Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan: 2019-2020 results
The Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) is divided into Phases. This report summarizes the results for fiscal year 2019-2020, the last year of Phase III. For additional information:
About the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan
There are thousands of contaminated sites in Canada, many of them located on lands owned or leased by the federal government or where the federal government has accepted responsibility for the contamination. These are known as “federal contaminated sites”. Often, the contamination comes from historical activities that occurred when environmental consequences were not well understood and when policies and laws to reduce the risk of creating new contamination did not exist.
Federal contaminated sites contain substances in quantities that may be dangerous to human health and the environment. Recognizing the importance of cleaning up these sites and protecting the human health and natural environment of Canadians, the Government of Canada established the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) in 2005.
FCSAP is a federal program that provides funding to government departments, agencies and consolidated Crown corporations (known as custodians) to assess, remediate and risk manage the contaminated sites for which they are responsible. Through FCSAP, more than 8,200 sites have been assessed to understand the source and magnitude of contamination. In addition, over 1,600 sites have been remediated/risk managed to remove or block exposure to contamination.
Examples of FCSAP-funded contaminated sites
- Harbours (former industrial uses)
- Protected heritage areas, such as national parks, national historic sites and national marine protected areas (former waste disposal sites, fuel storage sites and pre-park activities)
- Lighthouse stations (contaminated by lead paint and mercury)
- Military bases (firing ranges and training facilities)
- First Nations reserves (former sawmills and fuel storage areas)
Benefits of FCSAP
Human and environmental health
Addresses federal contaminated sites to safeguard the health of ecosystems and of Canadians.
Innovation
Promotes the development of new technologies by sharing innovative remediation solutions and scientific knowledge with the federal community and private sector.
Social and economic
Creates jobs and supports skills development, including in Indigenous communities and in northern and rural areas.
It is estimated that 2,000 jobs were created or maintained in the waste management and remediation industry as a result of FCSAP in 2019-2020.
Overview of FCSAP’s assessment and remediation/risk management work across Canada in 2019-2020
Assessing and remediating/risk managing a site is a complex process that can take many years. The duration of remediation activities at a site depends on many factors, such as the nature and extent of the contamination, scientific knowledge of the contamination, location of the site, and weather conditions.
In 2019-2020, $2.1 million of FCSAP funding was spent on assessment at 97 sites and $358.2 million was spend on remediation/risk management at 388 sites.
FCSAP’s work across the country
Long description
This figure shows the number of sites that had assessment work and the number of sites that had remediation/risk management work conducted in each province or territory of Canada, in 2019 to 2020.
- Alberta: one site with assessment and 13 sites with remediation/risk management
- British Columbia: three sites with assessment and 87 sites with remediation/risk management
- Manitoba: 15 sites with assessment and eight sites with remediation/risk management
- New Brunswick: one site with assessment and four sites with remediation/risk management
- Newfoundland and Labrador: zero sites with assessment and 34 sites with remediation/risk management
- Northwest Territories: zero sites with assessment and 31 sites with remediation/risk management
- Nova Scotia: one site with assessment and 18 sites with remediation/risk management
- Nunavut: two sites with assessment and 32 sites with remediation/risk management
- Ontario: 67 sites with assessment and 94 sites with remediation/risk management
- Prince Edward Island: zero sites with assessment and zero sites with remediation/risk management
- Quebec: seven sites with assessment and 47 sites with remediation/risk management
- Saskatchewan: zero sites with assessment and three sites with remediation/risk management
- Yukon: zero sites with assessment and 17 sites with remediation/risk management
Assessment and remediation/risk management results
Long description
This figure is a pie chart representing the 97 sites with assessment. Of those 97 sites, 12 require no further action, 12 require remediation/risk management and 73 require further assessment.
Of the 388 sites with remediation/risk management:
Long description
Three infographics representing the different phases of the 388 sites with remediation/risk management activity. The first infographic is represented by a circle with a checklist inside of it. It illustrates that 355 sites require further remediation/risk management. The second infographic is a circle with a leaf on top of it. It illustrates that 23 sites completed remediation/risk management. The third infographic is represented by a barrier with a check mark in the middle of it. It illustrate that 10 sites were closed.
Liability reduction
Remediation/risk management expenditures in 2019-2020 reduced federal liability by $377 million.
Examples of remediation/risk management projects completed in 2019-2020
Custodian: Parks Canada Agency
Location: Lachine Canal National Historic Site, Montreal, Quebec
Cause of contamination: Former underground petroleum storage tanks, wooden poles treated with pentachlorophenol, and nearby historical industrial activities.
Contaminants: Petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins and furans
Contaminated media: Soil
Remediation: 2018 to 2020
Total expenditures at the site: $2.54 million
FCSAP expenditures at the site: $2.13 million
Liability reduction: $2.47 million
Custodian: Indigenous Services Canada
Location: Northlands Denesuline First Nation, Lac Brochet, Manitoba
Cause of contamination: Leakage from underground and aboveground petroleum storage tanks.
Contaminants: Petroleum hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Contaminated media: Soil, groundwater and air
Remediation: 2005 to 2007, 2011 to 2012, and 2015 to 2019
Total expenditures at the site: $6 million
FCSAP expenditures at the site: $2.92 million
Liability reduction: $3.55 million
Contact us
Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan Secretariat
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St. Joseph Boulevard, 17th Floor
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3
Email address: FCSAP.PASCF@ec.gc.ca
Related links
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