CONTAMINANTS AND REMEDIATION DIRECTORATE

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Our Mandate

The Contaminants and Remediation Directorate (CARD) brings together all of DIAND's work associated with federal contaminated sites in the NWT, and the Northern Contaminants Program.

The directorate is currently managing 21 contaminated sites in the NWT, at various stages of remediation. Many of these sites became the Government of Canada's responsibility after private owners relinquished their properties according to the legislation of the day, or when companies went bankrupt. The property then reverted back to the Crown, and as representative of the Crown, the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) became custodian of these properties and related remediation activities.

To guide its efforts, DIAND created the Contaminated Sites Management Policy in 2002.

The department is committed to communicating with NWT residents regarding the remediation of contaminated sites, and providing economic opportunities for northerners wherever possible.

DIAND recognizes that contaminated sites must be cleaned up to protect the health and safety of northerners, to safeguard the environment and to restore a precious part of Canada’s natural environment.

Taking Action

In response to growing public concern over contaminated sites across Canada, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) created the National Contaminated Sites Classification System (NCSCS) in 1995. This is a screening tool that provides scientific and technical assistance for evaluating sites according to their current impacts or potential risks to human health or the environment.

All contaminated sites in DIAND’s northern inventory are classified according to the NCSCS and fall into the following classes:
Class 1: Action Required;
Class 2: Action Likely Required;
Class 3: Action May be Required;
Class N: Action Not Likely Required; and
Class I:  Insufficient Information.

For more information check out these websites:

• DIAND’s Mine Site Reclamation Policy for the Northwest Territories
• DIAND’s Northern Contaminated Sites Program