informed by the best-available science. Borealis offers industry-leading services in project management of ecological risk assessments for industrial operations.

Chemical Product Stewardship Initiatives

Borealis has experience and expertise in the the evaluation of chemical products used in industrial settings. This includes assessing the ecological and human health risks associated with these products. Development of material safety data sheets, preparation of data submissions in support of product stewardship programs (e.g. EcoLogo, ETV Canada). These efforts assure the safety of workers, local communities, and the environment. More recently, Borealis has applied product stewardship information to real-world scenarios, using up-to-date test methods, best practices, and current technologies.

Geoff Wickstrom

Founding Partner | Senior Environmental Scientist, Core6 Environmental
Comox, BC, Canada

Sustainability Assurance Programs for Extractive Industries

Borealis has training, expertise and experience in providing third-party support and verification provision to companies in extractive industries (mining, oil & gas). This relates to a number of sustainability elements, for example: water, biodiversity, tailings management, energy management, community engagement, and safety and health. Specifically, Borealis is a certified Verification Service Provider (VSP) for the Mining Association of Canada's (MAC) "Towards Sustainable Mining" program, and also provides services in support of the Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMPs). Borealis also has expertise and experience in verification of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) elements for sustainability reporting.

Selenium Evaluation and Management

Borealis is an industry leader in the evaluation, permitting, and management of Selenium in the mining industry. Borealis offers high-quality services backed by a decade and a half of experience and expertise, including numerous publications, active membership in numerous technical committees, and numerous projects, specifically related to selenium. Borealis works closely with other experts in the area of selenium evaluation and management to deliver advice using the best available science.

Data Quality Evaluation of Ecotoxicity Studies for Ecological Risk Assessment

Borealis has extensive experience in the development and application of data quality schemes based on the relevance and reliability of ecotoxicity studies. Borealis has evaluated thousands of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and peer-reviewed literature ecotoxicity studies aimed at identifying best available data for use in ecological risk assessments. With over two decades of experience, Borealis offers high-quality services related to data quality, based on numerous publications in this field, and has conducted many projects supporting clients in the registration of their pesticides (i.e., the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) in Canada; and, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) in the United States).

What Our Clients Have to Say...

The Borealis team is highly regarded for their expertise in environmental due diligence, impact assessments, ecological risk assessment, sustainability, and risk communication.

Some client testimonials are provided below:

“Guy Gilron’s expertise in ecotoxicology, environmental risk assessment and environmental permitting has made him a respected voice in a number of multi-stakeholder working groups, specifically related to coal effluent regulation, assessment, management, and treatment. Guy has provided invaluable support to the coal mining industry in providing the scientific background, analytical skills and strategic advice, in addition to providing education to the public and other stakeholders, advocating for safe and responsible coal mining practices, with an aim at minimizing and mitigating environmental impacts. Amongst Guy’s many attributes, skills and accomplishments, the following are considered highlights: strongly advocates the conducting of good science and careful planning in industrial practice; openly shares his knowledge through volunteering with a variety of mining, toxicological, ecological and environment industry-related organizations; integrates science into environmental assessment, management and water treatment; actively applies his extensive experience and expertise; and, provides strategic scientific and strategic advice to mining industry associations, in support of water science, environmental assessment, and consultation processes related to effluent regulations.”

David Thompson

Chief Geologist, Conuma Coal Resources
Tumbler Ridge, BC, Canada

"A former Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC) Environment and Science Committee Chair, Guy provides strategic scientific advice to MABC members, in support of water science, environmental assessment, and related issues. With extensive experience and expertise in aquatic toxicology, water quality guideline development, selenium risk assessment, and environmental impact assessment, Mr. Gilron works effectively to integrate science into environmental management decisions and policy development, in his capacity as an MABC contractor."

Karina Briño

General Manager, Administration & Regulatory Affairs, Minera Candelaria, Lundin Mining Corporation

“My experience working with Borealis is based on work that the firm undertook for EMR Capital in support of due diligence activities on several mining projects. I am delighted to say that Borealis has exceeded our expectations in various areas. I would make special mention of the professional and courteous manner in which Borealis conducted their work and, in particular, the depth of knowledge and understanding of their specific work areas was always apparent, and their ability to integrate this with other work streams. As a result, I highly recommend Borealis and am confident that you will find them to be a pleasure to work with, as well as being technically adept and efficient in the implementation and completion of their work.”

Rob Curtis, BSc (Hons – Geol)

Investment Director EMR Capital
Melbourne, Australia

“We retained Mr. Gilron to assist us with environmental due diligence of a greenfield coal mine in British Columbia. Mr. Gilron provided us unbiased, timely and actionable recommendations on various environmental issues associated with the project and best ways to manage them. The location of the project is in an area with high levels of selenium in its watershed and we especially appreciated his insights on how to deal with this environmentally sensitive issue from an engineering and political perspective. His counsel and insights were valuable in our evaluation of this project and I recommend his services to companies seeking assistance with their environmental review.”

Ken Lam

Executive Vice President, Guohua Technology Corp (Canada)
Calgary, AB, Canada

"I have known Guy professionally since 2002, initially as a consulting risk assessment colleague and then through his evolution managing environmental matters within the mining industry. Guy has always been an strong advocate of good science and careful planning, and is quick to share his knowledge and experience volunteering with a variety of biological and environment industry-related organizations. Guy has expert-level experience related to provincial and federal Environmental Assessment requirements, and couples this with a deep knowledge of contaminant effects on aquatic resources. I believe it is these qualities along with his positive outlook and easy-going personality that have contributed to his success.

Geoff Wickstrom

Founding Partner | Senior Environmental Scientist, Core6 Environmental
Comox, BC, Canada

"MABC used Guy Gilron's services to assist us in developing innovative water quality research initiatives specifically targeted at understanding the behaviour of selenium and nitrate in the aquatic environment. Mr. Gilron's technical abilities have been a tremendous asset to our business. In addition to technical advice, Mr. Gilron has also been an important advisor on developing policy positions to help inform our work with the BC Ministry of Environment."

Ben Chalmers

Senior Vice President at Mining Association of Canada