Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan: 2021 to 2022 results

About the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan

There are thousands of contaminated sites in Canada. Many of them are located either:

• on lands owned or leased by the federal government
• where the federal government has accepted responsibility for the contamination

These sites are called “federal contaminated sites.” Often, the contamination comes from activities that occurred in the past, when:

• environmental consequences were not well understood
• 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. In 2005, the Government of Canada created the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) to:

• clean up these sites
• protect the health of people in Canada and Canada’s natural environment

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)

FCSAP is a federal program that provides funding to:

• government departments
• agencies
• consolidated Crown corporations

The organizations being funded are called “custodians.” Custodians use this funding to assess, remediate and risk manage the contaminated sites that they are responsible for. Through FCSAP, custodians have assessed more than 8,400 sites to understand the source and magnitude of contamination. Custodians have also remediated and risk managed 1,800 sites to remove—or block exposure to—contamination.

FCSAP is divided into phases. This report summarizes results for fiscal year 2021-2022, the second year of Phase IV. For additional information, consult the full report.

Benefits of Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan

Human and environmental health

Addresses federal contaminated sites to safeguard the health of ecosystems and people in Canada.

Innovation

Promotes the development of new technologies by sharing:

• innovative remediation solutions; and 
• scientific knowledge

with the federal community and the private sector.  

Social and economic

Creates jobs and supports skills development, including in:

• Indigenous communities; and 
• northern and rural areas.  

FCSAP created or maintained 1,030 jobs in the waste management and remediation industry in 2021-2022. This number is based on an equation from ECO Canada.

Overview of Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan’s assessment and remediation/risk management work across Canada

Assessing, remediating, and 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, including:

• the nature and extent of the contamination
• scientific knowledge of the contamination
• location of the site
• time to work with partners and consult affected Indigenous groups and local communities.

In 2021 to 2022, FCSAP spent $5.6 million on assessment at 121 sites and $164.7 million on remediation and risk management at 678 sites.

Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan’s work across the country

Assessment and remediation/risk management results

Of the 121 sites with assessment:

• 17 require no further action
• 36 require remediation/risk management
• 68 require further assessment

Of the 678 sites with remediation/risk management:

• 480 sites require further remediation/risk management
• 108 sites in long-term monitoring
• 90 sites were closed

Liability reduction

Remediation/risk management expenditures at FCSAP funded sites in 2021-2022 reduced financial liability by $169 million. 

Example of remediation/risk management project

Custodian: Public Services and Procurement Canada

Site Name: Former Sambault Landfill

Location: Saint-Isidore-de-Laprairie, Quebec

Cause of contamination: The site was an illegal landfill between 1965 and 1986

Contaminants: Metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents

Contaminated media: Soil, groundwater, surface water

Total remediation expenditures in 2021-2022: $0.9 million

FCSAP remediation expenditures in 2021-2022: $0.7 million

Liability reduction in 2021-2022: $2.0 million

For more information about FCSAP, visit Contaminated sites or email us: pascf-fcsap@ec.gc.ca