Commercial clean fill disposal at Marmot Pit

Jasper National Park

New  Wildfire recovery: Excess fill

As outlined in the Jasper Builders Guide (published March 2025), if a housing project requires disposal of excess fill, the option to dispose of clean fill in Marmot Pit may be available. Given the potential for contamination in the ground post wildfire, backfill management will look different on different sites in Jasper.

Properties where the post-demolition confirmatory soil sampling results have met the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Residential/Parkland Guidelines, and where the Development Permit for debris removal has been closed, contractors may apply to dispose of clean fill at Marmot Pit by following the steps outlined herein.

Properties with an approved Risk Management Plan for residual contamination will also be required to prove that all fill to be disposed of does not exceed the CCME standards, otherwise, it must be removed from the park and disposed of at a licensed facility. Once a Clean Fill Disposal Permit has been issued, you must call the phone number on the permit to schedule access to Marmot Pit for disposal.

Please note that Marmot Pit is not a temporary storage location for fill and is only accessible to contractors during pre-arranged times for permitted disposal of clean fill, not for extraction or collection. It is only for the permanent disposal of clean fill and should not be seen as a potential source of backfill during final site work.

Parks Canada Agency (PCA) has designated Marmot Pit as a site for commercial clean fill disposal for third party contractors operating within Jasper National Park.

This webpage outlines a five step process that contractors must follow before disposing of clean fill at Marmot Pit.

Step 1: Confirm that your material meets the clean fill criteria

Acceptable
  • Native topsoil
  • Overburden (fine grain materials consisting of silt, clay, sand, and gravel)
  • Aggregate (large grain materials consisting of gravel, cobbles, rocks and boulders)
Not acceptable
  • Fill containing any debris
  • Fill from areas where provincially listed noxious weeds or weeds restricted by Parks Canada have been identified or are suspected
  • Woody vegetation such as tree trunks, roots, branches and twigs
  • Municipal waste, garbage
  • Building and construction materials
  • Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP)
  • Asphalt concrete pavement (ACP) and reject materials
  • Concrete, concrete barriers etc.
  • Liquid waste or saturated material
  • Lawn sod
Loads containing ANY unacceptable material are NOT considered clean fill and will not be accepted in Marmot Pit.

Notes:

  1. Only clean fill from within Jasper National Park will be accepted at Marmot Pit
  2. Clean fill will not be accepted immediately after a rainfall
  3. All material is subject to approval at the sole discretion of Parks Canada

Step 2: Apply for a Clean Fill Disposal Permit

Contractors must obtain a Clean Fill Disposal Permit from Parks Canada Agency (PCA) before hauling any material to Marmot Pit. Permit Applications must include all supporting Phase II ESA reports, if applicable.

The Permit Application must be submitted at least 14 days before hauling begins to allow Parks Canada sufficient time for review and processing.

Submit a Clean Fill Disposal Permit Application now

* Please note this is an interim approval process and is subject to change at any time.

Contractor’s General Liability Insurance

If you do not have a business licence to work in Jasper National Park outside the townsite, please provide a copy of your Contractor’s General Liability Insurance.

Requirement: A minimum of $2,000,000.00 per incident with His Majesty the King, in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Environment for the purpose of the Parks Canada Agency as an additional named insured. Please indicate the following certificate holder: Parks Canada Agency.

Please email your insurance certificate to developpementjasper-jasperdevelopment@pc.gc.ca.

Step 3: Complete required Environmental Site Assessment (Phase I/II)

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)

A Phase I ESA is required for all project lands in Jasper National Park that have been identified as a potential source of clean fill. The Phase I ESA will be conducted by a Parks Canada Environmental Surveillance Officer (ESO), who will determine if the fill complies with the regulatory framework for clean fill, or if a Phase II ESA is required.

Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)

A Phase II ESA and report will be required on project lands where the Phase I ESA identifies potential sources of contamination. In such cases, intrusive surface and subsurface soil sampling, using discrete grab samples (not composite), must be conducted to determine site characterization. The Phase II ESA and report must be completed by a Qualified Professional at the contractor’s expense. The final report must identify the location(s), type(s), and level(s) of contamination, compare them to the applicable Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) guidelines and Canada-Wide Standards (CWS), and include a recommendation on how-or if-the material can be considered clean.

Fill materials exceeding the CCME guidelines for Agricultural Land Use will not be accepted at Marmot Pit.

See environmental requirements for more information.

Step 4: Submit payment

Currently, and until further notice, disposal of clean fill material at Marmot Pit is free of charge.

Step 5: Schedule disposal appointment(s)

No appointment necessary for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Marmot Pit operational hours for 2025

New hours. Updated December 5, 2025

Hours of operation
Date Hours
September 15 to December 20, 2025 Monday to Saturday between 7:30 am and 5 pm

Note: Dumping is not permitted on statutory or civic holidays, or outside of the designated operational hours. Dumping will not be permitted immediately after rain events.

Visual inspection requirements

The Contractor Representative must visually inspect each load to ensure the material being brought to Marmot Pit matches the texture and appearance described in the permit. For each load, proof of a valid Clean Fill Disposal Permit must be presented to the Parks Canada Agency Representative at Marmot Pit, and each driver must be able to describe the material they are hauling. Every load will be inspected on-site by the PCA Representative, and if approved, the driver will be directed to a designated disposal area.

Parks Canada Agency rights and reservations

  1. A Parks Canada Agency (PCA) Representative may conduct soil sampling or visual inspections at any time, either at the source location, Marmot Pit, or during material hauling.
  2. Any material that does not meet the requirements outlined in this document or is deemed unsuitable by the PCA Representative will be rejected.
  3. Material deposited at Marmot Pit that does not meet suitability requirements must be removed at the Contractor’s expense.
  4. PCA reserves the right to change fee rates at any time.
  5. PCA reserves the right to modify the outlined process and requirements at any time.
  6. PCA reserves the right to prohibit the Contractor from using Marmot Pit indefinitely if, in PCA’s opinion, the Contractor fails to follow the prescribed processes and requirements for clean fill disposal or fails to remove any unsuitable material deposited at Marmot Pit.

Environmental requirements

Regulatory framework

The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Soil Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environment and Human Health, along with the Canada-Wide Standards (CWS) for Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil, apply to the use of Marmot Pit.

All analytical results must be compared to the Agricultural Land Use criteria, unless otherwise directed by Parks Canada. To be approved as Clean Fill, material must meet all applicable CCME and CWS guideline values.

Contractor Representative

The contractor must designate an on-site Contractor Representative responsible for maintaining environmental controls and addressing any environmental concerns that may arise. The individual must be identified on all disposal applications, forms, manifests, tracking logs, and reports.

Qualified Professional

All environmental site inspections and testing conducted by the contractor must be directed, monitored, and documented by a Qualified Professional who meets the following requirements:

  • A member in good standing of one of the following professional regulatory organizations:
    • Alberta Institute of Agrologists (AIA)
    • Alberta Society of Professional Biologists (ASPB)
    • Association of the Chemical Profession of Alberta (ACPA)
    • Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA)
    • Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET)
  • Has a minimum of five years of relevant experience in Environmental Site Assessments
  • Is covered by professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance
  • Holds a valid business license with Jasper National Park

Soil sampling

If any portion of a site is deemed to be contaminated, all associated material must be tested at a minimum frequency of one sample every 500 m3, or as otherwise directed by Parks Canada. Sample results must be submitted to Parks Canada within 14 days of delivery. Material from potentially contaminated sites will not be accepted until soil testing results have been reviewed and approved by Parks Canada.

Parks Canada reserves the right to request additional testing at any time based on previous land use or if visual indicators (e.g., changes in texture, odour, colour, or appearance) suggest possible contamination. All additional testing requested by Parks Canada will be conducted at the sole cost and responsibility of the Contractor.

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