Frequently Asked Questons

1. What are contaminated sites?
2. What are federal contaminated sites?
3. Who pays for dealing with contaminated sites in Canada?
4. How many federal contaminated sites are there in Canada?
5. Where can I find information on all federal contaminated sites in Canada?
6. What kind of information is available on the Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory?
7. What types of contaminants are found on these sites?
8. Why does the federal government have so many contaminated sites?
9. What has the Government of Canada done to take action on federal contaminated sites?
10. What is the process for identifying which federal contaminated sites will receive funding for management or remediation?
11. What is the federal approach for addressing contaminated sites?
12. How much money do individual custodians spend annually to remediate their contaminated sites?
13. What does "remediation" mean? Does it mean clean-up?
14. How long can it take to restore a contaminated site?
15. Why are the Sydney Tar Ponds not listed on the Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory?
16. How does the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan compare to the Superfund in the United States?
17. What are brownfields?
18. How do we remediate?

What are contaminated sites?

Contaminated sites are areas of land that contain chemical substances (e.g., heavy metals, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) or petroleum products) that pose or are likely to pose a hazard to human health or the environment or that exceed the levels set out in policies and regulations. Contamination is most often the result of past activities that have had environmental consequences that were not understood at the time.

What are federal contaminated sites?

They are contaminated sites owned or leased by the federal government, or sites where the federal government has accepted full responsibility for the contamination. The size and type of federal contaminated sites vary considerably and include, for example, abandoned mines on Crown land in the North, airports, government laboratories, ports, lighthouse stations, military bases, training facilities and sites on Reserve lands.

Who pays for dealing with contaminated sites in Canada?

In Canada, the federal government promotes "the polluter pays" principle. Private companies are usually responsible for the costs of cleaning up (or "remediating") the land they contaminate. The provinces, territories and federal government are generally responsible for the cost of dealing with the sites they own or lease.

Some contaminated sites, called orphan sites, become the responsibility of governments when those who caused the contamination go out of business or are unable to pay for dealing with these sites. For example, in the North, where mining companies have failed, the Government of Canada has often had to assume responsibility for the cost of dealing with these sites.

How many federal contaminated sites are there in Canada?

There are over 18,000 federal contaminated sites currently listed on the Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory, which is maintained by the Treasury Board Secretariat. They range in size and type from small areas of soil contaminated by spilled fuel or leaking batteries to very large abandoned mine sites in the North that are contaminated by heavy metals and other dangerous substances.

Where can I find information on all federal contaminated sites in Canada?

The Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory contains information on all known and suspected federal sites. The inventory can be searched by province or territory, electoral district, metropolitan area or custodian. Where appropriate, federal custodians can also provide information about specific sites.

What kind of information is available on the Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory?

The inventory contains information about each site, including the classification of the site when initially added to the inventory (the initial classification is based on a number of factors including the level of contamination) and the current status of remediation work. The inventory is updated regularly to reflect current conditions.

What types of contaminants are found on these sites?

The types of contaminants associated with these sites vary widely; however, the majority are petroleum hydrocarbons, metals and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Other contaminants include other hydrocarbons, inorganics and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls).

Why does the federal government have so many contaminated sites?

Federal contaminated sites are a legacy of past practices that have resulted in contamination.

These sites are the result of federal actions or operations that occurred on federal lands in the past, or at sites that are now the direct responsibility of the federal government, such as abandoned mines in the North or former military bases located on federal lands.

Contamination is most often the result of past activities that have had environmental consequences that were not understood at the time.

What has the Government of Canada done to take action on federal contaminated sites?

Our natural environment is one of our country's greatest assets and the Government of Canada is committed to protecting it.

The FCSAP was established in 2005 with a commitment of $3.5 billion from the Government of Canada. The program helps federal custodians determine if a site is contaminated and, if so, to what extent. Where appropriate, it provides financial assistance to deal with the environmental and human health risks the site may pose. The program also contributes to training and promoting innovative technologies to clean up or deal with sites. Since the program was established, thousands of sites across Canada have been evaluated. Action is underway or completed on more than 500 sites.

For example, program funding contributed to the removal of contaminated soil on Resolution Island, a former military site. Not only did the project contribute to cleaning up one of Nunavut's largest contaminated sites, it also provided employment opportunities and training for the local workers involved. FCSAP funding also supported work at the Bushell Public Port Facility in Saskatchewan, where soil and rock contaminated with oil were recycled for use in the runway re-surfacing of the Uranium City Airport. The recycling option reduced both costs and the impact on the environment.

The Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory contains information about each site, including the classification of the site when initially added to the inventory (the initial classification is based on a number of factors including the level of contamination) and the current status of remediation work. The inventory is updated regularly to reflect current conditions.

What is the process for identifying which federal contaminated sites will receive funding for management or remediation?

There are a number of steps that individual custodians must follow before their contaminated site can be considered for funding. You can find more information about this process by linking to Ranking Methodology.

What is the federal approach for addressing contaminated sites?

Cleaning up ("remediating") and dealing with the risks associated with federal sites are realized through a 10-step process, which includes identifying suspect sites, detailed testing, classifying the sites, setting priorities for future work, reducing human health and ecological risks and long-term monitoring. Detailed information about the 10-step process is provided in the guidance document A Federal Approach to Contaminated Sites.

How much money do individual custodians spend annually to remediate their contaminated sites?

In addition to the funds allocated through the FCSAP, close to $100 million per year is spent collectively on the management of federal contaminated sites. A portion of these funds is applied to sites not currently funded under the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan. Custodians are also required to share in the costs of their assessment and remediation efforts as a condition of receiving funding under the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.

What does "remediation" mean? Does it mean clean-up?

Not always. The proper management of a contaminated site does not necessarily involve complete clean-up of a site. It can describe a whole range of actions to reduce risks to the environment and human health, such as containing contamination in the case of a spill, full or partial removal of contamination to a safe level, restricting access, erecting barrier walls and/or monitoring the site.

How long can it take to restore a contaminated site?

Many sites have become contaminated because of decades of improper handling and storage of waste of various types. It will take many years to restore some of them. Determining the nature of the contamination and its current environmental and health impacts can be very time-consuming. In many cases, adequate historical records do not exist, and scientists must determine the nature and extent of the contamination and its present impacts through extensive assessment and analysis.

Many federal contaminated sites are located in remote regions with harsh climates that are difficult to access. It is not possible to work at some locations year round, so this lengthens the time required to remediate these sites.

Why are the Sydney Tar Ponds not listed on the Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory?

The Sydney Tar Ponds are not included on the list of federal contaminated sites because responsibility for its remediation is being shared with the Province of Nova Scotia. The inventory only lists sites that are strictly a federal responsibility, the majority of which are on federal lands.

For more information on the Sydney Tar Ponds, please visit their web site: http://www.tarpondscleanup.ca.

How does the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan compare to the Superfund in the United States?

There are several similarities between the FCSAP and the U.S. Superfund program. Both programs are based on the polluter pays principle, and both programs use a system of prioritization that allows those sites considered "highest risk" to be addressed first.

Originally funded primarily through a tax on the chemical and petrochemical industries, the U.S. Superfund is used to address the most serious contaminated sites in the country, regardless of ownership. The FCSAP will only fund federal contaminated sites. Provinces, municipalities and private landowners are responsible for contaminated sites under their jurisdiction.

The Superfund program cleans up the nation's uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and deals with emergency response activities (e.g., spills). The FCSAP program does not deal with emergency response. In Canada, the polluter is generally responsible for all costs and the actions needed to bring an emergency under control, as well as clean-up of any hazardous substances. Government agencies at the provincial, territorial and federal levels have a shared responsibility for ensuring this work is effectively carried out and for providing scientific and technical support as required. The lead agency is determined by the location of the emergency and the affected environment (land, water, inland, coastal, northern, etc.).

What are brownfields?

Brownfields are abandoned, idle or underutilized commercial or industrial properties where past actions have caused environmental contamination, but which still have potential for redevelopment or other economic opportunities. Many are in urban areas. FCSAP may contribute to restoring some federal brownfields for future use as many of them are eligible for funding through the program.

How do we remediate?

After a site assessment is completed, a plan is developed for priority sites. The plan describes the various "remediation" alternatives under consideration and identifies the preferred option to reduce the risk to human health and the environment. The chosen remediation method is designed to address the unique conditions at the site where it will be implemented.

The custodian department 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.

Public consultation and community involvement are important elements of the remediation process, and information is shared with surrounding communities through public information sessions, workshops and other communication activities.