The Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) is a cost-shared program that helps federal custodians to address contaminated sites for which they are responsible. The primary objective of this program is to address the risks that these sites pose to human health and the environment and to reduce the associated financial liability. The program has the complementary objectives of supporting other socio-economic outcomes, such as training and employment of Canadians and promotion of innovative technologies.

Accelerated Funding through Canada's Economic Action Plan

Through Canada's Economic Action Plan (Budget 2009), the federal government aims to accelerate activities under the existing Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) over the next two years. Canada's Economic Action plan will result in $245.5 million worth of activity on federal contaminated sites. $80.5 million in new funding will enable accelerated action on site assessments and continued program management. Over 3500 sites will be assessed across the country.

This new funding is also expected to accelerate an estimated $165 million in environmental remediation activity on approximately 225 priority federal contaminated projects across Canada.

Accelerating these activities under Canada's Economic Action Plan will result in an improved environment and economic development. This initiative will provide employment opportunities for a wide variety of companies and workers throughout the country including professional science and engineering services firms, construction and contractor firms, drilling and environmental service companies, analytical laboratories, transport companies, tradesmen and labourers, Aboriginal labourers and students, and hospitality-related businesses.

FCSAP at Work

Assessment work is an important part of the FCSAP program. Assessment projects involve detailed scientific and/or engineering analysis to identify the nature and extent of the contamination. A full-scale assessment of the severity of contamination for a specific site is a lengthy and complex process. By assessing contaminated sites, the federal government is able to determine whether the site requires further action in terms of remediation or risk management to reduce the associated human health or ecological risk.

If further action is required as a result of the assessment, a remediation or risk management plan is developed. The plan represents the selected/preferred option from various alternatives that are evaluated to most effectively and efficiently reduce the risk to human health and the environment. The selected option addresses the unique conditions at the site. The responsible government department or agency oversees the development of the remediation plan and works closely with the consultants, contractors, and trades people hired to design and implement it. Common remediation activities involve reducing exposure to dangerous contaminants by removing, destroying, or containing them.

The federal government is spending $792 million dollars overall on the FCSAP program between 2009 and 2011, including work on close to 590 FCSAP remediation projects.