CCME’s National Classification System for Contaminated Sites (NCSCS) developed in 1992, was revised in 2008 to reflect increased knowledge about risk assessment techniques and in 2010 to correct formula errors. It is a method for evaluating contaminated sites according to their current or potential adverse impact on human health and the environment. It is not designed to provide a general or quantitative risk assessment, but to take the first step in general evaluation and priority setting.
The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment’s (CCME) "Environmental Code of Practice for Aboveground and Underground Storage Tank Systems Containing Petroleum and Allied Petroleum Products" has been prepared for owners of storage tank systems, the petroleum marketing and distribution industry, and federal, provincial, and territorial departments which have the authority to regulate storage tanks containing petroleum or allied petroleum products.
This publication updates, combines, and replaces CCME’s 1993 "Environmental Code of Practice for Underground Storage Tank Systems Containing Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products" and the 1994 “Environmental Code of Practice for Aboveground Storage Tank Systems Containing Petroleum Products.” It reflects the advances in technology and the experience gained by industry and government regulators in proactively managing storage tanks systems in the intervening years.
The Code is a model set of technical requirements and only comes into effect if adopted, in whole or in part, by an authority having jurisdiction. It provides technical requirements for registration and approval of storage tank systems, design and installation of new storage tanks and piping, monitoring and leak detection, upgrading of existing systems, operation and maintenance, and the withdrawal from service of storage tank systems.
Appendix D: Spill Reporting - The owner or operator of a storage tank system who discovers, suspects or is notified by any person of a leak or possible leak shall immediately notify the authority having jurisdiction by telephone and provide the information requested by the authority having jurisdiction. Since environmental emergencies or occurrences are often local in nature and in order to reduce notification burden, the Canadian environmental notification system uses federal-provincial/territorial 24 hour authorities as the first point of contact. In turn, these authorities notify Environment Canada, except in Québec where both authorities must be called. For a list of reporting authrorities see Environment Canada Environmental Emergencies Website at http://www.ec.gc.ca/ee-ue/default.asp?lang=En&n;=EED2E58C-1.
CCME has released "Recommended Principles on Contaminated Sites Liability." This publication updates CCME's principles dealing with contaminated sites liability by adding another principle that provides for the possibility of the transfer of environmental regulatory liability for a contaminated site from the seller to the buyer under specific conditions established by governments, assuring site clean-up. The new principle promotes the redevelopment of so-called "brownfields" sites across Canada, facilitating the redevelopment of vacant or underutilized commercial properties, while ensuring human and environmental safety remain assured. "Recommended Principles on Contaminated Sites Liability" ( CCME 2006) incorporates and replaces "Contaminated Site Liability Report: Recommended Principles for a Consistent Approach Across Canada" (CCME 1993).
This report was prepared by Geosyntec Consultants Inc., under contract to the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). It contains information which has been prepared for, but not approved by, CCME. CCME is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained herein and does not warrant, or necessarily share or affirm, in any way, any opinions expressed therein.
