ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTRE

ATLANTIC REGION

Corner of Morton Avenue and University Avenue, Université de Moncton Campus, P.O. Box 23005, Moncton, N.B. E1A 6S8

(Photo of Floor Plan - ESC Moncton)

**The Atlantic Region Environmental Science Centre was completed in 1994 and is located in modern new facilities on the Université de Moncton Campus in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

The Centre houses analytical chemistry, toxicology and microbiology laboratories. Approximately 30 federal staff - chemists, biologists, physical scientists and technologists - use the Centre on a full time or part time basis. The scientists' role is to provide a core capability in laboratory science and ecosystem projects in Environment Canada’s Atlantic Region. The Centre also houses staff from the Environmental Protection Branch and the Informatics Section.

The Centre has been designed to host joint initiatives with universities, the private sector and other government agencies. The laboratories are designed to meet current and future environmental science needs, provide a safe and productive work environment for staff, and demonstrate Environment Canada’s commitment to environmental stewardship. The design team, including staff, incorporated many innovative features including specially designed instrument benches, fume extraction systems and groundwater and seawater supply and delivery systems. Scientific equipment and instrumentation were re-located from the Moncton Organic and Inorganic Laboratories previously housed in a warehouse in Moncton’s Industrial Park and the Toxicology Laboratory previously located at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, N.S.

A computerized building management system provides ventilation and temperature control in individual laboratories to meet experimental needs, while allowing staff to monitor and minimize overall energy consumption. A composting program is being developed to manage degradable wastes. An extensive reduce/re-use/recycle program is in operation for paper and plastic. Many of the reagents used in the analysis of environmental samples are collected and returned to manufacturers for reprocessing.

An active Health and Safety Committee conducts regular inspections and develops standard operating procedures to ensure that federal procedures are met, and that staff have adequate information to ensure a safe working environment.

Staff of the Centre have the mandate to provide chemical, toxicological, and microbiological support and advice to all Environment Canada programs in the Atlantic Region (New Brunswick (NB), Nova Scotia (NS), Prince Edward Island (PE), and Newfoundland (NF) and Labrador, and to other Federal and Provincial government departments. Scientists from the Section also conduct research into new and improved   testing methodology, and carry out projects aimed at better understanding human impact on environmental quality, in order to better protect and conserve our environment.

Expertise

The laboratories provide a range of capabilities in organic and inorganic chemistry, aquatic and sediment toxicology, microbiology, and database management. Appropriate staff of the Centre also provide analytical services to other EC Regions, and other government departments and agencies in Canada and the U.S.A. either in partnership in collaborative projects or on a cost-recovery basis. EC-AR scientists continue to make use of other laboratories for specialized analyses for which internal capabilities are presently lacking.

There is a capability to analyze diverse sample matrices for a variety of organic and inorganic compounds, as well as for lethal and sublethal toxicity to freshwater and marine organisms. Analytical method research and development work is also undertaken to ensure the most appropriate procedures are used for specific sample types and to support the development of environmental regulations.

The Science Centre provides capability to deliver the Department of Environment’s Atlantic Region programs. Within the building, there are six main sections. These consist of the Administration, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Microbiology, Toxicology, the Integration & Interpretation and the Wildlife Trade Sections. It also houses some offices of the Wildlife Conservation Division and the Informatics Branch.

Accreditation

The chemistry and toxicology laboratories are fully accredited by the Standards Council of Canada/Canadian Association of Environmental Analytical Laboratories (SCC/CAEAL) for a variety of toxicology, organic, and inorganic parameters. The laboratories participate in Performance Evaluation round robins for these parameters twice a year, and undergo a site evaluation once every two years. The most recent Site Evaluation was in 1997.

In addition, two staff members from the chemistry and toxicology laboratories have been trained as certified auditors, and provide assistance to SCC/CAEAL by participating in Site Audits of private laboratories several times each year.