Environmental Guide for Federal Real Property Managers

The 'biosphere' is that part of the earth and its atmosphere in which living things, both animal (including micro-organisms) and vegetable, are found.

'Due diligence' refers to deliberate and careful actions taken by an individual or an organization to ensure compliance with legislation. It reduces threats to the natural environment, as well as risks of prosecution for offences under environmental legislation such as the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the Fisheries Act.

The Environmental Choice Program uses the 'EcoLogo' symbol to identify products that have been certified as being sensitive to the natural environment. A private sector firm operates this program on behalf of Environment Canada.

An 'ecosystem' is a community of interdependent living things - including humans, other animals, micro-organisms and plant life - together with the environment that supports them.

The 'environment' refers to natural components and interacting systems of the earth. It includes the land, the water and the air in all layers of the atmosphere, as well as all levels of living organisms and all organic and inorganic matter.

An 'environmental assessment' used to identify and understand the effects of proposed projects on the bio-physical environment as well as on the social and economic environments of the people to be affected. It communicates information and proposes preventive or corrective measures to reduce undesirable changes in the natural environment, such as those that a proposed action or development may cause. These changes include any effect of such changes on human health and well being, or on the quality of the ecosystem upon which human survival depends.

This term is synonymous with 'environmental impact assessment.'

An environmental assessment may be required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, depending on the characteristics of a proposed action or development.

See also 'Environmental Screening.'

An 'environmental audit' is a methodical examination that may involve sampling, tests, analyses and confirmation of the practices and procedures of an operation. An environmental audit verifies that these practices and procedures comply with criteria prescribed by legislation, internal policies or accepted industry standards.

An 'environmental screening' is a systematic, documented assessment of the environmental effects of a proposed action or development, as required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

An 'environmental site assessment' is a systematic examination of a specific site, following an accepted protocol, such as CSA Z768 Phase l Environmental Site Assessment, to determine and report on the physical environmental condition of the site.

This assessment identifies and evaluates any possible environmental problems on the site that may affect the real value or potential use of the property.

A 'facility manager' is involved in the specific operational and maintenance issues of real property on a site-specific basis, and ensures that corporate policy is translated into tangible actions to achieve policy objectives.

A 'facility audit' is an environmental audit of a facility. See also 'Environmental Audit.'

'Hazardous waste' is used solid, liquid or gaseous material that may pose a substantial threat to the natural environment and to human health unless it is handled, transported, stored and disposed of properly.

For the purpose of this guide, the 'owner' (sometimes referred to as the 'custodian') is the department or agency of the Government of Canada that has administration of real property.

'Pollution' introduces substances into the biosphere that natural recycling processes cannot readily process, because of their quantity, chemical nature or temperature. As a result, these substances will hurt the ecosystem.

A 'property manager' manages real property assets on an overall strategic basis, and helps develop and disseminate corporate policy and objectives related to those assets. A property manager may also be referred to as an 'asset manager.'

A 'property transfer assessment,' conducted before a property is acquired or disposed of, determines whether the property is contaminated, and whether that contamination could cause financial or legal liability. This is often referred to as an environmental site assessment, or a Phase I environmental site investigation.

'Risk assessment' refers to the process of gathering data and making assumptions to estimate the short- and long-term harmful effects of one or more substances, products or technologies on the natural environment and human health.

'Risk management' refers to the process of using risk assessment and other information to determine available options and make decisions in order to reduce or eliminate perceived risks.

'Sustainable development' is development that meets current needs without compromising the ability of succeeding generations to satisfy their own needs. It requires that the demands of our present economy on the environment reflect the environment's ability to sustain present and future generations.