Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan: Canada Launches Phase II

This video presents “Contaminated Sites”:

  • “What the environment commissioner has to say about cleaning up Canada’s 22,000 contaminated sites
  • Margo McDiarmid reports on the progress and the cost“

The Government of Canada is launching Phase II of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.

The Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP):

  • is a 15-year program
  • established in 2005 and will continue to the year 2020
  • with funding of $3.5 billion from the Government of Canada
  • aims to reduce environmental and human health risks from known federal contaminated sites and associated federal financial liabilities
  • consists of two phases:

    • FCSAP Phase I (2005-2011):
      • The federal departments, agencies and consolidated Crown corporations responsible for contaminated sites (also referred to as custodians) made significant progress in assessing and remediating sites
      • Custodians conducted remediation activities at 1,400 sites, and completed remediation at 650 sites; examples of approaches used by custodians include:
        •  fully or partially remediating the site and removing contaminated materials to a safe level
        • containing the contamination
        • restricting access
        • erecting barrier walls
        • monitoring the site

        Custodians oversee the development of the remediation plan and work closely with the consultants, contractors and tradespersons hired to design and implement it.

      • Assessment activities were conducted on over 9,400 sites and completed on 6,400
    • FCSAP Phase II (2011-2016):
      • Allows the above Phase I  Assessment work to continue, with a focus on remediating the highest priority sites under federal responsibility
      • The Government of Canada will invest $1 billion over three years (through to 2014) to manage federal contaminated sites to support the second phase of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan program (2011-2016)
      • the Government of Canada is investing approximately $344 million this year (2012-2013) for remediation of approximately 380 contaminated sites, as well as assessment of about 640 sites, which will help determine the need for remediation:
        • Opportunities for contracts associated with contaminated sites are listed on MERX, the online database tool for Canadian Public Tenders
  • helps support skills development, training and employment of Canadians, including Aboriginal communities and others who live in northern and rural areas
    • “Phase II … is expected to create 7,300 jobs in waste management and remediation across Canada, an equivalent of about 1,500 full-time jobs per year”

As of April 2012, the largely complete Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory (FCSI)  lists 21,282 sites, including:

  • 6,765 known sites (which includes 2,709 priority sites for remediation)
  • 5,584 suspected sites
  • 8,933 closed sites (completed or no action required)

Examples of high priority projects:

Government of Canada Launches Phase II of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan
Government of Canada Launches Phase II of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan

Environment Canada

NEWS RELEASE

Harper Government Launches Phase II of Contaminated Sites Clean-up Plan

OTTAWA, Ont. — October 4, 2012 — Canada’s Environment Minister, the Honourable Peter Kent, and Senator Michel Rivard today announced that the Government of Canada has launched Phase II of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.

“The Harper Government’s top priority is jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. Phase II of our government’s Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan is expected to create 7,300 jobs in waste management and remediation across Canada, an equivalent of about 1,500 full-time jobs per year,” said Minister Kent. “This is another way we are working towards a cleaner and healthier environment, while creating jobs and growing the Canadian economy.”

The Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan also supports skills development, training, and employment of Canadians, including Aboriginal communities and others who live in northern and rural areas.

The $1 billion over three years (through to 2014) investment is earmarked primarily for remediation activities at approximately 1,100 contaminated sites, as well as the assessment of about 1,650 sites. “Canada’s National War Museum is a prime example of what can be done when contaminated land is managed properly,” said Senator Rivard. “Before construction, the land at the location of the museum was considered to be a contaminated site. Now it is the cherished home of Canada’s military history.”

The second phase of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan focuses on the remediation of highest priority sites under federal responsibility.

“Our past has made us what we are today but some of those past practices have had harmful effects on the environment”, added Minister Kent. “Our government is committed to addressing those effects and ensuring our environment is protected for all future generations.”

Created in 2004-05 as a 15-year program with a funding commitment of $3.5 billion from the Government of Canada, the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan is now in its second phase and will continue to the year 2020.

Related information:

For more information, please contact:

Adam Sweet
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

Federal Contaminated Sites Web Portal

Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory

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