Legislation, Policies, and Guidelines

Legislation

Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 is a federal law that enables the Government of Canada to protect the environment and human health from the risks posed by harmful pollutants and to prevent new ones from entering the Canadian environment.

Fisheries Act

The Fisheries Act stipulates that no work or undertaking shall be carried out that may result in harmful alteration, disruption, or destruction of fish habitat, unless authorized by the Minister or by regulation.

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act requires custodians to conduct environmental assessments for proposed projects under specific circumstances.

Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act

The Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act ensures that the natural resources of the Canadian Arctic are developed and exploited in a manner that is cognizant of Canada's responsibility for the welfare of the Inuit and other inhabitants of the Canadian Arctic and maintains the ecological integrity of Canada's arctic region.

Policies

Treasury Board Policy on Management of Real Property

Outlines policy requirements to ensure sound stewardship of federal real property.

Treasury Board Reporting Standard on Real Property

Establishes the information management requirements to ensure compliance with the Treasury Board Policy on Management of Real Property.

Treasury Board Policy on Accounting for Costs and Liabilities Related to Contaminated Sites

Ensures that all costs and liabilities associated with the management and remediation of federal contaminated sites are properly accounted for and reported to Canadians.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Contaminated Sites Management Policy

Offers guidance on the management of contaminated sites located on reserve lands, on federal lands north of the 60th parallel, and on any other lands under the responsibility of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Mine Site Reclamation Policy for the Northwest Territories

Calls for better management of the Northwest Territories' natural resources to ensure that mining operations do not leave behind environmental or health hazards and a financial burden for the Canadian taxpayer.

Guidelines

CCME - National Classification System for Contaminated Sites (NCSCS) - Guidance Document (2008)

CCME's National Classification System for Contaminated Sites (NCSCS) developed in 1992, was revised in 2008, to reflect increased knowledge about risk assessment techniques. It is a method for evaluating contaminated sites according to their current or potential adverse impact on human health and the environment. It is not designed to provide a general or quantitative risk assessment, but to take the first step in general evaluation and priority setting.

CCME - Environmental Code of Practice for Aboveground and Underground Storage Tank Systems Containing Petroleum and Allied Petroleum Products (2003)

The Code is a model set of technical requirements and only comes into effect if adopted, in whole or in part, by an authority having jurisdiction. It provides technical requirements for registration and approval of storage tank systems, design and installation of new storage tanks and piping, monitoring and leak detection, upgrading of existing systems, operation and maintenance, and the withdrawal from service of storage tank systems.

CCME - Recommended Principles on Contaminated Sites Liability (2006)

This publication updates CCME's principles dealing with contaminated sites liability by adding another principle that provides for the possibility of the transfer of environmental regulatory liability for a contaminated site from the seller to the buyer under specific conditions established by governments, assuring site clean-up. The new principle promotes the redevelopment of so-called "brownfields" sites across Canada, facilitating the redevelopment of vacant or underutilized commercial properties, while ensuring human and environmental safety remain assured. "Recommended Principles on Contaminated Sites Liability" ( CCME 2006) incorporates and replaces "Contaminated Site Liability Report: Recommended Principles for a Consistent Approach Across Canada" (CCME 1993).

Health Canada - Federal Contaminated Sites Guidance on Human Health Risk Assessment in Canada

Provides tools and guidance materials to custodians to help them conduct human health risk assessments of their contaminated sites.

Federal Contaminated Sites Risk Assessment in Canada Part I: Guidance on Human Health Preliminary Quantitative Risk Assessment (PQRA)

This guidance document prescribes, to the degree possible, standard exposure pathways, receptor characteristics, toxicological reference values, and other parameters required to assess the potential chemical exposures and risks at federal contaminated sites quantitatively.

Federal Contaminated Sites Risk Assessment in Canada Part II: Health Canada Toxicological Reference Values (TRVS)

This document is a companion to Federal Contaminated Site Risk Assessment in Canada Part I: Guidance on Human Health Preliminary Quantitative Risk Assessment (PQRA)

Federal Contaminated Sites Risk Assessment in Canada Part III: Guidance on Peer Review of Human Health Risk Assessments for Federal Contaminated Sites in Canada

This guidance document has been prepared to assist in the peer review of federal contaminated site human health risk assessments submitted to Health Canada.

Addressing Psychosocial Factors through Capacity Building: A Guide for Managers of Contaminated Sites

This guide provides an introduction to understanding the psychosocial effects of individuals living and working near a contaminated site.