About federal contaminated sites
Federal contaminated sites are located on land owned or leased by the federal government, or on land where the federal government has accepted responsibility for the contamination. The size and scope of federal contaminated sites vary greatly and include, abandoned mines on Crown land in the North, airports, lighthouse stations, and military bases.
Contamination is most often a result of past activities with environmental consequences that were not well understood at the time. The Government of Canada has taken action, including through the funding and implementation of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) and the Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program, and remains committed to properly manage contaminated sites for which it is responsible.
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Canada is a land of natural beauty but past activities have left behind thousands of contaminated sites that may pose risks to human health and the environment. Many of these sites are on federal lands such as military bases, former industrial sites, and harbours. And some are on First Nations reserves.
The Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) supports clean-up of these areas to reduce risks to human health and the environment. The FCSAP also promotes scientific development and creates thousands of jobs, including many in rural and Indigenous communities. Opportunities for contracts on Merx.com and Buyandsell.gc.ca.
For more information: https://www.canada.ca/contaminated-sites FCSAP.PASCF@ec.gc.ca
Canada now has policies and legislation as well as increased environmental awareness to prevent future contaminated sites. These measures include the:
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA, 1999)
- Fisheries Act
- Impact Assessment Act
- Nuclear Safety and Control Act
- 2008 Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations
- Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act
Federal departments, agencies and consolidated Crown corporations (also referred to as custodians) are responsible for undertaking their operations in an environmentally sustainable manner to protect and safeguard the health of future generations and the ecosystems of tomorrow.
These different measures limit future contamination. For this reason, only the sites contaminated through activities that occurred prior to April 1, 1998, were originally eligible for FCSAP funding. However, in support of advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, starting with FCSAP Phase IV (2020 to 2024), all sites located on reserve lands and in the north became eligible for funding, even if contamination had occurred after 1998. FCSAP Phase V (2025-2030) builds on Phase IV and will prioritize high-risk sites, followed by sites in areas where Indigenous Peoples (including all the Inuit Nunangat), racialized, and low-income Canadians live. Please consult the link below for more historic background:
What types of contaminants are found on these sites
The types of contaminants found on these sites vary widely. Most are petroleum hydrocarbons, metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Other contaminants include other hydrocarbons, inorganics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Where can I find information on all federal contaminated sites in Canada
The Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory (FCSI) contains information on all known and suspected federal sites. The inventory can be searched by province or territory, electoral district, metropolitan area, federal custodian or by contaminant type. Custodians also provide additional information about their sites on the inventory, as well as how to contact them.
There are approximately 24 000 identified federal contaminated sites listed on the FCSI, of which more than 19 000 have been closed after historical reviews, testing, clean-ups or long-term monitoring activities determined that no further action was required. Information about current federal contaminated sites programs can be found below:
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