About the Canada-United States Joint Inland Pollution Contingency Plan

The implementation of the Canada-United States Joint Inland Pollution Contingency Plan (Inland Plan) is the responsibility of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

The Inland Plan describes how Canada and the United States will work together to prepare for and respond to emergencies that cause or may cause damage to the environment along the inland boundary, generally within 25 kilometres or 15.5 miles on both sides along the Canada and United States border.  

The Inland Plan: 

• ensures appropriate cooperative preparedness, notification, and response measures between Canada and the United States 
• coordinates the federal response to a significant polluting incident 
• provides a mechanism for cooperative responses among all levels of government 
• facilitates assistance between countries when the polluting incident is large but only affects one country 

Regional annexes

Under the Inland Plan, there are five regional planning areas. Regional annexes are developed for each area that describe the jurisdiction, roles, and response procedures of regulatory and support agencies within each planning area. These annexes are reviewed and updated as appropriate. 

Annex I CANUSWEST NORTH

• A response plan for polluting incidents along the inland boundary of the Yukon Territory and British Columbia with EPA Region 10 (Alaska). 
• Review in progress 
• Archived version: CANUSWEST-NORTH - Annex I to the Canada-United States Joint Inland Pollution Contingency Plan, 2015  

Annex I CANUSWEST SOUTH

• A response plan for polluting incidents along the inland boundary of British Columbia with EPA Regions 8 and 10 (Montana, Washington, Idaho) 
• Review in progress 
• Archived version: CANUSWEST-SOUTH - Annex I to the Canada-United States Joint Inland Pollution Contingency Plan, 2015

Annex II CANUSPLAIN

• A response plan for polluting incidents along the inland boundary of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba with EPA Regions 5 and 8 (Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota)  
• Review in progress 
• Archived version: CANUSPLAIN - Annex II to the Canada-United States Joint Inland Pollution Contingency Plan, 2015

Annex III CANUSCENT

• A response plan for polluting incidents along the inland boundary of Ontario with EPA Regions 2 and 5 (New York, Minnesota, Michigan)  
• Review in progress 
• Archived version: CANUSCENT - Annex III to the Canada-United States Joint Inland Pollution Contingency Plan, 2013

Annex IV CANUSQUE

• A response plan for polluting incidents along the inland boundary of Quebec with EPA Regions 1 and 2 (Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York)  
• Review in progress 
• Archived version: CANUSQUE - Annex IV to the Canada-United States Joint Inland Pollution Contingency Plan, 2013  

Annex V CANUSEAST

• A response plan for polluting incidents along the inland boundary of New Brunswick with EPA Region 1 (Maine)  
• Review in progress 
• Archived version: CANUSEAST - Annex V to the Canada-United States Joint Inland Pollution Contingency Plan, 2013