Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan: 2020 to 2021 results
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 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 and 1,700 sites have been remediated/risk managed to remove or block exposure to contamination.
FCSAP is divided into Phases. This report summarizes results for fiscal year 2020 to 2021, the first year of Phase IV. For additional information, consult the full report.
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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 1,000 jobs were created or maintained in the waste management and remediation industry as a result of FCSAP in 2020 to 2021.
Overview of FCSAP’s assessment and remediation/risk management work across Canada
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 2020 to 2021, $8.1 million of FCSAP funding was spent on assessment at 128 sites and $160.9 million was spent on remediation/risk management at 607 sites.
FCSAP assessment expenditures and sites, by province and territory, 2020 to 2021 (expenditures in $ millions)
Long description
This figure shows the distribution of FCSAP assessment expenditures and the number of sites, by province and territory, in 2020 to 2021.
- Alberta: $1.5 million of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 7 sites
- British Columbia: $2.5 million of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 34 sites
- Manitoba: $0.3 million of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 6 sites
- New Brunswick: $0.4 million of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 7 sites
- Newfoundland and Labrador: $0.4 million of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 2 sites
- Northwest Territories: $0.03 million of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 1 site
- Nova Scotia: $0.2 million of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 4 sites
- Nunavut: $0.02 million of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 2 sites
- Ontario: $0.9 million of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 34 sites
- Prince Edward Island: $0.07 million of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 1 site
- Quebec: $1.8 million of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 30 sites
- Saskatchewan: $0 of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 0 sites
- Yukon: $0 of FCSAP assessment expenditures for 0 sites
FCSAP remediation expenditures and sites, by province and territory, 2020 to 2021 (expenditures in $ millions)
Long description
This figure shows the distribution of FCSAP remediation expenditures and the number of sites, by province and territory, in 2020 to 2021.
- Alberta: $7.8 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 21 sites
- British Columbia: $60.5 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 156 sites
- Manitoba: $6.7 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 27 sites
- New Brunswick: $0.9 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 18 sites
- Newfoundland and Labrador: $3.6 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 63 sites
- Northwest Territories: $14.2 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 29 sites
- Nova Scotia: $1.8 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 34 sites
- Nunavut: $3.4 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 28 sites
- Ontario: $28.7 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 95 sites
- Prince Edward Island: $0.6 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 7 sites
- Quebec: $16.7 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 89 sites
- Saskatchewan: $8.2 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 20 sites
- Yukon: $7.8 million of FCSAP remediation expenditures for 20 sites
Assessment and remediation/risk management results
Long description
Of the 128 sites with assessment
- 4 require no further action
- 33 require remediation/risk management
- 91 require further assessment
Long description
Of the 607 sites with remediation/risk management
- 473 sites require further remediation/risk management
- 102 sites in long-term monitoring
- 32 sites were closed
Liability reduction
Remediation/risk management expenditures at FCSAP funded sites in 2020 to 2021 reduced financial liability by $156 million.
Example of remediation/risk management project
Custodian: Transport Canada
Site Name: ḰELSET (Reay Creek) and Reay Creek Pond
Location: Town of Sidney, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Cause of contamination: Sediment in ḰELSET (Reay Creek), located on Victoria International Airport property and a downstream pond belonging to the Town of Sidney had been contaminated by industrial activities inside the airport property and from construction activities in the adjacent Town of Sidney.
Contaminants: Metals (cadmium, chromium and zinc) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Contaminated media: Sediment
Total remediation expenditures in 2020 to 2021: $2.8 million
FCSAP remediation expenditures in 2020 to 2021: $2.4 million
Liability reduction in 2020 to 2021: $2.4 million
For more information about FCSAP, visit the contaminated sites section or email us: FCSAP.PASCF@ec.gc.ca
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