B.C. Environmental Laboratory Manual

Last updated: September 19, 2023

In cooperation with the B.C. Environmental Laboratory Technical Advisory Committee, the Ministry of Environment has produced the 2023 edition of the British Columbia Environmental Laboratory Manual (BCELM). New or updated methods included in the 2023 edition are listed below.

The BCELM is available as individual sections in PDF format for ease of access:

• Title Section (PDF, 42KB)
• Section A: Laboratory Quality Assurance / Quality Control (PDF, 550KB)
• Section B: Physical, Inorganic and Miscellaneous Constituents (PDF, 1.4MB)
• Section C: Metals (PDF, 1.4MB)
• Section D: Organic Constituents and Compounds (PDF, 2,6MB)
• Section E: Microbiological Examination (PDF, 877KB)
• Section F: Toxicity Test Methods (PDF, 591KB)
• Section G: Air Constituents – Inorganic (PDF, 553KB)
• Section H: Air and Vapour Constituents – Organic (PDF, 1MB)
• Schedule A (PDF, 92KB)
• Current Ministry Preservation and Hold Time Requirements (PDF, 233KB)

New or revised methods included in the 2023 edition of the BCELM

Section A

• No new or revised methods at this time

Section B

• Phosphorus, Total and Total Dissolved – PBM
• Solids, Total Suspended (TSS) – PBM
• Sodium and Chloride Pore Water Concentrations of Peat/Muskeg – Prescriptive
• Sulfide in Water by Colourimetric Analysis – PBM

Section C

• No new or revised methods at this time

Section D

• Organotins in Sediment/Soil by GC with MS Detection – PBM
• Organotins in Water by GC with MS Detection – PBM
• Resin and Fatty Acids in Water – PBM
• Semi-Volatile Organics by GC/MS for TCLP Leachates – PBM
• Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Silica Gel Cleanup – Prescriptive
• Tetraethyllead in Soil – PBM
• Tetraethyllead in Water – PBM
• Organic Chlorine in Petroleum Products by Oxidative Pyrolysis and Microcoulometry – Prescriptive

Section E

• Enterococci in Water by MF or Enzyme Substrate Method – Prescriptive
• Salmonella in Solids by MTF – Prescriptive

Section F

• No new or revised methods at this time

Section G

• No new or revised methods at this time

Section H

• No new or revised methods at this time

Methods posted for review

The following methods are posted for a minimum of 30 days. Stakeholders and members of the public are encouraged to review these methods and provide any feedback or concerns to the Senior Laboratory Specialist. Contact information is provided in the panel on the right.

• No methods posted for review at this time 

Methods awaiting approval

The following methods have undergone a public review process. The methods may have been modified to reflect information produced during the review period but still require director’s approval to publish.

• No methods awaiting approval at this time

Methods approved for publication

• No new or revised methods approved for publication at this time