Land Remediation Section

Ministry Service Plan Goal

Clean and safe water, land and air.

Disposing of the toxins and wastes generated each year comes at significant costs. These costs include financial costs associated with shutting down landfills and establishing new ones, dealing with the contamination of land, water and air, and addressing the impact on ecosystems and the health of citizens. By reducing contamination from toxins and wastes efficiently and effectively, the ministry will minimize impacts to water, land, air, human health and safety, and the economy.

Section Vision Statement

The Land Remediation Section ensures the protection of public health and the environment from toxins and waste that contaminate the land, air and water. Most of these sites represent the legacy historical industrialization growth and activity. The Section directs the remediation of complex, high profile contaminated sites, and manages the remediation of low and moderate-risk sites in a timely manner that facilitates redevelopment opportunities for local communities.

Through innovation and risk management the section works with communities, public organizations, other government agencies and private parties to support the sustainable redevelopment of sites by the protection and restoration of environmental attributes. To the extent practicable the outcomes of remediation are performance based.

Key Functions of the Section

serves as regulator and statutory decision maker for contaminated sites;
leads the remediation and development of high priority contaminated, brownfield and orphaned sites;
facilitates the revitalization of contaminated properties;
leads and develops a team of provincial experts and professionals using a primary approach of risk assessment and risk management to protect public safety and ecological integrity;
develops long term risk management and monitoring strategies with partners on a site specific basis;
develops operational guidance and procedures to assist external partners with the assessment and remediation of sites; and
develops site-specific risk management frameworks and mandates with the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Ministry of Finance, Treasury Board staff for negotiating future provincial liability and risk.

Organization of the Section

The Section is composed of three units. The Risk Assessment and Remediation Unit has two parallel teams which oversee the cleanup of high risk contaminated sites. The Operations Management Unit coordinates, oversees and monitors the approved professional system for contaminated sites which delivers services for low and moderate risk sites. It also provides Section administration support and coordinates policy development and the provision of information on sites. The Olympics and Brownfields Unit coordinates site investigations and remediation of key development projects for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and advises on the development of provincial brownfields initiatives.